All designers know this feeling: you have a task to tackle but feel stuck, spending hours staring at an empty screen or finding unimportant things to do to procrastinate. Despite having research at hand, you’re unsure where to begin. Or maybe you’ve received a unique request from the marketing team that sparks your creativity, yet you still find yourself at a standstill. This is where inspiration sites become invaluable. These platforms are treasure troves of creative ideas and offer a chance to showcase your work if you’re not bound by an NDA. They let you build a stunning portfolio without the hassle of creating a separate website.

Whether you’re seeking extensive UI/UX reference libraries, community feedback, or the latest design trends, there are plenty of platforms ready to ignite your creative spark. This blog post reviews some of the best sites to help designers find inspiration, gather feedback, and stay updated with the latest design trends.

  1. Mobbin
  2. Uxcel
  3. Curated
  4. Refero
  5. Layers
  6. A-fresh
  7. Awwwards

‍1. Mobbin

Mobbin Home Page

Mobbin is the world’s largest UI & UX reference library, providing an extensive and up-to-date collection of mobile and web design patterns. It allows designers to filter by specific app categories, UI elements, flow patterns, and more, making it a powerful tool for accelerating research and getting design decisions approved. The platform is constantly updated with new apps and major design releases from established apps like Airbnb, Fiverr, and Uber. On Mobbin, users can find videos of flows or walk through flows in prototype click-through mode. They can also copy designs they like to Figma using the Figma plugin, allowing them to collect their favorite designs and upload their own screenshots into one place. One of the greatest features is the ability to search by keywords from screenshots uploaded to the website. Mobbin also offers a free plan, which allows users to browse the latest 8 apps and websites, provides limited search results, and includes up to 3 collections.

  • Price: Free plan; From $10/month (billed annually) or $15/month (billed quarterly) for premium
  • Platform: Web
  • Main Advantage: Extensive, organized, and constantly updated library of design patterns and user flows.

2. Uxcel

Uxcel's showcase page depicting users' UX projects

Uxcel’s Showcase offers real-world design inspiration, insights from the UX community, and meaningful feedback from peers and mentors. The platform’s latest update introduces design briefs — scenarios such as creating a landing page for a non-commercial project or an accessible signup page tailored to all users. This feature is ideal for those without a portfolio or who feel reluctant to generate random project ideas. Design briefs are designed to engage users, but alternatively, users can submit any project without a design brief attached. Regardless of the project type, users receive detailed feedback from peers and design experts if they’re pro members. However, for those using the platform for inspiration, showcasing their work, participating in a professional community, and leaving feedback, the free plan is sufficient. 

In addition to building your portfolio, engaging with the community, and receiving professional feedback, Uxcel offers various courses and resources. In one place, designers can learn, practice, and improve their skills while staying updated with industry trends.

  • Price: Free to upload, browse, build a portfolio, and get peer feedback. Pro membership - $15/month (billed annually) or $24/month (billed monthly) required for mentor feedback.
  • Platform: Web
  • Main Advantage: Provides both peer and mentor feedback, fostering continuous improvement and professional growth.
If your problem isn't a lack of inspiration, but rather a feeling of not having enough knowledge or familiarity with the best UI patterns that work 90% of the time, explore Uxcel's Common Design Patterns course.

3. Curated

Curated Home Page

Curated is a neatly organized web design inspiration catalog, featuring the latest and most innovative web designs. It offers free access, but for $8 a month, users can enjoy benefits like unlimited bookmarks, no advertisements, daily updates, and support for the Curated team. Users can also submit the link to their websites if they want them to appear on Curated. On a free plan, search findings are limited, while on a paid one, they’re unlimited, and users can bookmark works and download screens.

  • Price: Free plan; From $8/month for premium
  • Platform: Web
  • Main Advantage: Up-to-date and trendy web design inspirations categorized neatly for easy navigation.

4. Refero

Refero Home Page

Refero is a comprehensive design inspiration platform that focuses on websites and landing pages. It allows designers to search by specific web sections, tags, text content, and even site-specific screenshots, providing a highly detailed and curated design reference. The library is well organized by topics (by page type, pattern, UI element, etc.) using AI algorithms and curators. Pricing is $14 a month or $8 a month when billed annually.

  • Price: $14/month or $8/month billed annually
  • Platform: Web
  • Main Advantage: Versatile search capabilities that allow for highly specific and detailed design inspiration searches.

5. Layers

Layers Home Page

Layers is a platform for sharing work, connecting with other designers, and discovering job opportunities. It stands out with its simplicity and clean interface, making it a joy to use. Layers is ideal for showcasing design projects and discovering hidden talents within the design community. Paid subscriptions start from $9 a month.

  • Price: From $9/month
  • Platform: Web
  • Main Advantage: Simple and clean interface that enhances the sharing and discovery of stunning design work.

6. a-fresh

a-fresh Home Page

a-fresh is a web design inspiration gallery that offers a curated collection of creative layouts and award-winning websites. It provides designers with a wealth of inspiration to elevate their web design projects and craft exceptional digital experiences. The subscription offers access to all websites, components, and pages, featuring a large collection of different website layouts, from navigation to footer. Pricing starts from $7 a month when paid monthly or $4 a month when paid annually.

  • Price: From $7/month paid monthly or $4/month paid annually
  • Platform: Web
  • Main Advantage: High-quality, award-winning designs that spark creativity and innovation.

7. Awwwards

Awwwards Home Page

Awwwards is a premier platform for design inspiration and recognition. It showcases and awards the best in web design, highlighting websites that excel in creativity, design, and usability. Browsing Awwwards offers insights into the latest trends and top-tier design work from around the globe. Paid membership offers access to exclusive content like videos, books, and articles, and a 10% discount on website submissions. Membership costs $15 a month or $6.7 a month when paid annually. Submission of a website costs $65 per website or $165 per year for pro users. Awwwards also hosts various competitions like Sites of the Day, Month, or Year and contains a vast library of websites with multiple filters to narrow down the findings.

  • Price: Free for inspiration; Pro membership from $15/month or $6.7/month paid annually. Website submission costs $65/website or $165/year for pro users.
  • Platform: Web
  • Main Advantage: Combines inspiration with recognition, providing access to top-quality designs and industry trends.

These resources are a goldmine for UX/UI designers, offering inspiration, feedback, and opportunities for professional growth. They’re essential for anyone wanting to elevate their craft. By using these platforms, designers can stay ahead of industry trends, sharpen their skills, and create standout work in a competitive market.

But there’s a fine line between finding inspiration and copying someone else’s work. Here’s how to avoid crossing it:

  • Diversify your sources: Look at a range of designers and platforms to mix different ideas into something new.
  • Add your spin: Always put your personal touch on any idea you borrow.
  • Understand the basics: Focus on the principles and techniques behind a design and adapt them in your unique way.
  • Credit where it’s due: If you closely reference someone’s work, give them a shout-out to keep things ethical.

Following these tips, you can keep your work fresh and original while tapping into the wealth of resources available.