How to Recreate Famous App Designs with AI (Instagram, Uber, Airbnb)

Want to build something that looks as polished as Instagram or Uber? Recreating successful app designs is one of the fastest ways to understand what makes great UI work—and now AI makes it surprisingly achievable.

This isn't about copying to ship. It's about learning by building. When you recreate a screen from Spotify or Airbnb, you internalize design patterns that took billion-dollar companies years to perfect.

Here's how to recreate famous app interfaces using AI design tools, with specific examples you can follow today.

Why Recreating Famous Apps Works

Professional designers have a secret: they study existing designs obsessively. Recreating interfaces teaches you:

• Pattern recognition — You start seeing why certain layouts work
• Detail awareness — You notice spacing, colors, and typography you'd otherwise miss
• Confidence building — Creating something that looks professional changes how you see your abilities
• Reference building — You build a personal library of patterns to draw from

Every designer you admire has done this. The difference now is that AI tools let you do it in minutes instead of hours. For a comprehensive walkthrough of the cloning process, see our guide on how to clone any app's design with AI.

Recreate any app: Use GenDesigns' Clone UI Design feature to recreate famous interfaces — describe or screenshot any app and get a customizable version instantly.

The Recreate-and-Learn Method

Here's the process we'll use for each app:

1. Analyze the original — What makes this screen work?
2. Break it into components — Header, content, navigation
3. Write an AI prompt — Describe the screen precisely
4. Generate and compare — See what the AI produces
5. Iterate and refine — Get closer to the original
6. Customize and learn — Make it your own

Let's apply this to some famous apps.

Recreate #1: Instagram Feed

Instagram's feed is deceptively simple. Clean, photo-focused, but packed with subtle details.

What Makes It Work

• Minimal chrome — The content is the star, not the UI
• Clear hierarchy — Username, image, engagement, caption flow naturally
• Generous touch targets — Easy to like, comment, share
• Subtle dividers — Posts are distinct without heavy separators
• Consistent rhythm — Every post follows the same visual pattern

Components to Recreate

Header bar:
- Camera icon (left)
- Instagram logo (center)
- Messenger icon (right)

Story tray:
- Circular avatars with gradient rings
- Horizontal scroll
- "Your Story" first with plus icon

Post card:
- User avatar + username + follow button + menu
- Full-width image
- Action bar: heart, comment, share, bookmark
- Like count
- Caption with username
- Comment preview
- Timestamp

AI Prompt

Create an Instagram-style social media feed screen.

Header:
- Left: Camera icon
- Center: Stylized app logo
- Right: Messenger/DM icon

Story bar at top:
- Horizontal scrolling avatars with colorful gradient ring
- First item is "Your story" with + icon
- Show 6-7 story circles

Feed with 2 posts visible:
Each post has:
- Header: Avatar (32px), username, blue verified checkmark, more menu (...)
- Square photo (full width)
- Action bar: Heart, Comment, Share icons left, Bookmark icon right
- "Liked by user and 1,234 others"
- Caption: Username in bold, then caption text
- "View all 89 comments"
- Timestamp: "2 hours ago"

Bottom navigation:
- Home (filled), Search, Reels, Shop, Profile avatar

Style: Clean white background, black icons and text. Photos should be vibrant. System font (San Francisco style). Minimal use of color except in photos and story rings.

Refinement Tips

• If the icons aren't quite right: "Make the icons thinner/outlined style"
• If spacing feels off: "Add more whitespace between posts"
• If the story ring isn't right: "Story rings should be Instagram's rainbow gradient, not solid colors"

What You'll Learn

• How to create visual hierarchy without color
• The power of consistent spacing
• Why minimal UI lets content shine

Recreate #2: Uber Ride Request

Uber's map-to-ride-request flow is a masterclass in progressive disclosure and clear hierarchy.

What Makes It Work

• Map as canvas — The interface sits on top of real-world context
• Bottom sheet pattern — Information slides up, map slides down
• Clear CTAs — One obvious action at each step
• Price transparency — Cost visible before commitment
• Progress indication — Users always know what's happening

Components to Recreate

Map view:
- Full-screen map with route line
- Pickup and dropoff pins
- ETA display

Bottom sheet (ride options):
- Handle bar at top
- "Choose a ride" heading
- Ride options list:
  - UberX: car icon, name, capacity, price, ETA
  - Uber Comfort: same structure
  - UberXL: same structure
- Promo code banner (optional)
- "Choose UberX" button (primary CTA)

Header overlay:
- Back arrow
- Pickup: address
- Dropoff: address
- Time selector

AI Prompt

Create an Uber-style ride request screen with map and bottom sheet.

