13 Best UI Inspiration Sources For Your Next Big Idea

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Need help coming up with creative designs? It happens to the best of us. The design process can sometimes feel daunting, and creative blocks are standard. Fortunately, several valuable and some of the best UI inspiration sources can help spark your creativity and lead you to the next perfect idea. 

By looking beyond conventional methods and engaging with different environments and user feedback, you’ll be better equipped to think outside the box and develop unique UI designs.

In this article of our Design Blog, we will explore UI UX design sources that can open your mind to new possibilities and ultimately enhance your ability to craft an engaging user experience.

But first, Step Away and Recharge: 

Sometimes, the first step is to do nothing. Step away from your workspace, go for a walk, or simply change your surroundings. Nature has a remarkable way of inspiring creativity with its colors, shapes, and patterns. A fresh environment can shift your perspective and help you focus again. 

13 Best UI inspiration sources

These comprehensive selections of the best UI inspiration sources will provide exceptional user interface design inspiration and help you stay current with trends and best practices in the field.

A. Look at existing designs

Exploring designs created by others is one of the best ways to spark new UI ideas. It’s lik e peeking into a treasure chest full of creativity! There are so many platforms, each with something unique to offer. Here’s a closer look at where you can find your next burst of inspiration:

1. Pinterest: Find the most trending inspiration for UI  

Pinterest is a treasure trove of creative inspiration, often likened to a virtual scrapbook. It allows users to discover, save, and organize ideas into mood boards, making it a perfect tool for visual thinkers. 

For designers, it serves as a gateway to a wide range of aesthetic concepts, color schemes, and layout ideas. Whether you’re looking for minimalistic themes or bold, avant-garde designs, 

Pinterest offers a constant stream of the best UI inspiration. By curating mood boards, designers can spot emerging design trends and find fresh creative direction for their projects.

Explore Pinterest and find your next big UI inspiration from here.

2. Dribbble: Take UI inspiration from originality

Dribbble is one of the most popular platforms for designers. It offers a space for creative professionals to showcase their portfolios. It is a hub for UI/UX design, animations, branding, and digital illustrations. 

The platform allows users to browse bite-sized “shots” of design work, providing quick glimpses of creative concepts. Designers often use Dribbble to find the best UI inspiration for specific components, like website hero sections, mobile app screens, and micro-interactions. 

It also acts as a social community, encouraging feedback and collaboration among designers, making it ideal for those looking to push the boundaries of creative design.

Explore the Dribbble platform from here.

3. Behance: Best to find comprehensive design concepts

Behance is a platform that showcases polished, high-quality design portfolios from creative professionals worldwide.

Unlike Dribbble’s quick “shot” format, Behance projects are more comprehensive, often containing complete case studies with detailed explanations of the design process. 

This makes Behance ideal for in-depth exploration of UI design concepts. From graphic design to UI/UX and branding, Behance presents real-world projects that highlight both design’s technical and conceptual aspects.

It’s the perfect resource for designers seeking thorough inspiration for UI and practical insights.

Explore the Behance design platform from here.

4. Instagram: Best for constant UI updates

While Instagram is commonly associated with lifestyle content, it also serves as a powerhouse for design inspiration. 

Many designers, agencies, and design communities share creative works under hashtags like #UIDesign, #UXDesign, and #DesignInspiration.

Scrolling through your feed exposes you to bite-sized design lessons, beautiful UI designs, and artistic animations. 

Following individual designers, agencies or creative accounts like Daily Design Ideas, also provides daily visual and UI inspiration. Unlike other platforms that focus on portfolios, Instagram consistently gives you creative nudges, keeping you inspired.

Explore Instagram and find the best UI design trends here.

5. Awwwards: Most recognized source for UI inspirations

Awwwards is a prestigious platform celebrating the most innovative and well-designed websites worldwide. Every site featured on Awwwards has undergone a rigorous review process, ensuring that only the best of the best make it to the platform. 

It is a go-to UI/UX design resource for web designers looking for cutting-edge navigation, layout, visual effects, and responsiveness ideas. 

Each featured website has ratings for design, usability, and creativity, making it easy for designers to identify industry-leading trends. 

Awwwards offers an endless supply of fresh, high-impact inspiration for UI for anyone working on a web design project.

Explore Awwwards to find your next best UI design from here.

6. Typewolf: Best to find creative design ideas

Typography is a crucial design element, and Typewolf is a dedicated platform for font enthusiasts. It showcases unique typefaces in action, displaying how they are used in real-world design projects. 

