5 Modern Portfolio Layouts for Your Squarespace Website
Yes, building a website through Squarespace is very user-intuitive, but the trick here is thinking outside of the box when it comes to customization.
The already built-in templates are a great place to begin, but they may seem a tad limiting. To unlock the power of Squarespace, you'll need to look past the surface of what your template offers
You are someone who has been living in Squarespace for years (yes, me!), and I needed to provide you with some elements to promote your site. Today, I want to address a very common question I get: How do you display your portfolio? Portfolios are everything, but how they should be presented differs greatly — what works for a photographer probably won’t for a copywriter.
So, I will go through a few methods of displaying your portfolio with Squarespace. These are great options to choose from, so you can find the one that best matches your business and the work in your portfolio! Utilize Your Current Blog and Organize Your Work with Categories
Indeed, this technique might seem straightforward, but it's a personal favorite for portfolio presentation. When leveraging your blog, there are several options available.
This uncomplicated approach is particularly beneficial for individuals who either don't possess or don't require elaborate portfolios.
Launch a Brand-New Blog to Showcase Your Portfolio
Certainly! Did you know you can have multiple blogs on one site in Squarespace? You may have as many as you require. For example, imagine you have your regular blog, stuffed full of everything you normally talk about, and then you have a new blog that makes it clear to everyone that this is your Portfolio.
This Portfolio blog works like a regular blog and exclusively shows your portfolio pieces, so you get a clean and organized solution that is excellent for those who have a lot of work in the portfolio. You can create categories within this Portfolio blog also to make it easier to organize. Laura, what we have done with a photographer, for example, is divide the categories of work into Weddings, Portraits, Engagements, etc.
Not only does it give you a tidy way to show lots of pieces, but it is also a versatile option. With each Portfolio blog post, you can add as much (or as little!) as you like: paragraphs of text explaining what the project is, images and galleries, videos, or anything else you need to add the right context. It is a solution that can be customized according to your needs and is your tailor-made solution.
Develop a Multi-Sectioned Index Page Highlighting Distinct Portfolios
Looks slick and pleasing to the eye and works as it should. One downside, on the other, may occur if you have a good amount of text or content for one portfolio item, which may make for oversized sections. So, a portfolio page layout like this one shines when there is less content to deal with.
If you are on Squarespace 7.0, be advised that this method is only applicable if you are using the Brine Family. However, this method applies to anyone on Squarespace 7.1, so it works across any template.
To create this style, start with a top section with separate thumbnails for each project. Then, use an index page section (or a regular page section if you are using 7.0) for each project. You can use different background colors to create visual separation, and within those sections, you can use different components like gallery blocks, videos, and text.
Use anchor links, those awesome links that allow visitors to jump around the page — they are golden for seamless navigation. For those who may not know how to create these links, what follows is an in-depth video tutorial on how to create anchor links in Squarespace 7.1 and 7.0.
Anchor-Links the thumbnail images at the top and also feel free to add a “back-to-top” link in the bottom of each index section. This makes sure visitors can smoothly get back to the top and continue scrolling through the thumbnails, entering yet another project.
Implement a Dropdown Menu and Multiple Gallery Pages
Here's another effective technique to meticulously organize your projects, and the process is remarkably straightforward.
To seamlessly integrate a drop-down menu into your primary Squarespace header menu, follow these easy steps:
Navigate to your Pages panel and select the + icon to create a new page.
Instead of adding a standard page, opt for a "folder." This folder will serve as your drop-down menu.
Click on the + icon again to introduce a new page. Once added, simply click and drag it into the designated folder within the Pages panel. Upon successful placement, this page will exclusively appear when you hover over your main menu folder link (you might need to refresh your page for the change to take effect).
Feel free to populate this folder with as many pages as you need, each capable of being a regular page, a gallery page, a blog, or any other creative format you envision!
Utilize the Squarespace 7.1 Portfolio Feature Page for an Effortless Showcase
An exciting enhancement for Squarespace 7.1 users comes in the form of Portfolio pages—an exclusively designed feature tailored for showcasing portfolios.
Here's a quick guide on how to add a Portfolio Page:
Navigate to your Main Navigation Menu and click on "Pages."
Press the + (plus) button to add a new page.
Select "Portfolio." You'll be prompted to choose a design; feel free to pick any, as you can customize it later.
And just like that, you've successfully added a new portfolio page!
Key Features of Portfolio Pages:
Full Customization: Enjoy the flexibility of customizing this page just like any other Squarespace 7.0 page.
Project Addition: Similar to a blog, you can use the + icon to add different projects.
