The Birth of the Blank Field.

Furlegs
Jun 18, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Sep 28

During the early development of our NFC writing app, we hit a wall.

The basic vCard fields—name, breed, age—were all structured inputs.

Most apps on the market follow this model: preset fields for users to fill in.

We started out the same way. Then the discussions began.

*Everyone has something they want to say—but rigid formats can’t hold real understanding.*

One person said,

“I want to include personality traits.”

Another added,

“We should have a field for food allergies.”

Someone else suggested,

“Maybe we can add favorite toys too?”

Everyone had ideas. The conversation spiraled as we tried to cram every possible detail into the format. After hours of back and forth, we still had no conclusion.

That’s when the product creator broke the silence.

“We don’t need to fill in anything.”

The room went quiet. Everyone looked around. Then he continued:

“Just create a blank note field. No character limit. Let users decide what they want to write.”

That decision was inspired by Mocha.

In early 2024, Mocha—our beloved dog—had a near-death experience. He developed diabetes and needed daily insulin injections. After stabilizing, his diet had to be strictly controlled.

It was during that time we realized something deeply important: some information can’t be defined by format. It’s not “age” or “breed.” It’s the reminders that live in a caregiver’s heart. The quiet understandings between people who care. A kind of knowing that doesn’t need explanation.

So we decided to increase the NFC chip’s storage capacity. It raised costs, yes—but we believed it was worth it. Because that blank field isn’t just a feature. It’s a space for empathy.