I only work with themes that are built to hew closely to the development of WordPress and make use of Gutenberg blocks rather than third party page builders, so that you remain future-compatible with the core. StudioPress, Kadence WP, and GeneratePress are three vendors I trust.
These StudioPress themes come standard on WP Engine. They are free to use as long as you host on WP Engine. They’ve been battle-tested by thousands of installations, and every theme is Gutenberg ready, meaning you can use the latest WordPress features with your install without worrying about third party plugins going out of date. This helps simplify the content design and editing process even further.
WP Engine provides 10 StudioPress themes for free. If you decide not to host on WP Engine in the future, these themes have a subscription fee of $360/year to receive updates.
32 Premium StudioPress Themes
If the 10 free StudioPress themes aren’t enough options for you, you can check out their extended library of premium themes. These themes have a one-time license fee to use and provide a much wider range of layouts to choose from.
Premium StudioPress themes have a one-time license fee (ranging from $49 – $139). If you decide not to host on WP Engine in the future, these themes have a subscription fee of $360/year to receive updates.
87 Kadence WP Themes
Kadence WP is a different provider than StudioPress, but its feature set is just as capable. Kadence WP themes require an additional subscription to use, but provide access to 87 additional layouts.
Kadence WP themes receive updates through a subscription ($69/year).
82 GeneratePress Themes
GeneratePress is a different provider than StudioPress, but its feature set is just as capable. GeneratePress themes require an additional subscription to use, but provide access to 82 additional layouts.
GeneratePress themes receive updates through a subscription ($149/year).
I appreciate [his] perseverance and understanding through it all … we are indeed proud of the final product.
Ken Gagne Multimedia Communications Producer — Mass Eye and Ear
A fantastic job … His work completely transformed our web presence. He’s patient, thoughtful and talented. An innovator and a tireless worker. I recommend him highly and without reservation.
Jeff Parker Co-Founder & Director — Disquiet International
I know no better WordPress developer. You’d be lucky to have him work on your site.
Chad Capellman Director of Marketing & Business Development — Balance Interactive
Daniel is extremely organized and prompt in all of his communications and deliverables… I was constantly impressed with the speed and quality of his work and the responsiveness of his communications.
Elizabeth Friend Managing Director — S3IDF
Talented, efficient, and innovative: A Bad Penny Review couldn’t be any happier with our site or with our experience. Highly recommended.
Johnny Damm Editor-in-Chief — A Bad Penny Review
Daniel is one in a million… He’s lightning fast at whatever he does while also delivering at the highest quality. He is extremely patient and always willing to help.
Anne Brown VP, Interaction Designer — Bank of America
Certain people in the world just naturally exude professionalism. No matter what, you receive more than you had ever requested and are instantly humbled by it. Daniel is that kind of person.
Fetesha Downes Communications Manager — YWCA Metro Chicago
I would trust Daniel in a heartbeat with any design or programming project… he is a pleasure to work with, incredibly skilled and creative.
Howard Stelzer Record Producer — Intransitive Recordings
Daniel’s knowledge of production techniques and sophisticated design sense made me feel totally confident. The site is edgy yet professional—I highly recommend Daniel for his ability to produce great results.
Jamie Kerry Founder — Belle Étoile Studios
Daniel consistently delivers professional and high quality work. He has a great personality and he’s respected by all.
Eric Hoffman Instructional Media Designer — Stetson University
Dan has been so responsive to both our design and support needs. We continue to get compliments on the website on a regular basis. Dan is great to work with; he is a truly unique blend of professionalism, talent, engagement, and fun.
Elizabeth Friend Managing Director — S3IDF
How Do I Get Started?
Just reach out to me at [email protected], or sign up for an appointment so I can answer any questions and start your onboarding process. The initial 30-minute consultation is free, and you can decide if I’m a best fit for you after our video call.
While Devsec is a simple site from a technical perspective, we added visual complexity by introducing layers of graphical flourishes, motion graphics, and looping video to give it that science fiction feel.
The redesign involved a migration of a website with over 100,000 posts—twenty years of content!—while making sure the transition to the new site was seamless for its paid subscribers.