What Should I Expect from a Shopify Redesign?

If you're considering a Shopify redesign, chances are you're looking to improve more than just aesthetics.

Whether you're rebranding, dealing with outdated UX, or chasing conversion gains, a well-executed Shopify redesign can be a turning point. But it’s also one of the most misunderstood, and often underestimated, projects eCommerce teams take on.

This guide covers what actually happens during a redesign, what to prepare for, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

What Is a Shopify Redesign, Really?

A Shopify redesign is more than a new look. It’s a structured process to rework your site’s:

• Visual design – layout, branding, hierarchy

• User experience – navigation, mobile UX, filtering

• Conversion optimisation – CTA placement, page speed, trust signals

• Technical performance – theme structure, app consolidation, Liquid logic

• Scalability – making sure your stack can grow with your brand

Sometimes it’s built from a new theme, sometimes from scratch, and sometimes it’s a clean-up of an old site weighed down by legacy decisions.

Signs You Might Need a Redesign

• Your site no longer reflects your brand or product mix

• Mobile UX is clunky or outdated

• Customers struggle to navigate or convert

• Page load times are hurting your SEO and bounce rate

• You’ve patched your theme one too many times

• You’re planning to scale – and your current build won’t
  
  

What Happens During a Shopify Redesign?

Here’s what a high-quality redesign process should include:

1. Strategy + Discovery

This phase should dig into your brand, customers, products and goals. Expect:

• Analytics and heatmap analysis

• Conversion and UX audits

• Stakeholder workshops or brief sessions

• Competitor and category research

Atlas Insight: We treat redesigns like repositioning projects – the point is to align what customers see with how you want them to shop.

2. UX & Wireframing

Before the UI is even touched, the user flow is mapped out. This includes:

• Homepage structure and above-the-fold strategy

• Navigation and filtering UX

• Key page types (PDP, PLP, collection landing pages)

Atlas Insight: This is where we start solving the real problems – cart drop-offs, unclear navigation, unnecessary clicks.

3. High-Fidelity UI Design

Here’s where brand meets performance. Expect:

• Mobile-first layouts

• Visual hierarchy tuned for conversion

• Thoughtful use of colour, type, and image direction

• CRO best practices baked into every decision

Atlas Insight: Every component has a job – if it doesn’t drive trust, clarity or conversion, it goes.

4. Development & Build

Whether custom or theme-based, the build phase should include:

• Speed optimisations and clean code

• Modular section-based architecture

• App rationalisation and native feature swaps

• Mobile and accessibility QA

Atlas Insight: We always optimise for scale – a pretty site that breaks under load isn’t a win.

5. Testing & Launch

Pre-launch should involve:

• Cross-device testing

• GA, Meta Pixel and Klaviyo event validation

• Speed and performance checks

• Staged launch plan with backup procedures

Atlas Insight: If your dev team can’t tell you how they’re protecting your tracking setup, find another team.

How Long Does a Shopify Redesign Take?

Depending on complexity, a redesign typically takes 6 to 12 weeks, including strategy, design, development and testing.

Timeframes vary based on:

• Customisation level

• Number of templates or integrations

• Feedback loops and stakeholder availability

Fast builds are possible – but beware of teams who promise a 3-week turnaround with no mention of CRO, UX or data.

How Atlas Studios Approaches Shopify Redesigns

We treat every redesign like a commercial growth project, not just a cosmetic upgrade.

Our process is built around:

• Real data, not guesswork – everything starts with analytics and heatmaps

• Brand meets performance – high-fidelity design rooted in UX logic

• Scale-ready builds – built for speed, stability and flexibility

• No bloated app stacks – smart use of native Shopify 2.0 features

• Post-launch support – because day 1 is just the beginning

Thinking about a redesign? We’ll show you what’s working, what’s not – and whether you even need a rebuild at all.