3 Smart ways one Shopify Designer turned his Instant skills into income

For Instant Experts, success comes from leveraging multiple revenue streams within a growing ecosystem. With over 1.2 million Instant opportunities available on Contra and the expanding Instant Template Marketplace offering ongoing referral revenue, certified designers have many ways to monetize their skills.

Gerson Portillas, an Instant Expert from Peru living in Uruguay, is a great example of this multi-channel approach. When Instant partnered with Contra for their first-ever Instant hackathon, he came away with more than just a cash prize. His template was accepted into the Template Marketplace, which can now generate him long-term passive income, while showcasing his expertise to potential clients in his Contra design portfolio.

Here’s the story behind his hackathon win, and how other designers can also benefit from becoming an Instant Expert.

Finding Shopify template design inspiration

Gerson's winning template, "Onyx," didn't emerge from hours of market research or competitive analysis. Instead, it began with something beautifully ordinary: a winter walk to the gym.

"It was still winter here in Uruguay, but I noticed flowers starting to bloom in a garden I always pass by, a clear sign spring was on its way. That moment sparked the idea of building a luxury, editorial-inspired template around flowers.”

This organic moment of inspiration highlights a crucial advantage for Instant Experts: the ability to transform everyday observations into professional, market-ready designs. The platform's accessibility means that creative insights don't need to be filtered through technical limitations; they can be explored and developed immediately.

Design without friction

What sets successful Instant Experts apart isn't just their creative vision, but their ability to execute rapidly. For Gerson, Instant's no-code environment was transformative.

"What Instant gave me was zero friction. I didn't have to worry about development or code, everything I needed was right there. That allowed me to focus 100% on the creative direction. The features that helped the most were the instant preview and the ability to iterate on layouts quickly. It let me experiment with bold ideas and bring them to life in hours."

Gerson's approach was methodical yet efficient: he focused first on UX, mapping out the sections, creating a clear user flow, and designing reusable components so merchants could easily swap in their own assets and get a professional ecommerce website ready in no time.

The Contra Hackathon experience: Community over competition

Despite being his first hackathon, Gerson found the experience energizing rather than intimidating. The collaborative atmosphere of the Instant community created an environment focused on learning and growth.

"It was incredible, especially since it was my very first hackathon. I didn't know what to expect, but seeing the energy of the community, the quality of the projects, and how much people were sharing was super motivating. It felt less like a competition and more like a space to showcase ideas and learn from others."

From Hackathon project to Template Marketplace success

Winning the hackathon was just the beginning for Gerson's Onyx template. The real validation came when it went live in the Instant Template Marketplace, where it has already been downloaded by over 60 brands.

"It feels great knowing the work didn't just stay as a hackathon project, but is now available for anyone to use," Gerson says. "My goal is for merchants to see it as a strong starting point, one that makes their lives easier and gives them confidence in how their brand shows up online."

The template's success demonstrates the market demand for high-quality, professionally designed Shopify themes that merchants can easily customize and deploy.

Multiple revenue streams for Instant Experts

Gerson's success with Onyx illustrates the diverse monetization opportunities available to Instant Experts:

• Direct services: As a certified Instant Expert on Contra, Gerson can be hired by brands for custom projects, including page design, Figma to Shopify conversions, and other e-commerce design work.

• Template Marketplace referral revenue: Beyond the initial recognition, Gerson earns ongoing revenue through the marketplace. When new clients subscribe to Instant after using his template, he receives a kickback, creating a passive income stream from his creative work.

What made Onyx stand out in the competition

Gerson's template succeeded by incorporating sophisticated design elements that elevated it above typical e-commerce templates:

• Subtle urgency in copy: Creating motivation without being pushy

• Bold visuals: High-impact imagery that commands attention

• Upscale touches: Features like an outfit simulator and exclusive fashion services

• Editorial inspiration: Drawing from high-end fashion publications for sophisticated layouts

These elements combined to create the winning template.

Key takeaways for aspiring Instant Experts

Gerson's journey from hackathon participant to marketplace success story offers several lessons:

1. Inspiration is everywhere: Great design ideas can come from unexpected moments and everyday observations.

2. Focus on UX first: Technical execution matters, but user experience should drive design decisions.

3. Leverage community: Engage with the Instant community for learning, feedback, and growth opportunities.

4. Think beyond the brief: Consider how your work can serve merchants' long-term needs, not just immediate requirements.

5. Build for scalability: Design templates that can be easily customized while maintaining their core appeal.

Results and next steps for Instant Experts

Gerson's template performance demonstrates concrete opportunities within the Instant ecosystem. With 100+ downloads in the initial rollout period and ongoing kickback revenue from new Instant subscriptions, the Template Marketplace provides a measurable revenue stream for quality creators.

For Instant Experts, there are two primary monetization paths: direct client work through Contra's platform, which currently hosts over $1.5 million in opportunities, and template creation for the Instant Template Marketplace with ongoing referral revenue. Gerson's success shows how experts can leverage both channels, using Contra to win client projects while building passive income through marketplace templates that continue generating revenue as merchants discover and subscribe to Instant.

If you’re a skilled Shopify designer, consider joining our Instant Expert program yourself or submit a template to the Template Marketplace to start generating passive income.