Partner with a Shopify expert to bring your client’s vision to life
Shopify Development for Designers is a collaborative service for brand and web designers who have a clear vision for their client’s e-commerce store but lack the Shopify expertise to bring it to life. It’s for designers who care deeply about the future of their clients’ brands and want to remain at the helm as their creative vision carries through from brand identity to web.
Together — with your creativity and my e-commerce expertise — we’ll build a unique, on-brand, high-performing Shopify theme that not only supports but elevates your work. I handle the development that underpins your designs and, where needed, extend support to include Shopify consultation and launch assistance for your client. The result: confidence that your client’s store will be built to premium standards, that setup and launch will be seamless, and that your bold ideas won’t be restrained by theme limitations.
Price Guide
Shopify Development for Designers is priced on an outcome-based model. Your project will be quoted on enquiry and will reflect the scope of design files provided, the level of customisation required, and whether Shopify consultation and launch support are included.
The starting investment for full store development is $7,000 AUD + GST. Once we’ve agreed on your project plan and quote, a 50% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your project. The remaining 50% is payable upon handover, after your client’s store has launched.
Timeframe
As with pricing, the timeframe depends on the scope of work agreed for your project. An estimated timeline will be provided in your quote and mapped into your project plan. Please note that delays in providing design files, brand assets, feedback, or input from the client and any third-party services may impact the agreed deadlines.
The minimum timeframe for a Shopify Development for Designers project is 4–6 weeks, with exact timing confirmed once scope and deliverables are finalised.
Prerequisites:
A detailed Brand Guide including brand identity, market positioning, competitor research and ideal customer profiles.
The client (and ideally you, the Designer) should have a basic understanding of Shopify as a platform, how it works and what it is capable of. There are many free resources available on the Shopify youtube channel to help here.
The client must also be prepared to take this platform on and ensure they have the resources to manage the online store post handover – this session does not include ongoing e-commerce management.
I encourage the client to think about any third party tools they may need integrated with their new Shopify store before we begin, as these integrations will need to be factored in to the strategy and design of their Theme. This could include UGC feeds, marketing & CRM, customer service portals, review capture & display tools, subscription platforms, loyalty programs, wholesale portals etc.
Exclusions:
Purchase of Font Licences, stock images, icons or other graphics (if required)
With Shopify Development for Designers, I partner with brand and web designers to transform custom Shopify mockups into polished online stores. Every Theme is completed with performance, accessibility, and internal SEO best practices built in.
This service is flexible to suit the level of involvement you’d like. I can provide development only, taking your Figma files or mockups and building them out as a custom or semi-custom Shopify Theme with clean, maintainable code. Or, I can extend the collaboration to include Shopify consultation and launch assistance, ensuring your client has the guidance they need to make the most of their new store.
The process is designed keep your creative vision intact while giving your client a site that performs as beautifully as it looks. This service is ideal for designers like you who want to deliver more for your clients, when advanced Shopify development isn't in your wheelhouse.
So how does it work?
Scroll to discover the collaborative process of developing a premium Shopify store for your client..
1.
Project Setup & Roadmap
With scoping & quoting finalised and the project confirmed, we expand the approved proposal into a detailed roadmap. This sets clear expectations around deliverables, timelines, client involvement, and key milestones. You’ll know exactly what assets and information need to be provided, and when — so the process runs smoothly from the very start.
2.
Design Handover & Workshop
You provide the brand assets and Shopify mockups — usually in Figma — and I review them with a developer’s eye. Any technical considerations or UX refinements are discussed workshop-style to ensure your creative vision is preserved while remaining technically sound, high-performing, and conversion-focused. Collaboration at this stage ensures we’re aligned before development begins.
3.
Development & Refinement
With the designs approved by the client, I develop your Shopify theme — either semi-custom (built on my studio framework) or fully custom, depending on scope. Every build is performance optimised, accessible and SEO-ready. You’ll see the store take shape in a staging environment, where structured feedback rounds allow us to refine the details together
4.
Handover & Launch
Once approved, your client’s store is launched with care. Final testing ensures everything is performing seamlessly across devices and browsers. I provide tailored documentation and video tutorials where needed, empowering your client to confidently manage their store. If requested, I can also extend support to include Shopify consultation and launch assistance, ensuring a smooth transition for the client.
Theme Inclusions
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General Inclusions
Design and Build:
Home Page & Menu Criteria
Collection Page Template: 1 Reusable Template
Product Page Template: 1 Reusable Template
About Page
Contact Page
Content Page of choice: E.g. Wholesale Enquiries, Careers, Product Formulas, Services Page, Gallery etc.
Blog Template: 1 Reusable Template
Article Page: 1 Reusable Template
Cart Page
Checkout Page
Account Page
Policy Pages
Shopify Development For Designers FAQs
Q: What design files do you need from me, the designer?
A: I typically work from Figma or Photoshop files with clearly defined desktop and mobile layouts. These should include all page templates required (e.g. homepage, collection, product, custom pages). Brand assets such as logos, fonts, imagery, and colour palettes should also be supplied. If you are not familiar with Shopify template structure, or if we are working from an out of the box theme base instead of building a fully customised theme, I will guide you to create wireframes based on theme architecture that you can use as the base for your designs. We will do this together in phase 1 – Project Setup & Roadmap.
Q: Will you change or adapt my designs?
A: My goal is always to preserve your creative vision. If a design element isn’t feasible within Shopify’s framework or would negatively impact performance, I’ll flag it early and suggest alternatives. Any refinements are made collaboratively, so you maintain design control while ensuring the store is technically sound and optimised.
Q: Do you offer development only, or can you also handle Shopify strategy?
A: Both. I can provide development only, bringing your designs to life. Alternatively, I can extend support to include Shopify consultation, app strategy, and launch assistance for your client. The level of involvement is up to you and your client’s needs.
Q: How involved do I need to be during development?
A: I’ll need you to be available during key checkpoints for feedback and clarification. This ensures your design intent carries through into the build. You won’t need to manage the technical details, but timely responses help keep the project on track.
Q: How do you handle communication and project management?
A: I’ll provide a project roadmap with clear milestones, asset deadlines, and feedback rounds. Communication is typically via email, with feedback gathered in shared documents or Figma comments (if you design on Figma). If needed, I can also work within a project management tool of yours.
Q: Do you white-label your development services?
A: Yes, I can work behind the scenes under your agency or studio name, or as a collaborative partner who is client-facing. This can be arranged depending on how you’d like to structure the partnership.
Q: Can I hand my client over to you to take on the entire Shopify project — design, strategy, development, and consultation?
A: Yes. If you’d prefer to step back after the branding phase, I can take the lead on the full Shopify project. The only requirement is that a detailed brand guide is provided by you – including brand identity, market positioning, competitor research, and ideal customer profiles – so I have the strategic foundation needed to deliver a store that’s on-brand and built for growth.
Q: Will you train my client on Shopify after launch?
A: Yes — I provide tailored handover documentation and video tutorials where necessary. If the project includes consultation, I also support the client through setup, app configuration, and launch to ensure a smooth transition.
Q: What is included in your starting price?
A: The starting rate of $7,000 AUD + GST covers full store development based on your supplied mockups using a Dawn theme base. Additional costs may apply for more complex custom builds or advanced functionality (subscriptions, bundles, loyalty programs, multi-market setup), or if you’d like me to take on client consultation and launch support. A detailed quote will be provided once I’ve reviewed your project scope and we discuss the level of customisation needed to support your creative vision.
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