Every professional designer has a secret they rarely advertise: they learned by copying.

Not passing off other work as their own—but studying, recreating, and internalizing the patterns that make great design work. Musicians learn covers before writing originals. Writers study the greats before finding their voice. Designers clone apps before creating their own.

This guide shows you exactly how to use app cloning as a learning method, structured so you build real skills instead of just making copies. For the hands-on walkthrough of cloning specific apps, see our companion guide: How to Clone Any App's Design with AI.

Why Cloning Works (According to Learning Science)

Cloning apps isn't a shortcut—it's an accelerant backed by learning research.

Active Learning vs. Passive Observation

Looking at designs on Dribbble is passive. Recreating them is active. Active learning requires you to make decisions: "What font size is that? How much padding? Why this color, not that one?"

Those decisions force understanding that browsing never provides.

Deliberate Practice

Psychologist Anders Ericsson's research on expertise shows that improvement requires deliberate practice: focused efforts to improve specific skills with immediate feedback.

Cloning provides this:

Specific skill focus — You practice exactly the pattern you want to learn
Immediate feedback — Compare your clone to the original and see gaps
Progressive difficulty — Start simple, tackle complexity as skills grow

Pattern Recognition Development

Expert designers don't start from scratch—they recognize which patterns apply to which problems. Cloning builds this pattern library.

After recreating 10 different apps, you'll recognize that:

E-commerce apps use card-based product grids
Chat apps use bubble differentiation for conversations
Fitness apps often use dark modes with progress visualizations
Finance apps need strong number hierarchy

This recognition is the foundation of design intuition.

The Clone-to-Learn Framework

Not all cloning is equally useful. Here's a structured approach that maximizes learning.

Phase 1: Analysis (Before You Clone)

Before recreating anything, spend 5-10 minutes analyzing:

Screenshot and study the original

Take screenshots of every screen in the flow
Note what draws your eye first (visual hierarchy)
Identify repeating patterns (consistency)
Count the elements on screen (complexity management)

Ask "why" questions

Why is the primary action that color?
Why is navigation at the bottom, not the top?
Why is there so much whitespace here?
Why are these elements grouped together?

Document your observations Write 3-5 sentences about what makes this design effective. This forces articulation that deepens understanding.

Phase 2: Breakdown (Component Identification)

Deconstruct the screen into components:

Layout structure

How is the screen divided? Header, content, navigation?
What's the grid system? Full-width, columns, cards?
Where are the edges and margins?

Typography inventory

How many text styles are used?
What's the hierarchy? (size, weight, color)
What font family?

Color audit

What's the primary color?
What's the secondary/accent?
How is color used for meaning?

Interactive elements

Where are the buttons?
What's tappable vs. informational?
How are touch targets sized?

Phase 3: Recreation (The Clone)

Now recreate the screen using AI or traditional tools.

If using AI (GenDesigns, etc.):

Write a detailed prompt describing what you observed
Generate the first version
Compare against the original
Iterate with refinements until close

If using design tools (Figma, etc.):

Set up the canvas at the correct device size
Build the layout structure first
Add typography
Apply colors
Add details and polish

Phase 4: Comparison (Learning Extraction)

Put your clone next to the original. Be honest about differences:

What did you miss?

Elements you forgot entirely
Proportions that are off
Details you simplified

What did you learn?

Patterns you now understand
Techniques you want to remember
Decisions that surprised you

What would you do differently?

Things the original does that you'd improve
Alternative approaches that might work

Phase 5: Variation (Making It Yours)

The final step: change something meaningful.

Different color scheme
Different content type (recipe app structure, but for workouts)
Different target audience (same app, but for seniors)

This variation proves you understand the pattern, not just the specific implementation.

10-Week Cloning Curriculum

Here's a structured path from beginner to intermediate UI designer.

Weeks 1-2: Simple Screens

Start with screens that have minimal complexity.

Week 1 Projects:

Settings screen (iOS or Android)
About/Profile screen
Empty state screen
Simple list screen

What you're learning: Basic layout, typography hierarchy, standard patterns

Week 2 Projects:

Login/signup form
Search results list
Simple card-based feed
Notification center

What you're learning: Forms, lists, repetition, status indication

Weeks 3-4: Content-Heavy Screens

Add complexity with more content types.

Week 3 Projects:

E-commerce product detail page (like Amazon or Shopify)
Article reading view (like Medium)
Map with overlay UI (like Google Maps)

What you're learning: Information density, reading experience, layered UI

Week 4 Projects:

Social media post (Instagram or Twitter)
Messaging conversation (WhatsApp or iMessage)
Music player now-playing screen

What you're learning: User-generated content display, media interfaces

Weeks 5-6: Navigation Patterns

Focus on how screens connect.