Typewolf helps designers pick the perfect typeface for their projects by highlighting creative font pairings and providing context on usage. 

It also features guides on popular and timeless typefaces, offering an essential reference point for designers who want to give their UI projects a distinctive look.

If you’re searching for that “just-right” font to include in your next design, Typewolf is the ideal platform.

Explore Typewolf’s design platform from here.

7. Canva: Find UI inspiration by creating mood boards

While Canva is primarily a design tool, it also plays a crucial role in inspiration. It allows users to create mood boards to collect and visualize design ideas in a single space. 

This visual platform helps designers identify themes, UX UI design trends, and recurring elements across various design platforms. The simplicity of Canva’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for users to create visually appealing mood boards. 

By grouping the best UI inspirations into one space, designers can identify design directions and better communicate their ideas to clients or team members.

Explore Canva to find the best UI designs from here.

B. Turn to design blogs

Design blogs are a goldmine if you’re looking for deeper insights and a better understanding of design principles. They offer advice, industry trends, and practical tips to sharpen your skills. Let’s explore some must-visit blogs and what they bring to the table:

8. Octet Design Journal: Find the best UI design inspirations 

The Octet Design Journal is a knowledge hub for UI/UX designers, researchers, and creative thinkers. It offers insightful content on design processes, research methodologies, and industry trends. 

The design journal features in-depth articles on user journey mapping, participatory design, and user experience strategies. It aims to provide practical guidance that helps designers stay ahead of the curve. 

With a strong focus on quality and relevance, Octet Design Journal serves as a go-to UI UX design resource for those looking to deepen their understanding of human-centered design and stay updated on the latest in the design industry.

Designers can subscribe to their design newsletter for daily inspiration for UI and the creative industry.

Start reading Octet Design Journal to get the best UI inspirations.

9. UX Myths: Unlearn the best UI design myths

UX Myths aims to debunk common misconceptions about user experience design. 

By challenging false assumptions — like “users don’t scroll” or “more choices increase user satisfaction” — the platform offers designers a chance to design with evidence, not guesswork. 

Each myth is supported by research, making it an excellent UI UX design resource for data-driven design decisions. 

Designers can use these insights to avoid pitfalls in the user experience and create interfaces that align with actual human behavior.

Explore UX Myths to find the UI design inspiration from here.

10. UX Planet: An UI UX design resource for every designer

UX Planet is a well-rounded UI UX design resource that covers everything from basic design concepts to more advanced methodologies.

It is known for its practical advice on design thinking, usability, and user research. 

Whether you’re a beginner seeking foundational guidance or an experienced designer exploring UI design trends, its broad content allows designers to improve their theoretical knowledge and hands-on design skills.

Explore UX Planet to understand UI design from here.

11. Smashing Magazine: Be updated on UI design trends

Smashing Magazine is one of the most comprehensive sources of UI design inspiration. Its content goes beyond design and delves into accessibility and web performance. 

It features in-depth tutorials, best practices, and case studies on UI/UX design, responsive design, and front-end development. 

Smashing Magazine is particularly useful for designers looking to balance creativity and functionality. It’s a go-to UI UX design resource for web designers who want to stay ahead of the curve in user experience design.

Explore Smashing Magazine UI design articles from here.

12. UX Movement: Find ideas for digital interfaces

UX Movement focuses on user behavior and how it shapes the design of digital interfaces.

Its articles highlight the “why” behind design decisions, helping designers create interfaces that align with user psychology. 

The platform is known for offering actionable tips on improving usability and conversion rates. With an emphasis on user-first thinking, UX Movement empowers designers to create intuitive and seamless experiences for end-users.

Explore UX Movement’s design platform from here.

13. Nielsen Norman Group (NNG): Best UI inspiration for large-scale designs

Nielsen Norman Group is considered a gold standard in UI UX research. 

Their platform provides deeply researched insights on usability and human-computer interaction. Articles are backed by usability testing and case studies, making it a go-to UI UX design resource for evidence-based design principles. 

For designers who prefer scientific, data-driven explanations for design decisions, NNG offers comprehensive reports and thought leadership that shape the future of UI UX design. 

It benefits those seeking UI design inspiration for enterprise-level projects or large-scale web applications.

Explore Nielsen Norman Group’s design platform from here.

C. Explore beyond the screen

The internet isn’t always the best place to find the best UI inspiration. With so much content available, it can sometimes leave you feeling more stuck than inspired. 

When that happens, step away from the screen and explore these alternative sources:

Art: 

Visiting art galleries or studying classic and modern works can open your mind to new possibilities. 

