The 10 best e-commerce website designers for hire in 2023 - 99designs (2024)

When it comes to shopping, e-commerce is the new normal. Business models are shifting and more businesses than ever before are focussing on creating an appealing digital presence to sell their products. Traditional retail is evolving as retailers move toward an omnichannel marketing model, a model where the consumer enjoys a seamless experience interacting with a brand in-store, on the brand’s e-commerce website and through other channels like apps and social media.

If you’re a retailer, this means the time to up your e-commerce game is now. Lead your ideal clientele into your online store by working with a top e-commerce website designer to craft the engaging retail experience they’re after. Take a look at a few of the top freelance e-commerce website designers on our platform to get ideas for what to look for when you hire your own designer.

The 10 best e-commerce website designers to hire in 2023
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How did we choose these as the top e-commerce website designers?
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A great website designer isn’t necessarily an awesome e-commerce website designer. When we chose our top e-commerce website designers, we considered a few general traits that make a web designer a top contender as well as each designer’s proficiency in the e-commerce realm. To narrow it down to the top 10 designers, we looked at:

1. Design quality

Before a designer is allowed to participate in contests or start taking one-on-one clients through 99designs, our team of design experts thoroughly vets their profile and assigns them one of the following levels:

• Top level
• Mid level
• Entry level

When we’re looking at a new designer’s portfolio, we look at the following: conceptual thought, understanding of design principles and technical execution of those principles. Our top 10 e-commerce designers to hire in 2023 are all top level designers. When you’re browsing designers’ portfolios, you can see their level right in their profile’s header beneath their name, making it easy for you to choose to work with a longtime pro or somebody who’s up-and-coming.

2. E-commerce experience

Like we said earlier, even the most amazing website designer isn’t necessarily an amazing e-commerce website designer. Every designer has their strengths, and the designers we picked for our top 10 are designers whose portfolios are full of successful e-commerce websites they’ve designed for past clients.

3. Professionalism

The last thing we looked at when we chose our top e-commerce designers was each designer’s professionalism. Only designers with consistent track records of being responsive, reliable and punctual made the cut. In other words, our top picks are professionals in customer service as well as design.

What to think about when hiring an e-commerce website designer
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There’s a lot to weigh about each e-commerce website designer you consider working with. You’re choosing a designer to translate your brand identity into a working online store, potentially the only store on the planet where customers can buy your products. That means the website has to be more than aesthetically appealing—it has to drive sales.

As you search for the perfect e-commerce website designer for your brand, answer the following:

• Do they have experience designing e-commerce websites for your industry? For example, if you’re an online sneaker store, does the designer’s portfolio have examples of previous sneaker stores or at least other apparel stores? For a designer who’s got a portfolio full of attractive, high-converting e-commerce designs, not having designs for the specific type of store you run shouldn’t be a deal-breaker…but having them can definitely help.
• What do you need in addition to design (if anything)? If you need UX design in addition to your store’s look and feel, make sure you work with a designer who also has UX design experience. In the same vein, if you want custom-coded features, you’ll need to work with a designer who’s also a web developer, or you can hire a web developer in addition to a designer, so you don’t have to miss out on working with an awesome designer just because they don’t have development skills. Learn the difference between web design, web development, UI and UX here.
• Your own budget and timeline. The more you need from a designer, the longer your project’s gonna take…and the more you’ll pay for it. Before you start looking at designers’ portfolios and narrowing your list down, have a budget and timeline ready. This way, you can avoid wasting your own time and the designers’ time by eliminating anybody who doesn’t fit your budget or schedule right off the bat.

Are you ready to hire a stellar e-commerce website designer?
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Sure, you can use a pre-made template to power your e-commerce website. But for a truly unique store that showcases your brand, you need a custom-designed website made by an experienced e-commerce designer. If you’re not completely sold on our top 10 choices, take a look at our platform to find a designer you just can’t pass up.

Want to learn more about web design? Check out our article on how to create a website!