diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/app/index.coffee b/app/assets/javascripts/app/index.coffee
index 73246f81f..438554c90 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/app/index.coffee
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/app/index.coffee
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class App extends Spine.Controller
   @viewPrintItem: (item, attributeConfig = {}, valueRef, table, object) ->
     return '-' if item is undefined
     return '-' if item is ''
-    return item if item is null
+    return '-' if item is null
     result = ''
     items = [item]
     if _.isArray(item)
diff --git a/app/models/application_model/can_lookup_search_index_attributes.rb b/app/models/application_model/can_lookup_search_index_attributes.rb
index 11f731d62..e1f95f408 100644
--- a/app/models/application_model/can_lookup_search_index_attributes.rb
+++ b/app/models/application_model/can_lookup_search_index_attributes.rb
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ returns
       attributes[ attribute_ref_name ] = value
     end
 
-    if self.class.include?(HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation)
+    if is_a? HasObjectManagerAttributes
       RequestCache.integer_fields(self.class.to_s).each do |field|
         next if attributes[field].blank?
 
diff --git a/app/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes.rb b/app/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..011afbf7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2012-2021 Zammad Foundation, http://zammad-foundation.org/
+
+module HasObjectManagerAttributes
+  extend ActiveSupport::Concern
+
+  included do
+    # Disable table inheritance to allow columns with the name 'type'.
+    self.inheritance_column = nil
+
+    validates_with ObjectManager::Attribute::Validation, on: %i[create update]
+
+    after_initialize ObjectManager::Attribute::SetDefaults.new
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation.rb b/app/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation.rb
index b42875c5b..f1aa116bb 100644
--- a/app/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation.rb
+++ b/app/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation.rb
@@ -5,9 +5,8 @@ module HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation
   extend ActiveSupport::Concern
 
   included do
-    # Disable table inheritance to allow columns with the name 'type'.
-    self.inheritance_column = nil
+    ActiveSupport::Deprecation.warn("Concern 'HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation' is  deprecated. Use 'HasObjectManagerValidation' instead.")
 
-    validates_with ObjectManager::Attribute::Validation, on: %i[create update]
+    include HasObjectManagerAttributes
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/group.rb b/app/models/group.rb
index 2b94ad01d..9686f1258 100644
--- a/app/models/group.rb
+++ b/app/models/group.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ class Group < ApplicationModel
   include ChecksHtmlSanitized
   include ChecksLatestChangeObserved
   include HasHistory
-  include HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation
+  include HasObjectManagerAttributes
   include HasCollectionUpdate
   include HasTicketCreateScreenImpact
   include HasSearchIndexBackend
diff --git a/app/models/object_manager/attribute.rb b/app/models/object_manager/attribute.rb
index 244cb7140..ef37850a6 100644
--- a/app/models/object_manager/attribute.rb
+++ b/app/models/object_manager/attribute.rb
@@ -38,6 +38,13 @@ class ObjectManager::Attribute < ApplicationModel
 
   before_validation :set_base_options
 
+  scope :active,     -> { where(active:   true) }
+  scope :editable,   -> { where(editable: true) }
+  scope :for_object, lambda { |name_or_klass|
+    id = ObjectLookup.lookup(name: name_or_klass.to_s)
+    where(object_lookup_id: id)
+  }
+
 =begin
 
