15+ Most Popular WordPress Themes for Graphic Designers

When it comes to showcasing your skills, and landing new clients, choosing any one of the most popular WordPress themes is practically a win-win situation. 

The fact that those themes have been used by countless other graphic designers, and their agencies is a positive proof that they’re fit for purpose for attracting your target audience. 

Meanwhile, their extensive versatility and vast libraries of high-quality layouts mean that no matter how many other businesses use the same theme, you can still create a website that’s truly unique to you. 

To help you find the right theme for your business, we rounded up over 15 graphic design-related themes with the highest downloads and active installations. Then, we ranked them according to the key criteria, such as customization and mobile responsiveness.

What to Look For When Choosing a Graphic Design WordPress Theme?

As you’ll discover later in this guide, there’s a wealth of options out there for creating a remarkable WordPress site that ensures you and your portfolio stand out from the crowd. 

However, you’ll also discover that no two themes are created equal. To help you decide which one of the 15+ themes below is right for you, consider the following essential factors:

1. Responsive Design 

Now more than ever, fully responsive design should be your top priority when choosing a WordPress theme. 

Without it, there’s every chance a potential client decides to check out your portfolio from their smartphone, only to find that buttons don’t work right, the layout is askew, and the navigation menus are difficult to handle. 

That’s hardly the stellar first impression you want to make, is it? 

That’s why responsive design plays such an essential role in the success of your site, adjusting your portfolio’s look, feel, and content to fit any screen.

With that in mind, check that your preferred theme contains the key features of responsive design.

What’s more, don’t just take a developer’s word that their theme is responsive, and test out the demo version before you buy it. 

To help you understand this well, check this blog on How to Test the Responsiveness of a WordPress Theme. 

2. Updates and Compatibility 

Themes that receive consistent, regular updates are likely to be more secure and compatible with the latest version of WordPress. 

Here, there are three things to look out for: 

A. Has the theme been tested with your version of WordPress? 

If so, you can trust that it will most likely look and function as intended. 

B. When was it last updated? 

If it has been close to a year or more since a theme’s developers last paid it any attention, there’s a good chance that it could be too out-of-date to warrant using. 

Instead, look for a theme that was updated no later than the last six months at most. 

C. How often is it updated?

If you’re picking a theme from the WordPress directory, scroll to the bottom of each theme page, and click the ‘Development Log’ link.

 

This will show you a complete log of all the work the developers have done on their theme. 

The more active they are, the more you can trust that the theme will be regularly updated in the future. 

3. Page Speed Optimization 

Slow-loading websites can frustrate users to the point that they leave. 

To prevent that from happening, look for a lightweight theme that has been designed with performance in mind, ensuring a fast, smooth experience for your users. 

4. Style and Brand Consistency 

A theme’s visual appeal should align with your brand identity, and resonate with your target audience. 

If you’re a fresh, young designer looking to offer graphic design services to social media influencers or startups, you’ll naturally want a different look than an agency providing design services for established, high-end luxury brands. 

As such, check out the color schemes, typography options, and design elements, and go for those that best convey what your graphic design business is all about. 

5. Flexible Customizations 

The more elements your theme allows you to customize, the better. 

When you can take complete control over every last detail, you’re in a much better position to create a truly unique online presence that best reflects your brand.

6. User Experience 

That theme you’re considering may look spectacular, but is it functional? 

Spend some time with the demo version, imagining yourself as a potential client navigating their way around your site.

Are the menus easy to find and intuitive? Is content displayed in an easy-to-follow structure? 

Ultimately, you’re looking for a theme to offer your eventual users the best possible experience. 

7. Customer Support

Responsive and reliable customer support can be a lifesaver when you encounter technical issues, or have customization questions, especially if you’re new to WordPress. 

Remember that while free themes may save you some money, they typically come with little to no support options. On the other side, many paid themes, at a minimum, provide access to support forums, and the best ones also offer email support.

8. Developer Reputation 

Opting for themes developed by trusted and well-regarded developers ensures there’s a better possibility that your theme was developed with industry-standard best practices in mind, and underwent stringent testing before it hit the marketplace. 

As such, picking a theme from a reputable source helps to guarantee that your theme should work as advertised, and lack any poor-quality code that hackers could exploit.

And, if it doesn’t work correctly straight out of the box? With a reputable developer, you at least have the peace of mind of knowing that they’ll be there to help. 

15 Most Popular WordPress Themes for Graphic Designers

Here is a list of some of the most well-known WordPress themes for graphic designers. So, let’s get started.

