diff --git a/feature-foryou/src/main/java/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/feature/foryou/AuthorsCarousel.kt b/feature-foryou/src/main/java/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/feature/foryou/AuthorsCarousel.kt
index df6b8bbda..d5dbdbf72 100644
--- a/feature-foryou/src/main/java/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/feature/foryou/AuthorsCarousel.kt
+++ b/feature-foryou/src/main/java/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/feature/foryou/AuthorsCarousel.kt
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package com.google.samples.apps.nowinandroid.feature.foryou
 
+import androidx.compose.foundation.background
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Spacer
@@ -28,6 +29,9 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.LazyRow
 import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.items
 import androidx.compose.foundation.selection.toggleable
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.CircleShape
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.Icons
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Person
+import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.Surface
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
@@ -95,15 +99,29 @@ fun AuthorItem(
                 stateDescription = "$followDescription ${author.name}"
             }
     ) {
-        Box(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
-            AsyncImage(
-                modifier = Modifier
-                    .size(48.dp)
-                    .clip(CircleShape),
-                model = author.imageUrl,
-                contentScale = ContentScale.Fit,
-                contentDescription = null
-            )
+        Box(
+            modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
+            contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
+        ) {
+            val authorImageModifier = Modifier
+                .size(48.dp)
+                .clip(CircleShape)
+            if (author.imageUrl.isEmpty()) {
+                Icon(
+                    modifier = authorImageModifier
+                        .background(MaterialTheme.colorScheme.surface)
+                        .padding(4.dp),
+                    imageVector = Icons.Filled.Person,
+                    contentDescription = null // decorative image
+                )
+            } else {
+                AsyncImage(
+                    modifier = authorImageModifier,
+                    model = author.imageUrl,
+                    contentScale = ContentScale.Fit,
+                    contentDescription = null
+                )
+            }
             FollowButton(
                 following = following,
                 backgroundColor = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.surface,
diff --git a/feature-interests/src/main/java/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/feature/interests/InterestsItem.kt b/feature-interests/src/main/java/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/feature/interests/InterestsItem.kt
index b9c2afadd..ca1b03c71 100644
--- a/feature-interests/src/main/java/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/feature/interests/InterestsItem.kt
+++ b/feature-interests/src/main/java/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/feature/interests/InterestsItem.kt
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package com.google.samples.apps.nowinandroid.feature.interests
 
+import androidx.compose.foundation.background
 import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Row
@@ -23,8 +24,8 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Spacer
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.width
-import androidx.compose.material.icons.Icons.Filled
-import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Android
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.Icons
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Person
 import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.Surface
@@ -32,7 +33,6 @@ import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
-import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
 import androidx.compose.ui.res.stringResource
 import androidx.compose.ui.tooling.preview.Preview
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.Dp
@@ -105,10 +105,11 @@ private fun InterestContent(name: String, description: String, modifier: Modifie
 private fun InterestsIcon(topicImageUrl: String, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
     if (topicImageUrl.isEmpty()) {
         Icon(
-            imageVector = Filled.Android,
-            tint = Color.Magenta,
-            contentDescription = null,
             modifier = modifier
+                .background(MaterialTheme.colorScheme.surface)
+                .padding(4.dp),
+            imageVector = Icons.Filled.Person,
+            contentDescription = null, // decorative image
         )
     } else {
         AsyncImage(