 list of all attributes
diff --git a/app/models/object_manager/attribute/set_defaults.rb b/app/models/object_manager/attribute/set_defaults.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e8fb41a78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/object_manager/attribute/set_defaults.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2012-2021 Zammad Foundation, http://zammad-foundation.org/
+
+class ObjectManager
+  class Attribute
+    class SetDefaults
+      def after_initialize(record)
+        return if !record.new_record?
+
+        attributes_for(record).each { |attr, config| set_value(record, attr, config) }
+      end
+
+      private
+
+      def set_value(record, attr, config)
+        method_name = "#{attr}="
+
+        return if !record.respond_to? method_name
+        return if record.send(attr).present?
+
+        record.send method_name, build_value(config)
+      end
+
+      def build_value(config)
+        case config[:data_type]
+        when 'date'
+          config[:diff].days.from_now
+        when 'datetime'
+          config[:diff].hours.from_now
+        else
+          config[:default]
+        end
+      end
+
+      def attributes_for(record)
+        query     = ObjectManager::Attribute.active.editable.for_object(record.class)
+        cache_key = "#{query.cache_key}/attribute_defaults"
+
+        Rails.cache.fetch cache_key do
+          query
+            .map { |attr| { attr.name => config_of(attr) } }
+            .reduce({}, :merge)
+            .compact
+        end
+      end
+
+      def config_of(attr)
+        case attr.data_type
+        when 'date', 'datetime'
+          {
+            data_type: attr.data_type,
+            diff:      attr.data_option&.dig(:diff)
+          }
+        else
+          {
+            data_type: attr.data_type,
+            default:   attr.data_option&.dig(:default)
+          }
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/models/organization.rb b/app/models/organization.rb
index 85fa3ad8d..7db54e459 100644
--- a/app/models/organization.rb
+++ b/app/models/organization.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ class Organization < ApplicationModel
   include HasSearchIndexBackend
   include CanCsvImport
   include ChecksHtmlSanitized
-  include HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation
+  include HasObjectManagerAttributes
   include HasTaskbars
 
   include Organization::Assets
diff --git a/app/models/ticket.rb b/app/models/ticket.rb
index 1f89df3b1..71dc22eab 100644
--- a/app/models/ticket.rb
+++ b/app/models/ticket.rb
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class Ticket < ApplicationModel
   include HasOnlineNotifications
   include HasKarmaActivityLog
   include HasLinks
-  include HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation
+  include HasObjectManagerAttributes
   include HasTaskbars
   include Ticket::CallsStatsTicketReopenLog
   include Ticket::EnqueuesUserTicketCounterJob
diff --git a/app/models/ticket/article.rb b/app/models/ticket/article.rb
index c33f35970..a5f8374f9 100644
--- a/app/models/ticket/article.rb
+++ b/app/models/ticket/article.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ class Ticket::Article < ApplicationModel
   include ChecksHtmlSanitized
   include CanCsvImport
   include CanCloneAttachments
-  include HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation
+  include HasObjectManagerAttributes
 
   include Ticket::Article::Assets
   include Ticket::Article::EnqueueCommunicateEmailJob
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 32007b4ad..3b32f4841 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class User < ApplicationModel
   include ChecksHtmlSanitized
   include HasGroups
   include HasRoles
-  include HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation
+  include HasObjectManagerAttributes
   include ::HasTicketCreateScreenImpact
   include HasTaskbars
   include User::HasTicketCreateScreenImpact
diff --git a/spec/factories/object_manager_attribute.rb b/spec/factories/object_manager_attribute.rb
index 4abbc653b..02732b88e 100644
--- a/spec/factories/object_manager_attribute.rb
+++ b/spec/factories/object_manager_attribute.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
     transient do
       object_name { 'Ticket' }
       additional_data_options { nil }
+      default { nil }
     end
 
     object_lookup_id          { ObjectLookup.by_name(object_name) }
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
         'maxlength' => 200,
         'null'      => true,
         'translate' => false,
-        'default'   => '',
+        'default'   => default || '',
         'options'   => {},
         'relation'  => '',
       }
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
     data_type { 'integer' }
     data_option do
       {
-        'default' => 0,
+        'default' => default || 0,
         'min'     => 0,
         'max'     => 9999,
       }
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
     data_type { 'boolean' }
     data_option do
       {
-        default: false,
+        default: default || false,
         options: {
           true  => 'yes',
           false => 'no',
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
     data_type { 'date' }
     data_option do
       {
-        'diff' => 24,
+        'diff' => default || 24,
         'null' => true,
       }
     end
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
       {
         'future' => true,
         'past'   => true,
-        'diff'   => 24,
+        'diff'   => default || 24,
         'null'   => true,
       }
     end
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
     data_type { 'select' }
     data_option do
       {
-        'default'    => '',
+        'default'    => default || '',
         'options'    => {
           'key_1' => 'value_1',
           'key_2' => 'value_2',
diff --git a/spec/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation_examples.rb b/spec/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_examples.rb
similarity index 93%
rename from spec/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation_examples.rb
rename to spec/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_examples.rb
index acdacfc06..2476d5879 100644
--- a/spec/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation_examples.rb
+++ b/spec/models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_examples.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2012-2021 Zammad Foundation, http://zammad-foundation.org/
 
