UpLabs.com Shutting Down - The End of a Popular Design Resource Hub

In an unexpected move within the design community, UpLabs.com has officially announced that it will be shuttering operations on June 1, 2024.

The pioneering website, a hub for designers seeking inspiration, resources, jobs and community connection, cited the rapid adoption of AI technologies in the design field as the primary driver behind this difficult decision.

Three Alternatives to Uplabs

With the end of UpLabs, are there any alternatives to take its place?

feedme.designChris Kernaghan

The news came via an email addressed to UpLabs subscribers, where the company stated, "It is with a heavy heart...that we must announce the upcoming closure of UpLabs. Our last day of operation will be June 1st, 2024. As AI continues to reshape our industry and transform the way we approach creativity and design, UpLabs has struggled to keep pace."

Since its inception, UpLabs has positioned itself as a one-stop shop for designers worldwide. Its marketplace allowed creatives to buy and sell digital products, while its extensive library offered a treasure trove of free resources like web templates, UI kits, fonts and icons.

The platform also hosted a thriving community forum, design challenges and a job board.

However, the breakneck pace of AI advancements has disrupted many established business models, with UpLabs becoming one of the latest apparent casualties. While they haven't specified how this is the case, they're not the first creative platform to announce they're retiring as businesses shift to other models.

The proliferation of AI-powered design tools has opened up the design process to non-traditional creatives, "democratising" what was once a more exclusive space - for better, or for worse.

I'm In Disbelief

The shutdown has left many UpLabs loyalists reeling.

"I'm in disbelief," said Mia Jones, a feedme.design writer and designer who has been an UpLabs user since 2018. "UpLabs was my go-to for pretty much everything - from downloading freebies to participating in challenges that helped stretch my skills. I'm going to really miss this platform."

As the design world braces for a post-UpLabs reality, the community is already looking for alternatives to fill the void.

Dribble, Behance and Envato Elements are a few options being discussed looking to continue accessing resources, job opportunities and connecting with other designers.

Three Alternatives to Uplabs

With the end of UpLabs, are there any alternatives to take its place?

feedme.designChris Kernaghan

UpLabs has assured customers that they can continue using the platform until the June 1st shutdown date. But for many, this imminent closure represents the end of an era and a stark reminder of how rapidly AI is transforming creative fields.

We hope this message finds you well. It is with a heavy heart and, after much deliberation, that we must announce the upcoming closure of UpLabs. Our last day of operation will be June 1st, 2024. As AI continues to reshape our industry and transform the way we approach creativity and design, UpLabs has struggled to keep pace. 

We invite you to make the most of UpLabs until then. If you have any questions, please refer to our terms and conditions here. 

We appreciate your understanding and support, and thank you for being part of this community!