Map area (top 60% of screen):
- Street map showing route between two points
- Blue route line connecting pickup (green) and dropoff (red) markers
- Car icons showing nearby drivers

Header overlay on map:
- Back arrow (top left)
- Two-line address display:
  - Green dot: "350 5th Avenue" (pickup)
  - Red dot: "JFK Airport Terminal 4" (dropoff)

Bottom sheet (40% of screen, rounded top corners):
- Drag handle centered at top
- "Choose a ride" as section header

Ride options (vertical list):
- UberX: Car silhouette, "UberX", "4 min away", "$24-28"
- Comfort: Premium car icon, "Comfort", "6 min away", "$32-38"
- UberXL: SUV icon, "UberXL • 6 seats", "8 min away", "$38-45"
- Each option is tappable, show selected state on UberX

Primary button at bottom: "Choose UberX" (black button, white text)

Style: Clean, minimal. Map in muted colors. Black primary actions. Gray secondary text. Sans-serif system font.

Refinement Tips

• "Make the selected ride option highlighted with a border"
• "Add subtle shadow to the bottom sheet"
• "Show a small surge indicator on one of the ride options"

What You'll Learn

• How bottom sheets work on top of map interfaces
• Progressive disclosure of information
• Pricing presentation that builds confidence

Recreate #3: Airbnb Listing Card

Airbnb's listing cards pack massive amounts of information into a beautiful, scannable format.

What Makes It Work

• Photo carousel — Multiple images in one card
• Information density — Location, rating, price, dates—all visible
• Wishlist affordance — Heart icon on every image
• Consistent rhythm — Easy to scan multiple listings
• Trust signals — Ratings, superhost badges

Components to Recreate

Listing card:
- Image carousel with dots indicator
- Heart icon (wishlist) on top right of image
- Location and distance
- Star rating + review count
- Date range available
- Price per night + total

Search/explore screen:
- Header: Location, dates, guests
- Filter chips
- Listing grid/list

AI Prompt

Create an Airbnb-style search results screen showing rental listings.

Header:
- Search bar showing: "Tokyo • Nov 1-7 • 2 guests"
- Filter button with icon

Filter chips (horizontal scroll):
- "Price", "Type of place", "Free cancellation", "Self check-in"

Listings (vertical scroll, 2 cards visible):

Listing card 1:
- Image carousel (show dots for 5 images)
- Heart icon (outline) top-right corner of image
- "Guest favorite" badge on image (if applicable)
- Below image:
  - "Shibuya, Tokyo" (location)
  - "5 km away" (distance)
  - "★ 4.92 (128)" - rating
  - "Nov 1-6" - available dates
  - "$142 night · $852 total"

Listing card 2:
- Similar structure
- "Superhost" badge
- Different price point

Bottom navigation:
- Explore, Wishlists, Trips, Inbox, Profile

Style: White background, black text. Rounded corners on cards and images. Red for heart when filled. Pink accents sparingly. Modern, clean, lots of whitespace between cards.

Refinement Tips

• "Show the image carousel dots more prominently"
• "Add a subtle shadow to the listing cards"
• "Make the Superhost badge gold colored"

What You'll Learn

• How to pack information without clutter
• Image carousel patterns for mobile
• Trust-building through UI elements

Recreate #4: Spotify Now Playing

Spotify's now-playing screen is pure focus: the music is everything.

What Makes It Work

• Album art dominance — The visual takes up most of the screen
• Minimal controls — Only what's essential
• Color extraction — Background adapts to album art
• Progress visibility — Clear sense of song position
• Gestural interface — Swipe down to dismiss

Components to Recreate

Now playing screen:
- Album art (large, centered)
- Song title + artist
- Device/speaker indicator
- Progress bar with timestamps
- Control bar: shuffle, previous, play/pause, next, repeat
- Volume slider (optional)
- Bottom bar: device, share, queue

Mini player (collapsed state):
- Album art thumbnail
- Song + artist
- Play/pause
- Next track

AI Prompt

Create a Spotify-style now playing music screen.

Background: Gradient derived from album artwork colors (dark purple fading to black)

Top bar:
- Down chevron (left) to collapse
- "PLAYING FROM PLAYLIST" label (center)
- Menu dots (right)

Album artwork:
- Large square image (80% of screen width)
- Centered
- Subtle shadow
- Rounded corners

Song info (below artwork):
- Song title: "Blinding Lights" (large, bold, white)
- Artist: "The Weeknd" (gray, smaller)
- Heart icon (outline) to right of song title

Progress bar:
- Thin line showing playback position (green fill on gray)
- "1:42" on left, "3:20" on right

Playback controls (centered):
- Shuffle icon (gray when off, green when on)
- Previous track (large)
- Play/Pause (large circle with icon, filled)
- Next track (large)
- Repeat icon

Bottom bar:
- Device icon with "iPhone" label (left)
- Share button (right)

Style: Dark theme, Spotify green (#1DB954) for active elements. Album art colors should influence the background gradient. Clean iconography.