Design Options: Unlike blog posts, project pages are fully customizable with a range of design options, including page sections, photo grids, slideshows, and more.
A couple of considerations:
Project Limit: There's a cap of 40 projects for the portfolio.
Draft Mode: Unlike blogs, portfolio projects can't be put in draft mode before publishing.
Categories and Tags: As of now, you can't add categories or tags.
Page Placement: Project pages can't be moved elsewhere on the site or to a different portfolio once created.
Explore the versatility of Portfolio pages to elevate your portfolio showcase!
5 Modern Portfolio Layouts for Squarespace Websites
1. Grid-Based Layout
What It Is: A structured layout with rows and columns of images or projects.
Best For: Creatives who prioritize clean and organized designs.
Features and Benefits:
Showcases multiple projects simultaneously.
Offers symmetry and uniformity for all creative industries.
Highlights: Squarespace templates like Brine and Bedford.
Why It Works: Grid layouts create balance and are highly customizable. Add captions, adjust spacing, and ensure responsive scaling for all devices.
2. Fullscreen Image Slider
What It Is: A layout that displays full-screen images or slideshows, one at a time.
Best For: Photographers, visual artists, and filmmakers who rely on high-quality visuals.
Features and Benefits:
Edge-to-edge visuals for an immersive experience.
Interactive transitions between slides.
Templates: Try Pacific or customize templates to include sliders.
Why It Works: A full-screen slider offers a dynamic way to present large visuals and draws attention to specific projects.
3. Vertical Scroll Portfolio
What It Is: A linear layout that scrolls vertically, ideal for storytelling.
Best For: Designers, architects, and writers who want to emphasize processes or narratives.
Features and Benefits:
Highlights each step of a project’s journey.
Easy to implement scrolling animations.
Squarespace supports long-scroll layouts with seamless mobile optimization.
Why It Works: This layout engages visitors by walking them through your creative story while maintaining attention with its linear format.
4. Asymmetrical and Mosaic Layouts
What It Is: Unconventional layouts with varying sizes of images or blocks.
Best For: Artists and experimental creatives looking for bold and unique aesthetics.
Features and Benefits:
Breaks away from traditional formats.
Creates dynamic, visually striking portfolios.
Templates: Use Squarespace’s Wexley or custom CSS for advanced asymmetry.
Why It Works: Asymmetry attracts attention, making it ideal for showcasing eclectic or diverse portfolios.
5. Interactive Portfolios with Hover Effects
What It Is: Layouts that incorporate animations or effects triggered by user interaction, such as hovering.
Best For: UX/UI designers and digital artists seeking to showcase technical skills.
Features and Benefits:
Enhances engagement with micro-interactions.
Options for hover-triggered text, zoom effects, or color changes.
Use plugins like SquareCraft or custom CSS to add effects.
Why It Works: Interactive layouts engage users and showcase technical sophistication, increasing time spent on your site.
How to Customize Modern Portfolio Layouts on Squarespace
Customization Steps:
Select a Template: Choose from Squarespace’s library based on your preferred layout.
Optimize for Responsiveness: Use the design panel to adjust elements for mobile, tablet, and desktop views.
Use Custom CSS: Add unique touches such as hover effects, animations, or color overlays.
Integrate Plugins: Use third-party tools like Square Craft for advanced functionality.
Refine Visual Elements: Ensure consistent font pairings, high-quality images, and cohesive color schemes.
Real-Life Examples of Modern Squarespace Portfolios
Example 1: A photography portfolio using the full-screen slider layout to highlight large, vivid images.
Example 2: A design agency with an asymmetrical layout that reflects their avant-garde style.
Example 3: A freelance writer uses a vertical scroll layout to showcase projects chronologically.
These examples demonstrate how creative professionals can align their portfolio design with their branding goals.
FAQ
What is the best layout for a photography portfolio?
Photography generally works best with either a Grid-Based Layout or a Full-Screen Hero Image. These are entirely clean and immersive methods to display your pictures.
Am I able to edit these layouts in every Squarespace template?
Are Squarespace templates customizable? You set the layouts, colors, styles, etc, as per your requirements.
Is this layout responsive?
Yes! All Squarespace templates are responsive, meaning your portfolio looks good on all devices.
Is it possible to include your videos in your portfolio?
Yes – adding videos is a breeze, particularly in Full-Screen Hero and Split-Screen layouts for an active presentation.
Do I have to be a coder to use these layouts?
No, Squarespace has user-friendly drag-and-drop functions built into the site, but it does offer custom CSS to do advanced design tweaks.
Am I allowed to sell my work on my portfolio?
Yes, Squarespace gives you the option to create an online store to sell your work directly from your portfolio.
