High-performance dielectric elastomer (DE) devices necessitate synergistic optimization of electrode conductivity, mechanical compliance, and practical manufacturability. However, conventional studies often report material metrics in isolation without linking them to device-level requirements. This gap leaves electrode selection largely empirical and makes quantitative comparison of electrode materials across different actuator configurations difficult. To address this issue, we use a simplified electromechanical model as a screening tool that incorporates electrode stiffness and geometry, enabling quick assessment of electrode-induced performance variations in DEAs. In addition, we present a practically oriented conductive composite ink based on commercially available carbon nanotube (CNT) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), designed to provide a cost- and process-efficient electrode solution for multilayer DEAs. Electrical resistivity, elastic properties, strain-dependent resistance, and printability-related viscosity of CNT–PDMS inks containing 0.5–3 wt% CNT are systematically characterized. The proposed model reveals that, once the target operating frequency is satisfied, minimizing CNT loading is critical for reducing electrode-induced stiffening and maximizing actuator performance. Multilayer dielectric elastomer actuators are then fabricated and evaluated through static voltage–stretch characterization and dynamic response tests. The measured actuator performance agrees well with model predictions derived from the experimentally determined electrode properties, validating the proposed framework.