-RSpec.shared_examples 'HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation' do
+RSpec.shared_examples 'HasObjectManagerAttributes' do
   it 'validates ObjectManager::Attributes' do
     expect(described_class.validators.map(&:class)).to include(ObjectManager::Attribute::Validation)
   end
diff --git a/spec/models/group_spec.rb b/spec/models/group_spec.rb
index 0b8f5cb7a..4111da026 100644
--- a/spec/models/group_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/group_spec.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 require 'rails_helper'
 require 'models/application_model_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/can_be_imported_examples'
-require 'models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation_examples'
+require 'models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_collection_update_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_ticket_create_screen_impact_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_xss_sanitized_note_examples'
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ RSpec.describe Group, type: :model do
 
   it_behaves_like 'ApplicationModel'
   it_behaves_like 'CanBeImported'
-  it_behaves_like 'HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation'
+  it_behaves_like 'HasObjectManagerAttributes'
   it_behaves_like 'HasCollectionUpdate', collection_factory: :group
   it_behaves_like 'HasTicketCreateScreenImpact', create_screen_factory: :group
   it_behaves_like 'HasXssSanitizedNote', model_factory: :group
diff --git a/spec/models/object_manager/attribute/set_defaults_spec.rb b/spec/models/object_manager/attribute/set_defaults_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9e5a1cd3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/models/object_manager/attribute/set_defaults_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2012-2021 Zammad Foundation, http://zammad-foundation.org/
+
+require 'rails_helper'
+
+RSpec.describe ObjectManager::Attribute::SetDefaults, type: :model do
+  describe 'setting default', db_strategy: :reset_all do
+    before :all do # rubocop:disable RSpec/BeforeAfterAll
+      {
+        text:     'rspec',
+        boolean:  true,
+        date:     1,
+        datetime: 12,
+        integer:  123,
+        select:   'key_1'
+      }.each do |key, value|
+        create("object_manager_attribute_#{key}", name: "rspec_#{key}", default: value)
+      end
+
+      create('object_manager_attribute_text', name: 'rspec_empty', default: '')
+
+      ObjectManager::Attribute.migration_execute
+    end
+
+    after :all do # rubocop:disable RSpec/BeforeAfterAll
+      ObjectManager::Attribute.where('name LIKE ?', 'rspec_%').destroy_all
+    end
+
+    context 'with text type' do # on text
+      it 'default value is set' do
+        ticket = create :ticket
+        expect(ticket.rspec_text).to eq 'rspec'
+      end
+
+      it 'empty string as default value gets saved' do
+        ticket = create :ticket
+        expect(ticket.rspec_empty).to eq ''
+      end
+
+      it 'given value overrides default value' do
+        ticket = create :ticket, rspec_text: 'another'
+        expect(ticket.rspec_text).to eq 'another'
+      end
+
+      # actual create works slightly differently than FactoryGirl!
+      it 'given value overrides default value when using native #create' do
+        ticket_attrs            = attributes_for :ticket, rspec_text: 'another', group: Group.first
+        ticket_attrs[:group]    = Group.first
+        ticket_attrs[:customer] = User.first
+
+        ticket_created = Ticket.create! ticket_attrs
+
+        expect(ticket_created.rspec_text).to eq 'another'
+      end
+
+      it 'given nil overrides default value' do
+        ticket = create :ticket, rspec_text: nil
+        expect(ticket.rspec_text).to be_nil
+      end
+
+      it 'updating attribute to nil does not instantiate default' do
+        ticket = create :ticket
+        ticket.update! rspec_text: nil
+        expect(ticket.rspec_text).to be_nil
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when using other types' do
+      subject(:example) { create :ticket }
+
+      it 'boolean is set' do
+        expect(example.rspec_boolean).to eq true
+      end
+
+      it 'date is set' do
+        freeze_time
+        expect(example.rspec_date).to eq 1.day.from_now.to_date
+      end
+
+      it 'datetime is set' do
+        freeze_time
+        expect(example.rspec_datetime).to eq 12.hours.from_now
+      end
+
+      it 'integer is set' do
+        expect(example.rspec_integer).to eq 123
+      end
+
+      it 'select value is set' do
+        expect(example.rspec_select).to eq 'key_1'
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/models/organization_spec.rb b/spec/models/organization_spec.rb
index ff06428ae..9468127d5 100644
--- a/spec/models/organization_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/organization_spec.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ require 'models/concerns/can_csv_import_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_history_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_search_index_backend_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_xss_sanitized_note_examples'
-require 'models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation_examples'
+require 'models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_taskbars_examples'
 
