Inspiration matters. When you start work on a new plugin or theme, when you get to the part when you need to design and build up the settings panel for example, it’s easy to get stuck. I speak from my own experience here. I usually get stuck a lot, when getting to the design part of the project.
A quick Google search for “design inspiration” gives you millions of results, but most of it is noise… What you really want are a few solid places you can check when you need ideas that are practical, current, and actually relevant to the work we do as WordPress developers.
I’ve put together a list of websites that can help you find fresh ideas for layouts, interfaces, typography, and user experiences. Some are classics you probably know, others are newer resources worth bookmarking.
Dribbble
Dribbble is still one of the strongest communities for visual inspiration. The best part is that you can filter by dashboards, UI kits, or even plugin-specific design shots. If you’re trying to figure out how your plugin’s settings page should look, browsing a few Dribbble dashboards will give you more ideas than staring at a blank screen.
Score: 9.5
Behance
Behance has been around for years, but it has only grown stronger. Theme developers especially will find gold here. Typography-heavy layouts, homepage hero sections, and entire multi-page projects are showcased by professionals. It’s less about quick shots and more about seeing a design system in context.
Score: 9.0
Awwwards
If you want to see the cutting edge of web design, Awwwards is the place. It’s where agencies and designers push boundaries, and even if most of it feels over the top for WordPress themes, you’ll always pick up something, a layout, an animation, a navigation idea, that can spark your next project.
Score: 9.0
Mobbin
Not traditionally a WordPress resource, but incredibly useful. Mobbin is a database of real mobile app interfaces. If your plugin has a responsive dashboard or if your theme needs to shine on small screens, looking at how popular apps solve UI challenges is invaluable.
Score: 8.5
Figma Community
This is a newer essential. The Figma Community is packed with free UI kits, wireframes, and design systems. You’ll find everything from admin dashboards to SaaS landing pages. For plugin developers, this is one of the fastest ways to test different layout ideas before you ever open WordPress.
Score: 9.5
Codrops
Codrops has been around forever, and it’s still one of the best places to find experimental design and front-end tutorials. If you’re looking to add something extra to your theme, hover states, animations, subtle interactions, Codrops will get you thinking differently about the same old CSS.
Score: 8.0
Pinterest isn’t trendy to mention, but it’s still useful. Plenty of designers curate boards full of theme templates, color palettes, and UI inspirations. If you’re stuck, typing “WordPress theme design” or “plugin dashboard UI” into Pinterest can lead you down a rabbit hole that’s worth the time.
Score: 7.5
Product Hunt
Product Hunt is where new SaaS products launch daily, and many of them have beautifully thought-out interfaces. Watching how indie founders design their dashboards, pricing pages, or onboarding flows can give plugin and theme developers an edge. Real products solving real problems — that’s the kind of inspiration worth studying.
Score: 8.5
Smashing Magazine
Smashing Magazine isn’t just inspiration, it’s education. The site goes deep into accessibility, usability, and modern front-end trends. If you want your theme or plugin to not only look good but also feel good to use, you’ll find timeless advice here alongside design examples.
Score: 9.0
WPBay Marketplace
Yes, a shameless mention, but also a real one. Browsing what other sellers are uploading on WPBay is a form of inspiration. You see what’s trending, how developers are presenting their plugins and themes, and what buyers are responding to. Just like Envato once inspired authors through its marketplace, WPBay can spark ideas for your next release.
Score: 8.5
Wrapping up
Inspiration doesn’t mean copying. It means looking at what others are doing, noticing patterns, and then putting your own spin on it. These ten websites are the ones I check when I want to break out of a rut or challenge myself to improve the look and feel of what I’m building.
Bookmark a few of them. Next time you’re stuck on a theme layout or plugin UI, you’ll thank me later for having a short list to turn to.