Week 5 Projects:

Tab bar navigation (Instagram, Spotify)
Drawer/hamburger navigation
Segmented control tabs

What you're learning: Navigation paradigms, state indication, wayfinding

Week 6 Projects:

Bottom sheet pattern (Uber, Apple Maps)
Modal presentations
Onboarding flow (3-4 screens)

What you're learning: Layered navigation, flow design, progressive disclosure

Weeks 7-8: Interactive Patterns

Explore UI that responds to user input.

Week 7 Projects:

Filter/sort interface
Multi-select list with actions
Swipe-to-reveal actions
Date/time picker usage

What you're learning: Selection patterns, bulk actions, gesture affordances

Week 8 Projects:

Real-time search with results
Infinite scroll feed
Pull-to-refresh
Loading states and skeletons

What you're learning: Dynamic content, feedback patterns, perceived performance

Weeks 9-10: Full App Flows

Clone complete user journeys.

Week 9 Project: Choose one app and recreate 5-7 connected screens:

Spotify: Browse → Playlist → Now Playing → Queue → Search
Uber: Home → Pickup → Ride Selection → Confirmation → Trip

What you're learning: Flow consistency, state management, journey coherence

Week 10 Project: Design your own simple app (3-5 screens) using patterns you've learned:

Pick a problem you actually have
Apply patterns from your cloning library
Create something original using borrowed structure

What you're learning: Pattern application, original design thinking

Cloning Exercises for Specific Skills

Target your practice to fill specific gaps.

For Better Visual Hierarchy

Clone these screens known for clear hierarchy:

Calm app home screen (focus on single action)
Stripe dashboard (complex data, clear hierarchy)
Apple Store product page (scannable feature lists)

Focus: Squint at the screen. What's visible when blurred? That's hierarchy.

For Better Typography

Clone these screens known for excellent type:

Medium article view (long-form reading)
Airbnb listing page (information density)
Notion page (varied content types)

Focus: How many type styles are used? How do size, weight, and color create distinction?

For Better Color Usage

Clone these screens known for distinctive color:

Spotify (dark theme with green accents)
Duolingo (playful, multiple colors with meaning)
Cash App (bold, minimal palette)

Focus: How many colors are actually used? What does each color mean?

For Better Spacing

Clone these screens known for excellent spacing:

Apple apps (consistent, generous margins)
Linear (precise, systematic spacing)
Things 3 (breathing room that adds to premium feel)

Focus: Measure the margins. Are they consistent? What's the rhythm?

For Better Mobile Patterns

Clone these screens to understand mobile conventions:

iOS Settings (standard platform patterns)
Material Design showcase apps (Android conventions)
Apps that do both well (Slack, Figma)

Focus: What's the same across platforms? What's different?

Using AI to Accelerate Cloning

AI design tools supercharge the cloning process.

Speed Advantage

GenDesigns' Clone UI Design feature is purpose-built for this workflow — describe any app or paste a screenshot and get a recreation in seconds. Traditional cloning in Figma takes hours. AI recreation takes minutes. This lets you:

Clone more apps in less time
Iterate faster on refinements
Focus on analysis over production

Better Prompting Through Cloning

Cloning teaches you to describe design precisely—exactly what AI needs.

Before cloning practice: "Make a social media app"

After cloning practice: "Create a social feed with card-based posts. Each card has a user avatar (32px), username with verified badge, timestamp aligned right. Below that, full-width image. Below the image, engagement bar with heart, comment, and share icons left-aligned, bookmark icon right-aligned. Like count in bold, caption below, and 'View all comments' link in gray."

The difference in output quality is dramatic. For more on writing precise design prompts, check our prompt engineering for app design guide.

Effective AI Cloning Prompts

When using AI to clone, structure prompts like this:

Clone the [App Name] [Screen Name] screen.

Layout:
- [Describe top-to-bottom structure]
- [Major sections and their content]

Specific elements:
- [Header details]
- [Content details]
- [Navigation details]

Style:
- [Colors]
- [Typography]
- [Platform conventions]

Important details to capture:
- [Specific elements that define the design]
- [Subtle details that matter]

Iterating Toward Accuracy

After first generation, compare and refine:

"The header needs to be sticky/fixed position" "Increase the spacing between cards" "The icons should be outlined, not filled" "Make the primary color more saturated" "Add subtle shadows to the cards"

Each refinement sharpens both the output and your observation skills.