1. Astra

The ‘go-to theme of choice’ for close to 2.5 million websites, Astra is a trendy and versatile theme known for its lightweight and customizable nature.

Although it wasn’t created exclusively for graphic designers, this flexible theme offers several templates perfect for giving your portfolio that all-important wow factor. 

What’s more, the theme is built to work seamlessly with page builder plugins like Elementor and Beaver Builder.

Throw in responsive, mobile-first design, effortless WooCommerce integration so that you can sell your designs online, and a pro-active development team providing regular updates. All these things prove that Astra is the best WordPress theme that’s hard to beat. 

Key Features of Astra

• Lightweight theme requiring under 50KB
• 0.5 second loading time with default WordPress data
• 240+ customizable website templates
• Multiple page, blog post, and site layouts
• Unique widgets for showcasing content.

Pricing: Free or $47 for Astra Pro. 

Try Astra

2. Divi

Highly regarded as one of the best WordPress themes for any purpose, Divi is especially ideal for graphic designers thanks to its unique own-brand page builder. 

The theme uses innovative visual builder technology, making the whole process of creating your website feel like you’re using your favorite graphic design software. 

If that doesn’t convince you to give this one a try, our unbiased Divi 4.0 review probably will. 

Key Features of Divi

• 100+ customizable website demos 
• 40+ pre-designed page modules 
• Drag-and-drop page builder 
• Parallax effects
• Global elements and styles. 

Pricing: Buy Divi for $89 per year or $249 to get lifetime access. 

Try Divi

3.  Boldlab

If you’re the type of young, modern designer constantly striving to stay ahead of the curve, look no further than Boldlab. 

Boasting a wealth of cutting-edge templates, striking portfolio layouts, and an emphasis on all things contemporary, Boldlab is the perfect theme for forward-thinking creatives. 

Key Features of Boldlab: 

• Elementor and WPBakery compatibility
• Extensive shortcode library
• Portfolio animations, filters, and parallel effects
• Customizable sharing options
• 8 x icon font packs. 

Pricing: $75

Try Boldlab

4. Bridge

One look at Bridge, and it’s easy to see why this best-selling WordPress theme is the ‘go-to choice’ for over 200,000 websites. 

The theme boasts a staggering 612 demos, the vast majority of which are designed specifically for creative professionals. 

Combine that with more modules and customizable elements than you can shake a stick at, plus over 20 portfolio styles and layouts, and this proves to be an incredible value-for-money package.

Key Features of Bridge

• WPBakery and Elementor ready
• One-click demo import
• 10 x slider options 
• Large shortcode library
• Infographic elements

Pricing: $69

Try Bridge

5. Qi Theme

Qi Theme is an impressive Elementor theme with a huge library of stunning site templates for creatives and business professionals.

The templates themselves are fantastic for creating a powerful first impression on potential clients, though the extensive array of unique Elementor add-ons really steal the show here. 

Combine this with the ability to create unique layouts in Elementor, and it’s no wonder this one ranks highly among the 30+ best WordPress portfolio themes.

Key Features of Qi Theme

• Clean, minimalist code to improve performance
• Textual project showcase
• Fixed Project slider
• Intro animations and effects
• Infographics and data visualization tools

Pricing: Free or $49 per year with Qi Addons

Try Qi Themes

6. Studio 9

Studio 9 from WPLook is just as good for presenting your best work as it is for integrating eCommerce features into your site. 

This responsive, lightweight WordPress theme comes with three portfolio layouts, video headers, and multiple homepage modules to show off what you can do. 

Meanwhile, if you’re looking to add new revenue streams by selling custom-made templates, icons, or other graphic design elements directly from your website, you’ll fall just as in love with these stylish WooCommerce templates! 

Key Features of Studio 9

• Unlimited color schemes
• Customizable share buttons
• In-built GDPR compliance features
• 3 blog templates
• 8 theme-specific Gutenberg blocks

Pricing: Buy Studio 9 for $75 per year or $297 for lifetime access.

Try Studio 9

7. Lilon

If you’re all about your personal brand, you’ll love Lilon. 

One of the newest WordPress themes for graphic designers to hit the ThemeForest marketplace, this clean, contemporary theme will surely make its way into our best one-page WordPress theme list before too long, thanks to its bold design, effortless features, and responsive layouts. 

