How I built my dream Shopify Theme

In this video, I walk you through all the thoughtful features of this theme and my approach in building such. You also have the option to access this theme and use it in your projects by enrolling in my Shopify course, Standout Shopify

1. Video

2. Introduction

3. Timestamped Overview

4. Resources

How I built my dream Shopify Theme

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Shopify
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Video Walkthrough

Introduction

I used to spend $400 for every Shopify project that I take on as a web designer. But I'll never have to do that again since I built my very own Shopify Theme - The Esencia Theme. It's the best Shopify theme based on my style and requirements as a web designer. In this video, I walk you through all the thoughtful features of this theme and my approach in building such. You also have the option to access this theme and use it in your projects by enrolling in my Shopify course, Standout Shopify.

A Preview of the Esencia Theme

Timestamped Overview

• 0:00 Introduction: Easier Custom Font Installation for Squarespace

• 0:08 Introducing the tool, CustomFontWiz

• 0:32 Benefits of  using the magical tool for Designers and Template Sellers

• 2:14 Step-by-Step Guide: Adding custom fonts to squarespace

• 4:04 Which font format to use: woff2 vs woff vs otf

• 5:28 Importance of Font Licensing

• 6:45 Example of Using High-Quality Free Fonts

• 8:15 Uploading and Generating Font File Path

• 10:06 Applying Custom Fonts to Different Elements

• 11:56 Additional Tips for Efficient Custom Font Application

Resources

• Standout Shopify

Formatted Transcript

I used to spend $400 on every new Shopify project as a web designer. Each time, I had to purchase a paid Shopify theme and then spend days customizing it to fit my client's brand. These themes often came bloated with features I didn't need, which slowed down site performance. That's when I decided to take matters into my own hands and learn how to build my own Shopify theme.

Now, I no longer need to spend that money or time because I've created a versatile, lightweight, and powerful Shopify theme tailored to my taste and aesthetics. This theme, which I call the Esencia Theme, has functional and design-forward section templates that I can further style to suit any brand I'm working on. It's flexible enough to be used in every project and designed to optimize searchability, accessibility, and performance.

Key Features and Customization

1. Starting with Shopify's Dawn Theme: I began with Shopify's free Dawn theme. It's lightweight, mobile-first, and has minimal JavaScript, making it a great starting point. From there, I added my custom CSS file for further styling.

2. Adding a Custom CSS File: I created a CSS file with all the style customizations that couldn't be done with the built-in options. This includes refinements for key elements like headers, buttons, and pop-ups. Keeping all my style customizations in one CSS file makes it easy to update with any changes to Shopify or the Dawn theme.

3. Introducing the Power Section: The Power Section is a game-changer for Shopify theme development. It allows for unlimited design possibilities by letting me add any element to the section grid. This means I can create unique layouts without having to code new custom sections or modify existing ones.

4. Incorporating Optional Section Templates: I also developed several stylish and functional section templates, like vertical tabs, marquee sliders, and content tabs. These templates are easy to customize and can be added to any page of the site, enhancing the design and functionality of each project.

Shopify Theme Development Process

Here's how you can leverage the Esencia Theme for your projects:

1. Start with a Base Theme: Use Shopify's Dawn theme as your starting point. Customize it with a CSS file to refine styles to your liking.

2. Add Power Sections: Use the Power Section to design flexible and dynamic layouts. This section allows you to add elements like images, videos, and app blocks anywhere within the grid.

3. Use Section Templates: Leverage the built-in section templates like vertical tabs and marquee sliders to create engaging and functional designs. Customize these templates using CSS for a unique look.

4. Utilize Metaobjects and Metafields: Combine section templates with metaobjects and metafields to add unique content to specific pages, such as product details or custom layouts.

Learn to Build Your Own Shopify Theme

If you're curious about how I built my own Shopify theme and want to take your design business to the next level, check out my program, Standout Shopify. The program offers two tiers:

1. Foundations Tier: Perfect for beginners, this tier provides a non-exclusive, unlimited license to the Esencia Theme and a comprehensive curriculum to get you started with Shopify theme development. You can use the theme in any of your client projects without additional costs.

2. Pro Tier: For those ready to push the boundaries of Shopify through coding, this tier offers advanced training and additional resources to help you build and customize your own themes.

You can start with the Foundations Tier and upgrade to the Pro Tier anytime. Any payments made for the Foundations Tier will be applied towards the Pro version.