 RSpec.describe Organization, type: :model do
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ RSpec.describe Organization, type: :model do
   it_behaves_like 'HasHistory'
   it_behaves_like 'HasSearchIndexBackend', indexed_factory: :organization
   it_behaves_like 'HasXssSanitizedNote', model_factory: :organization
-  it_behaves_like 'HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation'
+  it_behaves_like 'HasObjectManagerAttributes'
   it_behaves_like 'HasTaskbars'
 
   describe 'Class methods:' do
diff --git a/spec/models/ticket/article_spec.rb b/spec/models/ticket/article_spec.rb
index eaf6622fd..abb1824d6 100644
--- a/spec/models/ticket/article_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/ticket/article_spec.rb
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ require 'models/application_model_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/can_be_imported_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/can_csv_import_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_history_examples'
-require 'models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation_examples'
+require 'models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_examples'
 require 'models/ticket/article/has_ticket_contact_attributes_impact_examples'
 
 RSpec.describe Ticket::Article, type: :model do
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ RSpec.describe Ticket::Article, type: :model do
   it_behaves_like 'CanBeImported'
   it_behaves_like 'CanCsvImport'
   it_behaves_like 'HasHistory'
-  it_behaves_like 'HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation'
+  it_behaves_like 'HasObjectManagerAttributes'
 
   it_behaves_like 'Ticket::Article::HasTicketContactAttributesImpact'
 
diff --git a/spec/models/ticket_spec.rb b/spec/models/ticket_spec.rb
index b26764a22..61047fec8 100644
--- a/spec/models/ticket_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/ticket_spec.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ require 'models/concerns/has_history_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_tags_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_taskbars_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_xss_sanitized_note_examples'
-require 'models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation_examples'
+require 'models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_examples'
 require 'models/tag/writes_to_ticket_history_examples'
 require 'models/ticket/calls_stats_ticket_reopen_log_examples'
 require 'models/ticket/enqueues_user_ticket_counter_job_examples'
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ RSpec.describe Ticket, type: :model do
   it_behaves_like 'TagWritesToTicketHistory'
   it_behaves_like 'HasTaskbars'
   it_behaves_like 'HasXssSanitizedNote', model_factory: :ticket
-  it_behaves_like 'HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation'
+  it_behaves_like 'HasObjectManagerAttributes'
   it_behaves_like 'Ticket::Escalation'
   it_behaves_like 'TicketCallsStatsTicketReopenLog'
   it_behaves_like 'TicketEnqueuesTicketUserTicketCounterJob'
diff --git a/spec/models/user_spec.rb b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
index 77666cd5f..68feb3103 100644
--- a/spec/models/user_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ require 'models/concerns/has_roles_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_groups_permissions_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/has_xss_sanitized_note_examples'
 require 'models/concerns/can_be_imported_examples'
-require 'models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_validation_examples'
+require 'models/concerns/has_object_manager_attributes_examples'
 require 'models/user/can_lookup_search_index_attributes_examples'
 require 'models/user/has_ticket_create_screen_impact_examples'
 require 'models/user/performs_geo_lookup_examples'
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ RSpec.describe User, type: :model do
   it_behaves_like 'HasXssSanitizedNote', model_factory: :user
   it_behaves_like 'HasGroups and Permissions', group_access_no_permission_factory: :user
   it_behaves_like 'CanBeImported'
-  it_behaves_like 'HasObjectManagerAttributesValidation'
+  it_behaves_like 'HasObjectManagerAttributes'
   it_behaves_like 'User::HasTicketCreateScreenImpact'
   it_behaves_like 'CanLookupSearchIndexAttributes'
   it_behaves_like 'HasTaskbars'