Choose a Shopify web designer by looking at relevant live work, the proposed scope, the editing experience, and how they communicate. If you’re a San Diego business, local knowledge can be useful. Your designer also needs to understand the way your customers browse, buy, book, or inquire.
I’m Rachel Midori, a brand founder and Shopify web designer based in Carlsbad. I work with businesses throughout San Diego County, California, and the US. These are the questions I’d ask before hiring someone to build or redesign a site.
Look beyond the homepage screenshot
Open a few portfolio sites on your phone. Can you understand the business quickly? Is it easy to find a product, service, or contact option? Can you read the important details without hunting for them?
Ask what the designer contributed to each project. A new build, an ongoing redesign, and a limited update are different types of work. The portfolio should make those roles clear.
Choose experience relevant to your business
A boutique needs useful collections and product information. A coffee shop needs clear menus and visit details. A fit-focused apparel brand needs sizing guidance. The same visual approach won’t solve every business’s needs.
My work includes Pali Trading Post, Pali Drip Co., and The Little Bra Company, alongside the projects in my Shopify portfolio. Each business brings different questions to the design process.
Ask what’s included before comparing prices
Ask about pages, product setup, content, mobile layouts, integrations, revisions, and launch support. Confirm who supplies the copy and images, and whether theme or app costs sit outside the build fee.
Most of my full Shopify builds are $3,200, with the final scope confirmed in a proposal. Read more about what goes into a Shopify website design quote.
Make routine editing part of the conversation
You should know how you’ll change a homepage message, update a product, or add a collection after launch. Ask the designer to explain which sections are editable in Shopify and what changes would need development help. A site should support the way you actually run your business.
Ask how they approach SEO and answer-focused content
Look for clear page titles, useful headings, accurate content, and links that help visitors move through the site. A designer should be able to explain how the content addresses customer questions and how existing URLs will be handled during a redesign.
Promises of guaranteed rankings or AI recommendations aren’t a useful substitute for a concrete plan. Ask what will be delivered and how you’ll measure inquiries or sales afterward.
What should happen before launch?
Discuss testing the paths your customers will use: navigation, search where relevant, product options, cart changes, checkout, forms, and booking links. Confirm who handles the domain and what happens if a launch issue appears. My Shopify redesign checklist can help you plan this review.
Can we work together if I’m outside San Diego?
Yes. I work remotely with clients across California and the US. Location matters less than a clear scope, timely feedback, and a shared understanding of what the website needs to accomplish.
Tell me about your website project. Send your current site, a little about your business, and what you’d like to improve.