Building Your Clone Portfolio

As you clone, build a reference library.

Organizing Your Clones

Create a system:

/clones
  /navigation
    - instagram-tab-bar.png
    - uber-bottom-sheet.png
    - gmail-drawer.png
  /lists
    - airbnb-search-results.png
    - spotify-playlist.png
  /forms
    - stripe-checkout.png
    - apple-login.png
  /content
    - medium-article.png
    - twitter-feed.png

Documenting What You Learned

For each clone, write a quick note:

What makes this design work?
What pattern can I reuse?
What was surprising?

These notes become your personal design knowledge base.

Using Clones for Your Projects

When starting a new project, browse your clones:

"This needs a navigation pattern like..."
"The card layout from X would work here..."
"I should use a similar type hierarchy to..."

You're not copying—you're applying learned patterns to new problems.

Common Cloning Mistakes

Mistake 1: Cloning Without Analyzing

Just recreating pixels teaches pixel-pushing, not design thinking.

Fix: Always do the analysis phase first. Write observations before cloning.

Mistake 2: Only Cloning Beautiful Screens

Dribbble designs often prioritize beauty over usability. Clone real, shipped apps.

Fix: Clone from apps with millions of users. Those designs are battle-tested.

Mistake 3: Never Doing the Variation

If you only recreate exactly, you're practicing copying, not designing.

Fix: Always end with a variation. Different content, color, or audience.

Mistake 4: Skipping the Boring Screens

Settings screens, empty states, and error pages matter. They're often where real UX skill shows.

Fix: Clone the mundane screens too. That's where consistency is proven.

Mistake 5: Moving Too Fast

Cloning quickly without reflection builds speed, not understanding.

Fix: Prioritize the analysis and comparison phases. Speed comes with time.

From Cloning to Creating

Cloning is a means to an end: creating original work with confidence.

Signs You're Ready to Create

You can predict what elements a screen will have before looking
You recognize patterns across different apps
You can explain why designs work, not just what they do
You find yourself critiquing apps you use daily
Your prompts get good results on the first try

The Creation Process (Post-Cloning)

When you start original design:

Define the problem — What user need are you solving?
Browse your clone library — What patterns apply?
Sketch structure — Layout and hierarchy before visuals
Apply patterns — Use what you've learned
Refine details — Polish with observed techniques
Test against known good — Does it feel as professional as your references?

Your cloning practice provides the vocabulary. Creating is using that vocabulary to say something new.

Learning Resources

Apps to Clone (By Difficulty)

Beginner:

Apple Calculator
iOS Clock
Settings app
Notes app

Intermediate:

Instagram feed and profile
Spotify playlists and now playing
WhatsApp conversations
Uber ride request

Advanced:

Airbnb search and listing detail
Figma file browser
Linear project view
Notion page with multiple content types

Reference Sites

Mobbin — Searchable app screenshot database. Find any screen.

Screenlane — Curated mobile UI inspiration.

Collect UI — Daily UI design inspiration.

Tools for Cloning

GenDesigns — AI-powered app design. Describe and generate.

Figma — Traditional design tool. Manual but precise.

Framer — Design with real components.

Start cloning today: Try GenDesigns' Clone UI Design feature — describe any app you admire and get a customizable recreation in seconds.

Your First Clone (Start Today)

Don't put this off. Open your phone right now:

Pick an app you use daily
Screenshot one screen
Spend 5 minutes analyzing it (write down 3 observations)
Clone it using AI or design tools
Compare and note what you learned

That's it. One screen. Twenty minutes. You'll learn more than hours of tutorials.

Then do it again tomorrow with a different app.

Thirty clones from now, you'll see design differently. You'll notice patterns everywhere. You'll understand why things work. And your original designs will show the difference.

Resources

Clone UI Design with AI — GenDesigns' dedicated cloning feature
How to Clone Any App's Design with AI — Step-by-step cloning walkthrough
Recreate Famous App Designs with AI — Clone tutorials for Instagram, Uber, Airbnb
How to Design a Mobile App with AI — From clone to original
Prompt Engineering for App Design — Write better prompts for more accurate clones
GenDesigns — AI app design for rapid cloning
Mobbin — App design reference library
iOS Human Interface Guidelines
Material Design 3

Related reading:

How to Clone Any App's Design with AI - Practical cloning guide
Recreate Famous App Designs with AI - Step-by-step recreation
AI App Design Tutorial for Beginners - Beginner design tutorial