Look at how artists play with colors, shapes, and textures, and consider how you can translate those ideas into your UI designs. Even abstract art can spark unique concepts that break away from the usual design trends.

Books:

Explore science fiction, fantasy, or historical novels to expand your imagination. 

These genres often describe worlds and technologies that don’t exist yet, offering fresh perspectives that can influence futuristic and innovative designs.

Design Books can help you think beyond the screen and dream up genuinely original concepts.

Chat and Collaborate: 

Inspiration often comes from interaction. Share your thoughts with teammates or join design communities to bounce ideas around. 

Sometimes, a casual conversation or brainstorming session can shift your thinking and uncover UI design ideas you wouldn’t have come up with alone.

Collaboration sparks creativity and helps you see challenges from different angles.

Even if you’re working on a specific project, like planning a business setup in DHCC (Dubai Healthcare City), discussions with peers or consultants might inspire innovative approaches to UI design that align with professional standards.

D. Follow trends thoughtfully

While trends can be exciting, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. Here are some you might want to explore:

Gamification: 

Gamification involves adding game-like elements to your design, such as points, rewards, or challenges, to make the UI experience more engaging. 

For example, app progress trackers or badges can motivate users to interact more frequently and achieve specific goals, turning mundane tasks into fun activities.

Nostalgia:  

Nostalgia in design involves using elements and looks from earlier design periods, such as classic fonts, prior colours, or earlier graphic design styles. 

This trend taps into users’ emotions since the design seems to evoke autobiographical memories, which bring about feelings of comfort.

Dark Mode: 

Dark mode employs black or grey as the foreground color to provide a contemporary look to our design. It reduces eye strain in low-light environments and has become a preferred option for users who want an elegant and minimalist aesthetic.

Microinteractions: 

Microinteractions are tiny, often subtle animations or design elements that respond to user actions. For example, a heart fills up when you “like” something, or a button subtly vibrates when clicked. 

These small details add personality to your UI design, improve usability, and create a more enjoyable user experience. 

To sum up, trust your intuition

Remember, no platform or trend can replace your creative instincts. You’ve got a unique perspective that algorithms can’t replicate. 

Combine the best design tools, your experiences, observations, and insights to create something meaningful. Best UI Inspiration often strikes when you stop overthinking and trust your instincts.

Frequently asked questions

How do you find inspiration for UI?

You can find inspiration for UI design from a variety of sources, including:

• Design Platforms: Explore Dribbble, Behance, and Awwwards for creative and innovative UI designs.
• Competitor Analysis: Look at how competitors design their interfaces to find ideas and avoid redundancy.
• Social Media: Follow design communities on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest to stay updated with emerging trends.
• Books & Blogs: Read books like “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug or design blogs like Smashing Magazine.
• Real-World Interactions: Pay attention to real-world objects and systems (like airport kiosks or ATMs) for inspiration.

Where can I find visual inspiration?

Here are some great sources for visual inspiration:

• Online Design Galleries: Dribbble, Behance, Awwwards, and Uplabs.
• UI/UX Blogs: Smashing Magazine, UX Design.cc, and Nielsen Norman Group.
• Social Media Feeds: Follow #UIDesign and #UXTrends on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
• Design Communities: Participate in challenges like 100 Days of UI or Daily UI.
• Apps & Websites: Study the UI/UX of popular apps like Airbnb, Notion, and Spotify.

What is the trend in UI/UX for 2025?

While 2025 is still on the horizon, here are some predicted trends:

• AI-Powered Interfaces: AI-driven design systems and tools that create personalized user experiences.
• Immersive Experiences: Rise of AR/VR interfaces for e-commerce, education, and entertainment.
• Voice and Gesture Interfaces: Voice-activated UIs will become more prominent with the growth of smart devices.
• Sustainability & Ethics in Design: Designers will emphasize accessibility, sustainability, and ethical design practices.
• Super Minimalism: Interfaces will become minimal, focusing on essential elements with a seamless, frictionless user journey.

What is modern UI design called?

Modern UI design is often referred to as:

• Neumorphism: A soft, 3D-like aesthetic with subtle shadows and highlights.
• Glassmorphism: The “frosted glass” effect, offering transparency and layered depth.
• Skeuomorphism 2.0: While skeuomorphism (design mimicking real-world objects) was considered outdated, it’s making a comeback in a more refined, subtle form.
• Minimalism: Clean, clutter-free, and functional design that prioritizes user needs.
• Material Design 3: Google’s design language with an emphasis on customization, dynamic color themes, and adaptability.