Refinement Tips

• "Make the background gradient match the album art colors (warm oranges and reds)"
• "Add a subtle blur to the background behind the album art"
• "Show lyrics button in the bottom bar"

What You'll Learn

• How to let content drive design decisions
• Color extraction and dynamic theming
• Creating focus in a distraction-free interface

Recreate #5: TikTok Full-Screen Video

TikTok pioneered the full-screen vertical video interface that's now everywhere.

What Makes It Work

• Content is the interface — Video IS the background
• Edge controls — All UI at screen edges
• Vertical engagement column — Profile, like, comment, share stacked
• Minimal but powerful — Few elements, maximum impact
• Sound-first design — Music visualization and attribution

Components to Recreate

Full-screen video player:
- Video fills entire screen
- Swipe up for next video

Right sidebar (engagement):
- Profile avatar with + follow
- Heart + count
- Comment + count
- Bookmark + count
- Share icon

Bottom overlay:
- Username with follow button
- Caption text (expandable)
- Sound/song attribution with marquee

Top bar (subtle):
- Following / For You tabs
- Search icon

AI Prompt

Create a TikTok-style full-screen vertical video interface.

Background: Full-screen video content (show a lifestyle/dance scene)

Top bar (semi-transparent):
- "Following" and "For You" tabs (For You is active, white underline)
- Search icon (right)

Right sidebar (bottom third of screen, right edge):
- Creator avatar (40px circle) with red + button below it
- Heart icon + "482K" (like count)
- Chat bubble icon + "3.2K" (comment count)
- Bookmark icon + "52K" (saves)
- Share arrow icon
- Spinning record icon (sound visualization)
(All icons are white with slight shadow for visibility)

Bottom overlay (left side):
- "@username" (bold, white)
- Caption: "This is the caption text that can be multiple lines... more"
- Music note icon + scrolling text: "Original Sound - Artist Name"

Progress bar:
- Thin line at very bottom showing video progress (red fill)

Style: All UI is white with subtle drop shadows for legibility against video. No background colors except video. Icons are outlined/stroke style.

Refinement Tips

• "Add more shadow behind the icons for better video contrast"
• "Make the music attribution scroll like a marquee"
• "Show the duet/stitch icons in the share area"

What You'll Learn

• Full-bleed media interfaces
• UI legibility on variable backgrounds
• Engagement optimization through placement

Recreate #6: WhatsApp Chat

WhatsApp's chat interface is a masterclass in simplicity and clarity.

What Makes It Work

• Bubble differentiation — Instantly clear who said what
• Time grouping — Messages clustered by time
• Status indicators — Sent, delivered, read visible but subtle
• Input focus — Easy to type and send
• Minimal decoration — Pure communication

Components to Recreate

Chat screen:
- Header: Back, avatar, name, online status, call icons
- Message list:
  - Received messages (left, white/light gray)
  - Sent messages (right, green)
  - Timestamps
  - Read receipts (blue checkmarks)
- Input bar: Attach, text field, emoji, voice

Chat list screen:
- Chats with avatar, name, last message, time, unread badge

AI Prompt

Create a WhatsApp-style chat conversation screen.

Header (green background):
- Back arrow (white)
- Contact avatar (36px circle)
- Name: "Sarah Chen"
- Status: "online" (smaller, light text)
- Video call icon
- Phone call icon
- Menu dots

Chat area (light beige/cream background):

Time divider: "TODAY" (centered, gray text in rounded pill)

Messages:
- Received (left, white bubble, rounded):
  "Hey! Are you coming to the party tonight?"
  "7:42 PM"

- Sent (right, light green bubble):
  "Yes! What time does it start?"
  "7:43 PM" + double blue checkmark (read)

- Received:
  "8pm at Jake's place. Want me to pick you up?"
  "7:45 PM"

- Sent:
  "That would be great! I'll be ready by 7:30"
  "7:46 PM" + double gray checkmark (delivered, not read)

- Received:
  "Perfect! See you then 🎉"
  "7:47 PM"

Input bar (white background):
- Emoji icon (left)
- "Message" placeholder text
- Attach icon (paperclip)
- Camera icon
- Voice message icon (microphone, green circle when text is empty)

Style: WhatsApp green (#25D366) for header and sent bubbles. Clean, simple. System font.

