Questions are the beginning.
Wondering what this website actually does? You're in the right place. No design experience, AI knowledge, or coding vocabulary needed.
Try a beginner example ↗Read everything in order, or search for the thing you need. Questions expand when you select them.
First, what is this?
No technical knowledge required. These answers explain what Atlas is and how to begin.
What exactly is Prompt-Vault Atlas?
It is a free, open-source learning and reference library for website design, app design and motion. You can look at original visual examples, learn why they work, and copy written instructions (prompts) to help design your own project. Atlas is not a website hosting service or a one-click AI app builder.
Who is Atlas for?
Anyone curious about building digital products: total beginners, students, indie developers, founders, designers and people using AI coding tools. You do not need to know design vocabulary first.
Where do I start if I know absolutely nothing?
Open Start Here. Choose whether you want a website, an app, or just ideas. Look at the sample screen, read the plain-English explanation, then type what you want to make and copy a starting prompt. Use the “Show me around” button on the homepage for an optional guided tour.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
The Atlas website and its original educational prompts and previews are free to browse, with no Atlas sign-in required. Some external design or coding services, libraries, and AI tools may charge their own fees. Atlas does not require you to subscribe to any of them.
What can I actually do on Atlas?
Explore website sections and app-screen flows; inspect illustrative previews; compare device sizes and visual directions where supported; learn interaction, accessibility and design principles; browse research and open-source resources; copy Design, Build and Audit prompts; and watch credited motion-design film references. Atlas teaches and helps you plan a design, but does not claim to finish your application by itself.
From picture to product.
Understand the difference between a preview, a reusable prompt and a shipped application.
Do you show actual website previews?
Yes. The Website Atlas includes 32 original illustrative section studies, and the Concept Field Guide has 100 website concepts plus 100 app concepts with code-rendered sample layouts. The homepage also includes visible examples. These are examples of interface patterns, not 100 fully operating public websites.
Can I preview an entire working website or app here?
Some entries have interactive specimen states and guided page-flow previews, but they are educational studies, not production websites or complete native apps. A checkout screen does not charge money, a login specimen does not authenticate, and an AI chat specimen does not call a live AI model.
Are the website previews screenshots of someone else's sites?
No. The Atlas interface studies are generally original HTML/CSS or browser-rendered demonstrations. They do not claim to be screenshots of real companies. The 15 Motion Film Styles gallery is a separate, clearly credited collection of actual short films streamed from their creator's website.
Why do some previews have a similar layout?
Some concepts share a reusable renderer. Changing the topic or text is not the same as creating an entirely new website design. Treat similar previews as explanations of different decisions, not as unique finished templates.
What is a section, a screen, and a flow?
A section is one part of a page, like the welcome area or FAQ. A screen is one view in an app, like Today or Settings. A flow is the sequence of screens somebody moves through to complete a task, like sign up → choose a goal → see progress.
What is a prompt and how do I use one?
A prompt is plain-English instructions. Open a concept, choose the Design, Build or Audit instructions when available, copy the text, and paste it into your preferred coding or design assistant. Replace sample details with your real audience, brand, content and technical requirements. You can also use the prompt as a checklist without any AI.
Will Atlas automatically build and publish my website?
No. Atlas does not automatically run code, connect your database, build a production app, buy a domain or submit to app stores. It gives you visual references and instructions that you can use with tools such as Cursor, Claude Code or another builder. You still need to implement, test and deploy the finished project.
How do I know which design style is right?
Begin with your visitor's goal. Ask what they need to find or do, what information matters, and whether motion helps or distracts. Compare a few directions in the Style Lab, then check readability, mobile behavior, accessibility and error handling.
Make movement useful.
The motion collections contain different kinds of references. Not every film is a website effect.
What is the difference between Motion Lab, Motion Library and Film Styles?
The Motion Lab contains 23 interface-animation recipes. The Motion Library explains tools such as Motion, GSAP, Locomotive Scroll, React Bits and Three.js through original educational examples. The 15 Motion Film Styles page links to real 10-second films from an external MIT-licensed project. The films teach cinematic animation, not ready-made app widgets.
Does Atlas actually run Motion, GSAP, Three.js or Lenis?
The five-library Motion Library demos are original small browser examples of the concepts, not executions of those named packages. The separate Lenis playground can load real Lenis after you explicitly turn it on. The film gallery streams original videos from their creator's website on request.
Can I copy the films or sell the original media?
Do not assume a film or every included asset is unrestricted. The credited MG Styles 15 repository lists an MIT license for original project material, while some samples, font outlines, pictures and audio resources have separate licensing. Check the specific rights, preserve required notices and build your own creative work rather than implying the examples are yours.
Will animations make my website faster or better?
Not automatically. Movement can help explain state changes or guide attention, but heavy 3D, constant parallax or scroll effects can also hurt loading, readability and battery life. Test on mobile, offer a reduced-motion option, and use normal scrolling and static content when those work better.
What happens behind the scenes?
Important things to know before copying a prompt or following an external link.
Will my project idea be sent to an AI model?
No AI model is automatically called by the local starting-prompt builders in Atlas. The prompts are composed in your browser. If you copy one into an external coding assistant, that service's own privacy and pricing policies apply.
Does Atlas remember me or my favorites?
Some galleries can save favorites in your browser's local storage. Those selections are device/browser-specific, not a synced Atlas account. Using private browsing, clearing browser data or switching devices may remove them.
Is everything in Atlas safe for commercial use?
Atlas's original MIT-licensed code and written examples can be used under that license. Linked external repositories, third-party component kits, video assets, fonts and samples may have different licenses or restrictions. Always check the original source and conditions before reuse.
Are the examples guaranteed accessible, secure or app-store approved?
No. Atlas discusses accessibility, privacy and quality checks, but an illustrative preview is not a certification. A production interface still needs keyboard and screen-reader testing, reduced-motion handling, real device checks, privacy review and working backend security.
How do I report a broken preview or suggest a design?
Open the Prompt-Vault GitHub Issues page. Include the page URL, what you clicked, your browser and phone/desktop details, and what went wrong. Reproducible reports are especially helpful.
How can I support the project?
Atlas has a Support page for optional contributions or sponsorship. Any donation links are only activated once supplied and verified, and the educational material remains available without requiring a donation.
Start with a picture. The rest can follow.
Choose a website or app, explore one example, and copy your first useful prompt. No account required.