Key Features of Lilon

• Compatible with WordPress 6.3
• Unlimited color options
• Unlimited animations on all page elements
• Retina ready
• Redux framework integration

Price: $59

Try Lilon

8. Impeka

Impeka is a fast, fully responsive theme suitable for beginners and experienced WordPress users. 

Beginners will like the flawless integration with Elementor and WPBakery, which makes creating attractive, one-of-a-kind sites practically effortless, especially with the 50+ Impeka exclusive page elements, including more portfolio customizations than any other theme we’ve come across so far.

Meanwhile, seasoned pros will enjoy the extensive versatility, and sleek, modern coding, giving you complete control over every aspect of your graphic design website. 

Key Features of Impeka

• Multiple portfolio layouts
• Portfolio filters
• Carousels and sliders
• Portfolio hover effects
• Extensive header options

Pricing: $59

Try Impeka

9. Fab Masonry

If you’re looking for one of the best free WordPress themes for your graphic design business, look no further than Fab Masonry.

As its name implies, the theme utilizes masonry layouts to make your portfolio a prominent focal point.

Although there aren’t too many other outstanding features here, Fab Masonry is a simple, beginner-friendly option for designers who prefer to let their work do all the talking for them. 

Key Features of Fab Masonry

• Unlimited header and footer designs
• Custom blog and page templates
• Typography and color options
• Responsive design
• The theme is compatible with Gutenberg and Elementor.

Price: Free

Try Fab Masonry

10. Lekker

Lekker’s flare for avant-garde, and designer-centric portfolio layouts make it a good choice for showing off your individuality as a designer. 

We particularly like the Pinterest-style portfolio layout, though that’s just one of the many highlights of one of our favorite creative portfolio themes. 

Key Features of Lekker

• Retina-ready, and responsive design
• Google Fonts and Font Icon integration
• Vast page and layout library
• Interactive link showcase
• Social media sharing shortcodes

Pricing: $79

Try Lekker

11. Sydney Pro

Both the free and paid versions of Sydney come with a number of high-quality starter sites that are perfect for freelance graphic designers and agencies alike. 

Sydney Pro’s Agency theme, in particular, is ideal for designers looking to create an ultra-professional look to attract high-profile corporate clients. At the same time, the Resume starter site is a great choice for showcasing your skills.

 

Combine this with an easy-to-use customization dashboard, and a wealth of valuable features, and Sydney is a worthwhile option for any serious graphic design pro. 

Key Features for Sydney Pro

• Customizable headers and footers
• Choose different headers for mobile vs. desktop
• Custom color and typography settings
• Lightweight, performance-optimized design 
• Compatible with all major page builder plugins. 

Pricing: Sydney is free. Sydney Pro starts from $69 per year. 

Try Sydney Pro

12. OceanWP

OceanWP is one of the most popular free WordPress themes on the web. 

Combining stunning design templates with remarkable simplicity, this one will undoubtedly appeal to first-time website owners.

Key Features for OceanWP 

• Performance optimized design
• In-built SEO features
• Advanced developer tools
• White-label features for developers.
• 200+ x Elementor-ready templates.

Pricing: OceanWP is a free theme. An extension bundle is available for $35 per year.

Try OceanWP

13. Infinity Pro 

Infinity Pro is a best-selling premium WordPress theme designed for businesses, agencies, and solopreneurs seeking a sleek, professional online presence. 

The theme is built on the innovative Genesis Framework, a unique open-source framework that provides a solid foundation for your website regarding security, performance, and SEO.

Elsewhere, the elegant modern design, clean layout, and extensive customizations make it a top choice for high-level design agencies.

Key Features for Infinity Pro 

• Optimized for Gutenberg
• Customizable headers and footers
• 13 editable widget areas
• eCommerce integrations
• Mobile responsive. 

Pricing: $360 p/a as part of StudioPress’s Genesis Pro subscription. You can also get the Infinity Pro theme for free if you buy web hosting from one of StudioPress’s hosting partners. 

Try Infinity Pro

14. Pepper+

Elegance and sophistication are the name of the game with Pepper+, a classy, contemporary WordPress theme for graphic designers with a refined sense of style. 

There are two things we really like about this beautifully designed theme. 

First, it offers several layouts, grids, and portfolio options that are perfect for selling yourself as an upscale design agency.

Second, it also comes with unique “modules” that you can use to fine-tune the function and design of your site with no coding skills required. 

Key Features of Pepper 

• Beginner-friendly theme customizations
• Mobile optimized
• Multi-lingual and translation-ready
• Upload custom fonts
• Compatible with Typekit.

Pricing: $129 (includes plugin collection from developers Artisan Themes). 