Refinement Tips

• "Add the subtle pattern/wallpaper to the chat background"
• "Show typing indicator animation in the chat"
• "Add reply-swipe affordance to messages"

What You'll Learn

• Chat UI conventions that billions use
• Status indication without clutter
• Input area design for messaging

Recreate #7: Apple Music Library

Apple Music showcases how to blend content browsing with beautiful presentation.

What Makes It Work

• Large artwork — Album art celebrated, not thumbnailed
• Clear categories — Easy to navigate library sections
• iOS-native feel — Follows platform conventions exactly
• Recently added priority — What you care about most is prominent
• Search integration — Always accessible

AI Prompt

Create an Apple Music-style library screen for iOS.

Header:
- Large title: "Library" (iOS large title style)
- Search bar below title

Library sections (list with chevrons):
- Playlists (music note icon)
- Artists (person icon)
- Albums (album icon)
- Songs (music icon)
- Downloaded (download arrow icon)
(Each row has icon, label, and right chevron)

"Recently Added" section:
- Section header with "Recently Added" + "See All"
- Grid of 2x3 album artworks:
  - Square album art
  - Album name below (1 line, truncate)
  - Artist name (gray, smaller)
(Albums should look like real album covers with vibrant art)

Now Playing bar (bottom, above tab bar):
- Album artwork thumbnail
- Song title + artist
- Play/pause button

Tab bar:
- Listen Now, Browse, Radio, Library (selected), Search
(Library icon is filled/selected)

Style: iOS native look. Pink/red accent color (#FA2D48). White background. SF Pro font. Standard iOS spacing and sizing.

What You'll Learn

• iOS design conventions and patterns
• Large title navigation
• Grid layouts for media

Customizing After Recreation

Once you've recreated a screen, the real learning begins. Try these exercises:

Change the Category

Take your Instagram clone and adapt it for:

• A recipe sharing app
• A real estate listing feed
• A fitness workout feed

The structure stays; the content and details change.

Change the Platform

Recreated an iOS screen? Now make it Android Material Design:

• Different navigation patterns
• Material components
• Android iconography

Solve a Problem

Your recreated Uber screen works for rides. Adapt it for:

• Food delivery
• Package tracking
• Appointment booking

Common Mistakes When Recreating

Mistake 1: Ignoring the Details

The difference between "close enough" and "professional" is in tiny details: 4px vs 8px spacing, 400 vs 500 font weight, rounded corners consistency.

Fix: Zoom in on the original. Measure everything mentally.

Mistake 2: Wrong Platform Conventions

iOS and Android have different patterns. Recreating an iOS app using Android conventions (or vice versa) creates cognitive dissonance.

Fix: Specify the platform in your prompt. Know the conventions.

Mistake 3: Stopping at First Generation

AI-generated screens need iteration. The first output is a starting point, not the finish line.

Fix: Plan for 3-5 iterations minimum. Compare against the original.

Mistake 4: Copying Without Understanding

Recreation without analysis is just copying. The value is in understanding why design decisions were made.

Fix: Before generating, write down what makes the original work. After generating, evaluate against those criteria. Better prompts lead to better results — our prompt engineering guide dives deep into this.

Building Your Design Library

As you recreate different apps, you build a mental library of patterns:

• Navigation patterns — Tab bars, drawers, stacks
• Content patterns — Cards, lists, grids
• Input patterns — Forms, search, filters
• Feedback patterns — Loading, success, error states

This library becomes your design vocabulary. When starting a new project, you'll naturally think "this needs a TikTok-style full-bleed layout" or "Uber's bottom sheet pattern would work here."

Tools for Recreation

For AI Generation

GenDesigns — Describe screens in plain English, get complete mobile UI. Great for rapid recreation and iteration.

For Analysis

Mobbin — Searchable database of app screenshots. Perfect for finding screens to recreate.

Screenlane — Curated mobile design inspiration.

UI Sources — Real app flows and screens.

For Comparison

Figma — Import screenshots and overlay your recreations to compare.

Next Steps

Pick one app from this guide and recreate it today. Don't aim for perfect—aim for understanding.

Once you've recreated 3-5 screens from different apps, you'll notice patterns that transcend any individual app. That pattern recognition is the real goal.

Then apply what you've learned to your own projects. The screens you create will look better because you've studied the best.

Resources

• GenDesigns — AI app design tool for rapid recreation
• Mobbin — 300,000+ mobile screenshots for reference
• Apple HIG — iOS design conventions
• Material Design — Android design conventions
• Learn UI Design by Cloning Apps — Companion guide to this article

Related reading:

• How to Clone Any App's Design with AI - Complete cloning guide
• Learn UI Design by Cloning Apps - Educational approach
• 15 Best AI App Design Tools in 2026 - Tools for recreation