In 2025, e-commerce is more competitive than ever. Simply having a beautiful Shopify store isn’t enough — it needs to convert. The intersection of design and strategy is where success happens, and at Seventyfour Design, we’ve seen firsthand how effective UX/UI can skyrocket engagement and sales.

Whether you’re launching a new Shopify store or refining an existing one, this guide outlines the top UX/UI best practices you need to implement this year to maximise conversions.

1. Speed Is Still King: Optimise for Lightning-Fast Load Times

No matter how stunning your design is, a slow site will lose visitors.

Best practices:

• Use lightweight themes and compress all images (WebP preferred)

• Limit unnecessary apps and scripts that bloat performance

• Use Shopify’s built-in speed reporting tools and Google’s PageSpeed Insights

Pro tip: At Seventyfour Design, we build custom themes tailored to your brand’s needs — no bloated code, no slowdowns.

2. Mobile-First, Always

With over 70% of Shopify traffic now coming from mobile devices, mobile UX isn't optional — it’s everything.

Design for mobile with:

• Thumb-friendly buttons and navigation

• Collapsible filters for easy product browsing

• Sticky add-to-cart buttons to reduce friction

3. Visual Hierarchy That Drives Action

Your site should guide users effortlessly from landing page to checkout. Strong visual hierarchy makes that journey intuitive.

Apply these principles:

• Use size, contrast, and whitespace to draw attention to CTAs

• Highlight USPs (free shipping, fast returns) above the fold

• Group related content using visual cues like cards or tabs

4. Simplify the Checkout Process

The fewer steps between “Add to Cart” and “Complete Purchase,” the higher your conversion rate.

Modern UX tweaks include:

• Enabling express checkout options (Shop Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal)

• Removing unnecessary fields (e.g., company name or second address line)

• Clearly showing security badges and money-back guarantees

5. Incorporate Microinteractions for Trust & Delight

Subtle animations and feedback loops — called microinteractions — reassure customers and improve engagement.

Examples that work:

• Heart animations when users add items to wishlists

• Subtle transitions between pages or steps in checkout

• Hover effects on product tiles to preview alternate images

6. Smarter Navigation for Product Discovery

2025’s Shopify shoppers want effortless browsing, especially on large catalogues.

Upgrade your store with:

• Predictive search (powered by Shopify’s Search & Discovery app)

• Dynamic filters that don’t reload the page

• Sticky category headers for long product lists

7. Accessibility Is Non-Negotiable

Beyond compliance, accessibility improves usability for everyone.

Key elements:

• Use high colour contrast and readable font sizes

• Make every action (like adding to cart) keyboard- and screen reader-friendly

• Don’t rely on colour alone to communicate meaning

8. Social Proof in the Right Places

In 2025, authenticity sells. Users rely on reviews, testimonials, and UGC to make decisions.

Smart placements:

• Star ratings below product titles on listing pages

• Real-time purchase notifications (“Maria in Brisbane just bought…”)

• Curated Instagram feeds showing customers using your products

Ready to Upgrade Your Shopify UX/UI in 2025?

At SeventyFour Design, we combine creativity with data to craft custom Shopify and Shopify Plus experiences that drive conversions. From clean design to powerful functionality, every element we create is built to perform.

Let’s build your next high-converting Shopify store — contact us today.