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Using ChatGPT to Brainstorm Design & Navigation Improvements

Danielle

If you’ve ever stared at your ecommerce site and thought, “Something just feels off, but I don’t know what,” you’re not alone. Store owners know when their site isn’t working, but figuring out why can be tough. That’s where ChatGPT comes in.

No, AI can’t replace a professional web designer. But it can act like a brainstorming partner. With the right prompts, you can use ChatGPT to generate new navigation ideas, fresh layout concepts, and even content suggestions. Then, once you have some starting points, a BigCommerce expert can turn those ideas into a polished, professional site.

Why Use ChatGPT for Store Design?

The hardest part of improving your website is often just getting unstuck. ChatGPT is great at giving you options quickly. Want to see three different ways to organize your categories? Or examples of homepage layouts for a store like yours? A quick prompt can give you ideas you might not have thought of on your own.

And because ChatGPT speaks in plain language, you don’t need design training to understand what it suggests. That makes it a handy tool for merchants who feel “non-technical” but still want to play a role in shaping their store.

Example Prompts for Navigation

Your store’s navigation is one of the biggest drivers of conversion. If customers can’t find what they’re looking for, they leave. ChatGPT can help you test out different ways of organizing menus.

Try prompts like:

  • “Suggest three navigation structures for a BigCommerce store that sells handmade jewelry.”
  • “Create a mega-menu layout for a clothing store with men’s, women’s, and kids’ sections.”
  • “What’s a simple navigation for a new store with fewer than 10 products?”

Once you have a few ideas, you can refine them with a designer or through BigCommerce theme customization so they fit your brand.

Example Prompts for Design Inspiration

Navigation is just the start. You can also use ChatGPT to explore layout ideas:

  • “List homepage layout options for a skincare brand launching on BigCommerce.”
  • “Suggest hero section ideas for an electronics store.”
  • “Give me three product page templates that would increase trust for high-end furniture.”

You won’t get pixel-perfect mockups, but you will get inspiration. These concepts can help you think about what feels right for your brand—and what doesn’t.

Where ChatGPT Falls Short

AI is great at giving you a list of ideas, but it doesn’t know your brand, your audience, or your specific goals. It might recommend a feature that looks good on paper but doesn’t fit your business.

That’s why it’s important to use ChatGPT as a starting point—not a final design. The magic happens when you take those raw ideas and hand them off to a BigCommerce agency who can implement them correctly.

From Ideas to Implementation

Here’s a simple workflow:

  1. Use ChatGPT to brainstorm options for navigation, layouts, or content.
  2. Pick out the ideas that feel strongest.
  3. Work with a designer to translate them into a practical strategy for your store.
  4. Implement by customizing your BigCommerce theme or having a designer create a new custom BigCommerce theme.

That way, you get the best of both worlds: the speed and creativity of AI, plus the polish and expertise of a professional.

Final Thoughts
ChatGPT won’t build your store for you—but it can help you think differently about design and navigation. If you feel stuck, try a few prompts and see what it comes up with. You might be surprised at the fresh ideas you can uncover. And when you’re ready to turn those ideas into reality, a BigCommerce expert can take it from there.