Need Design-Forward Shopify Developers?
(WE ASKED FOR RECS)
Need Design-Forward Shopify Developers?
Here are Our Recs
(YOU GAVE US RECS)
When brands are ready to scale their businesses online, their go-to platform pick is most likely Shopify. Why? Shopify is known for its robust features that streamline the consumer experience, allowing many of our favorite classic and emerging brands to host their digital storefronts. And who are the coding angels making these site dreams come true? Shopify developers 🪽
In this feature, we’re highlighting eight Shopify developers and designers who’ve been able to translate client visions into stunning interfaces. Our features are seasoned freelancers, studio founders, and design-forward coders. Read to learn more about their journeys in Shopify development and advice for aspiring developers & designers. Don’t forget to check out their portfolio sites and catch any unforgettable site inspo 🌠
This article is part of the Looking For series. We look for creatives to feature on a regular basis, so be sure to sign-up for our newsletter and follow us @ilovecreatives to be the first to know about the next opportunity!
➀ Raymond Arevalo (they/them)
Los Angeles, CA
Based in Los Angeles, Raymond Arevalo is a freelance Shopify Developer who has built design-savvy storefronts for clients such as Baggy Studio, Little Plains, Mad Realities, and Yumi. Do yourself a favor and check out Raymond’s portfolio to experience their seamless, stunning work first-hand.
Raymond on joining the Shopify community:
“Shopify Development is so welcoming. The community is small, so folks are always sharing their knowledge. Asking questions will take you a long way!”
➁ Sabina Bower (she/her)
Seattle, WA
Founder and Creative Director of Out Brand Them, Sabina Bower leads a team of designers and strategists who help brands bring the boldest visions to life. Boasting a strong web design background, Sabina and her team have designed and developed Shopify sites for clients such as astrobabe, SprinkleBites, 4KINSHIP, and Urban Zest.
Sabina shares her entry point into Shopify development:
“Honestly, it all started with a curiosity about how online stores worked. That curiosity led me down a rabbit hole of design, coding, and Shopify’s amazing ecosystem. What sealed the deal was my first project—helping a small business create their dream store. Seeing their excitement and the impact it had on their sales made me realize that this is what I want to do.”
➂ Danielle Brown (she/her)
Norwalk, CT
With almost 10 years of experience in the e-commerce space, Danielle Brown expertly marries her design eye with her technical expertise to optimize conversions and build immersive digital experiences. Danielle has created beautiful sites for clients such as Prakti Beauty, Sophie Ratner Jewelry, Zofia Day Jewelry, and Regime des Fleurs.
Evergreen advice from Danielle: “Start small and build your skills gradually—your primary role as a developer is to be a problem-solver. Don’t let the fear of not knowing everything hold you back from doing great work.”
➃ Shelby Herbst (she/her)
Southern California
Shelby Herbst is the Founder of wunderweb STUDIO, a design agency delivering brand identity, design, and web development services. Since launching her studio, she’s worked with clients such as UNWELL HYDRATION, Beer Girl, Settlers Club, and PARKE.
Shelby shares her learnings from growing with wunderweb Studio: “What keeps wunderweb Studio moving forward? Treating every client with the same level of care, operating with full transparency, and bringing real, unfiltered creativity to every project we touch. My mission has always been to create work that feels, looks, and carries a different weight than anything else out there. That mindset has been there from the beginning, and it’ll be there until the end. I truly believe this kind of creative-boundary-pushing thinking is what got us here and what will take us even further.”
➄ Kassidy Knight (she/her)
Brooklyn, NY
Kassidy Knight is a nimble problem solver who nails the execution of creative vision every single time. A multidisciplinary technologist, Kassidy’s shiny toolkit includes digital product development and design, product management, technical architecture, and technical consulting. You can witness her dev magic in the Shopify sites for Mush Studios, Dendwell, and American Weed Company.
Kassidy’s advice for aspiring developers: “Anyone can be a developer! There are a lot of voices in this field that like to gatekeep and make development seem impossible. Don't listen to them! Development takes time and effort to learn, but it is deeply rewarding. I strongly believe it should be accessible to all—especially to women and non-binary people, who are still underrepresented in the field.”
➅ Diep Le
(she/her)
Vienna, Austria
Based in Vienna, Diep Le is a multifaceted freelance designer whose services range from brand consulting to graphic design and web development. Diep is also a Shopify Course graduate (👏👏👏) who channeled course learnings into incredible development work. Her clientele includes Koni Design, Brutal Snacks, Sana Skin Studio, and Habelo Beauty.
→ Read more about Diep’s course experience here!
Diep on why she decided to learn Shopify: “I started learning to code as a way to enhance my design skills. Over time, the process became an interchangeable journey between design and development, each informing and improving the other. As I delved deeper into e-commerce website design, Shopify stood out as the perfect platform for combining both my creative and technical skills. Theme customization and development on Shopify naturally became part of my day-to-day work.”
➆ Mikayla Mayumi (she/her)
Philadelphia, PA
Co-Founder and lead developer at Gunita Studios, Mikayla Mayumi is a creative technologist and web developer based in Philadelphia. Not only does she have extensive web dev experience with clients including SUMMIT, Jason Schmidt, or Sofia Yulo, but she’s also tinkering with her very own Shopify site for her gorgeous jewelry brand MAYUMI.
Mikayla recalls how she got into Shopify: “Becoming a Shopify developer was unexpected! When I got my first inquiry, I realized just how prevalent e-commerce is—not just for big corporations but also for small business owners launching their brands. Learning Shopify allowed me to help people take that first step in starting their business, which felt incredibly rewarding. Since then, adding Shopify development to my services has helped grow my business as a freelancer. Two years after learning Liquid, I even launched my own jewelry brand, which I was able to fully customize using Shopify. And now, one of my biggest milestones yet is teaching a workshop on ‘Launching Your First E-Commerce Website’ at YOWIE!”
➇ Megumi Tanaka (they/them)
New York, NY
As a web developer, designer, and ilovecreatives Shopify Course instructor, Megumi Tanaka has empowered students in our course community to confidently launch their freelance Shopify services. Currently the Studio Manager at ilovecreatives Studio, Megumi plays an essential role in building awe-inspiring site experiences for clients including Flask & Field, CYKLAR, and Another Study.
Wanna see the caliber of Shopify sites that our students have built in the course? Browse student work below:
Curious to learn Shopify design and development? Consider joining our Shopify Course community! You’ll learn alongside like-minded creatives who are ready to add Shopify development to their skillset, whether that be for expanding their freelance services or landing a 9-5 at a creative agency. In this course, we show you all the ropes from coding with Liquid and JSON to finding your first freelance clients—PLUS, you get 1:1 feedback to water your growth as a design-forward developer 🌱
Not sure about it just yet? You can also join the course waitlist here if you need more time to marinate on enrolling ⏲️ Our inbox is also always open if you need to talk it out before committing—email us at hello@ilovecreatives.com and we can help you choose the right course for your goals ✅
Is your brand looking for a Shopify site upgrade? Head over to our Creative Directory, and you may find the perfect developer for the task 🪄
Want a Creative Profile to get in front of potential clients and employers? Get one here!
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