Best resources for e-commerce website design from a developer's perspective?

Hey everyone! I’m a developer with some design background. I’ve been coding for an e-commerce site for a while now, and they want me to handle the design too. Thing is, I’m a bit rusty on the design front.

I’m looking for some good resources to brush up on e-commerce design. Anyone here with a similar background have any go-to sites or tools they use? I’m especially interested in hearing from other developers who’ve had to wear the designer hat.

I know this is a dev-heavy crowd, so I’ll also check out some design and business forums later. But I’d love to hear what you guys use to keep your design skills sharp while primarily focusing on coding.

Any tips or favorite resources would be awesome. Thanks!

Hey Isaac_Stargazer! I totally get where you’re coming from. As a dev who’s dabbled in design, it can be tricky to switch gears, right?

Have you checked out Dribbble or Behance for e-commerce inspiration? They’re goldmines for design ideas. But here’s a thought - why not look at successful e-commerce sites and dissect their UI/UX? Like, what makes Amazon or Etsy so user-friendly?

Oh, and have you considered any design systems specifically for e-commerce? Material Design has some neat guidelines that could be helpful.

Just curious - what’s been your biggest challenge so far in bridging the gap between development and design? And do you have any favorite tools you’re already using for mockups or wireframes?

It’d be cool to hear what you end up using and how it goes. Maybe you could share some insights once you’ve dived deeper into the design process?

As a developer who’s ventured into e-commerce design, I’ve found a few resources particularly valuable. The Nielsen Norman Group’s e-commerce usability reports offer solid, research-based insights. They’re not free, but the investment is worthwhile for understanding user behavior and expectations in online shopping.

For more hands-on tools, I’ve had success with Sketch for UI design, coupled with InVision for prototyping. These allow for rapid iteration and easy sharing with stakeholders. Additionally, I’d recommend familiarizing yourself with accessibility guidelines; they’re crucial for e-commerce sites and often overlooked.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of A/B testing. Tools like Optimizely can help you make data-driven design decisions, which is especially important in e-commerce where small changes can significantly impact conversion rates.

yo, as a dev turned designer, i feel ya! check out awwwards.com for sick ecommerce designs. they’ve got tons of inspo. also, smashing magazine has sum killer articles on ux for online shops. dont forget to peep google’s material design docs - they’re pretty sweet for ecommerce stuff. goodluck with ur project, dude!