E-commerce Website Design for Graphic Designers
Course Competencies
1. Develop a strategic foundation for an e-commerce website based on defined marketing objectives.
Assessment Strategies
1.1. Product
1.2. Performance
1.3. Presentation
Criteria
You will know you are successful when
1.1. You define a clear target audience and customer persona.
1.2. You articulate a focused value proposition and main marketing message.
1.3. You identify a coherent product line appropriate for e-commerce.
1.4. You outline customer pain points and corresponding solutions.
1.5. You generate AI-assisted product descriptions and refine them for brand voice.
1.6. You demonstrate alignment between marketing strategy and website structure.
1.7. You present and explain your strategic framework clearly.
Learning Objectives
1.a. Identify key elements of the e-commerce marketing strategy.
1.b. Analyze audience characteristics and buying motivations.
1.c. Apply AI tools to support marketing copy development.
1.d. Align product offerings with brand positioning.
1.e. Evaluate strategic coherence prior to site development.
2. Build and configure a functional e-commerce website using an industry-leading e-commerce web platform.
Assessment Strategies
2.1. Product
2.2. Performance
2.3. Critique
Criteria
You will know you are successful when
2.1. You establish and configure an e-commerce website using an industry-leading e-commerce web platform.
2.2. You customize a theme or template to reflect defined branding.
2.3. You create core site pages (home, shop, contact, etc.).
2.4. You upload and organize 5–10 products with appropriate categories, tags, or collections.
2.5. You configure shipping, tax, and payment settings in test mode.
2.6. You demonstrate responsive functionality across devices.
2.7. You compare structural and workflow differences between two e-commerce platforms.
Learning Objectives
2.a. Demonstrate foundational proficiency in navigating an e-commerce dashboard.
2.b. Apply branding principles within templated themes.
2.c. Organize product data for usability and search visibility.
2.d. Configure checkout and store settings appropriately.
2.e. Evaluate platform strengths and limitations.
3. Apply conversion-focused design principles to optimize e-commerce user experience.
Assessment Strategies
3.1. Product
3.2. Critique
3.3. Performance
Criteria
You will know you are successful when
3.1. You design clear calls-to-action that guide user behavior.
3.2. You structure product pages to support informed purchasing decisions.
3.3. You implement upsell or cross-sell strategies.
3.4. You test full checkout flows and identify friction points.
3.5. You demonstrate mobile-first usability considerations.
3.6. You articulate how design decisions influence conversion effectiveness.
Learning Objectives
3.a. Identify factors that influence e-commerce conversion.
3.b. Apply usability principles to digital storefronts.
3.c. Analyze the customer journey from the landing page to confirmation.
3.d. Optimize layout for clarity and ease of purchase.
3.e. Evaluate user experience using testing methods.
4. Critique e-commerce websites using professional design and usability standards.
Assessment Strategies
4.1. Performance
Criteria
You will know you are successful when
4.1. You participate in structured critiques of e-commerce websites.
4.2. You analyze visual hierarchy, branding consistency, and usability.
4.3. You identify strengths and areas for improvement.
4.4. You provide constructive, professional feedback.
4.5. You demonstrate openness to revising your own work.
Learning Objectives
4.a. Evaluate e-commerce design effectiveness.
4.b. Provide critique grounded in usability and design principles.
4.c. Revise work based on professional feedback.
4.d. Compare multiple e-commerce solutions objectively.
5. Qualify e-commerce solutions based on marketing objectives and audience needs.
Assessment Strategies
5.1. Presentation
Criteria
You will know you are successful when
5.1. You align the site structure with the defined marketing goals.
5.2. You demonstrate awareness of audience behaviors and expectations.
5.3. You maintain brand consistency across platforms.
5.4. You justify platform selection based on project scope.
5.5. You reference strategic reasoning when explaining design decisions.
Learning Objectives
5.a. Identify the scope and purpose of e-commerce projects.
5.b. Analyze audience purchase motivations.
5.c. Align digital storefront design with business goals.
5.d. Evaluate the appropriateness of e-commerce platforms.
6. Influence others to believe in your e-commerce design solutions.
Assessment Strategies
6.1. Performance
Criteria
You will know you are successful when
6.1. You present completed e-commerce websites professionally.
6.2. You explain technical and strategic decisions clearly.
6.3. You connect layout and branding decisions to marketing outcomes.
6.4. You demonstrate confidence while remaining receptive to feedback.
6.5. You defend design solutions using logical and research-based reasoning.
Learning Objectives
6.a. Present ecommerce projects in a professional setting.
6.b. Relate technical implementation to business effectiveness.
6.c. Demonstrate persuasive communication skills.
6.d. Evaluate and integrate critique appropriately.
7. Integrate ethical decision-making and professional standards into e-commerce design and development.
Assessment Strategies
7.1. Performance
Criteria
You will know you are successful when
7.1. You demonstrate ethical use of AI-generated content.
7.2. You apply copyright and licensing standards to images, fonts, and plugins.
7.3. You avoid deceptive marketing or misleading product claims.
7.4. You consider accessibility and inclusive design practices.
7.5. You demonstrate professional conduct throughout project development.
Learning Objectives
7.a. Defend ethical AI-assisted copywriting practices.
7.b. Apply copyright and licensing standards appropriately.
7.c. Evaluate ethical implications of e-commerce marketing decisions.
7.d. Demonstrate professional responsibility in digital commerce.