Try Pepper+

15. Lense

As you can tell, Lense is a WordPress theme created more for photographers than graphic designers. Still, there’s no reason you can’t take advantage of its prominent galleries and progressive layouts to develop your online presence. 

Although fully compatible with Elementor and other page builders, Lense works when built with Gutenberg.

This is thanks in no small part to its unique set of “GutenBee” blocks that make it easy to add ready-made content layouts and interactive features at the tap of a button. 

Key Features of Lense: 

• Flexible headers and footers
• SEO and performance-optimized
• WooCommerce integration
• One-click demo import
• Customizable colors and typography. 

Pricing: It costs $34.30 per year, or $55.30 per year for access to additional themes and plugins.

Try Lense

The 15 selections above may be the best of WordPress’s most popular graphic design themes, but they’re far from the only good options out there. 

7 More Popular Graphic Design Themes for WordPress

Here are seven more, widely-used themes for graphic design businesses that we couldn’t resist mentioning. 

1. Themify Ultra

Key Features of Themify Ultra 

• Themify drag-and-drop page builder
• Parallax scrolling and responsive design
• Extensive library of pre-made, customizable website demos
• Mega menus
• 6 header background options, including video backgrounds.

Price: $59

Get Themify Ultra

2. Indigo

Key Features of Indigo 

• Multiple portfolio customizable layouts
• 8 single-item layouts for portfolios
• Module-based page builder 
• Attractive call to action blocks
• Mobile responsive. 

Price: $129 with Artisan Themes plugin library. 

Get Indigo

3. Metaverse

Key Features of Metaverse 

• Futuristic design
• 100% responsive
• Lightweight and optimized for performance
• Compatible with all major WordPress plugins.

Price: Free

Get Metaverse

4. Eldon – Artist Portfolio Theme

Key Features of Eldon

• Choice of a light or dark theme
• 5 x portfolio layouts
• 3 x project display layouts
• Fullscreen portfolio slider
• Custom animations. 

Price: $75

Get Eldon – Artistic Portfolio Theme

5. Pearce

Key Features of Pearce

• Responsive design and retina-ready
• Elementor compatible 
• Extensive shortcode library for added functionality
• 4 x portfolio layouts
• Custom hover animations.

Price: $75

Get Pearce

6. ePortfolio 

Key Features of ePortfolio 

• Gutenberg, Elementor, and BeaverBuilder compatible 
• Custom headers and footers
• Social media icons
• Resume layouts.

Price: Free

Get ePortfolio

7. Hellmouse

Key Features of Hellmouse

• Flexible headers and customizable footers
• Includes free GutenBee custom blocks collection
• Elementor compatible
• Performance-optimized, mobile-friendly design. 

Price: $34.30 per year or $55.30 per year for access to additional themes and plugins. 

Get Hellmouse

What are the Best WordPress Themes for Graphic Designers? Our Final Verdict 

As you’ll have learned in this guide, the most popular WordPress themes for graphic designers all have three key elements in common: 

1. They’re fast
2. They’re highly customizable
3. They look great, and function perfectly on any device or screen size. 

Along with all that, choosing the best theme comes down to finding the one that best matches your graphic design company’s branding and business goals. 

Hopefully, at least one of the 20 themes showcased above stood out as perfect for the task. 

If it didn’t, allow us to leave you with a few final recommendations: 

To create a big, bold impression with an ultra-modern portfolio website, give Boldlab a try.

If you’re looking for a theme with a unique visual page builder that allows you to put your design skills to good use in creating your site, look no further than Divi. 

However, if you’re looking for one of the best all-around WordPress themes, it simply has to be Astra. 

The free version of this lightweight, highly customizable theme packs more than enough exciting layouts and features to satisfy the needs of those marketing their graphic design services on a budget. However, Astra Pro is the perfect choice for growing agencies. 

Don’t just take our word for it, though. Read more about what makes this theme so good in our honest Astra theme review.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the best free WordPress theme for graphic designers? 

The free version of Astra includes multiple portfolio layouts and styles that make it perfect for freelance designers and design agencies.

Do I have to use a graphic design theme for my website?

Not at all. The great thing about WordPress is that you can choose any theme you like (even one that’s not tailored for your industry), and customize it to your heart’s content until it’s a true reflection of your unique brand. 

Is WordPress good for graphic designers? 

WordPress is an excellent website builder for graphic designers thanks to its unparalleled flexibility, allowing visual artists of all types to showcase their unique style.