Creative Code Solutions for Squarespace: Dynamic Content, Details and Navigation
Creative Code Solutions — a series that shows what's truly possible in Squarespace. Each edition will reveal techniques that go beyond what you might expect from the standard builder, inspiring both designers and website owners to explore new possibilities.
Creative Code Solutions for Squarespace: Dynamic Content, Details and Navigation
a.
Squarespace
b.
Article
Squarespace is often celebrated — and sometimes dismissed — for its simplicity. Yes, it's designed to be easy to use without any coding knowledge. But with just the right skills, this "basic" platform can turn into a canvas for sophisticated websites.
This is why I created Creative Code Solutions — a series that shows what's truly possible in Squarespace. Each edition will reveal techniques that go beyond what you might expect from the standard builder, inspiring both designers and website owners to explore new possibilities.
In this edition, we're exploring how a few clever code additions can unlock features you won't find in Squarespace's native options. These solutions come directly from our conversations in our Standout Squarespace program, where designers bring their creative challenges and dreams. Their needs inspire our code solutions, turning their ideas into working features for their clients. It's proof that Squarespace's simplicity isn't holding us back — it's giving us a strong foundation to build something more.
Dynamic Navigation Options
Squarespace's built-in navigation works well, but with a few code tweaks, we can explore more options for menus that align with the brand's unique needs and aesthetic:
Overlay Menu for Desktop
If you love the clean, focused experience of mobile navigation, bring that same approach to desktop. This solution adapts Squarespace's mobile menu for larger screens, creating an immersive navigation experience that works particularly well for minimalist brands. What makes this option user-friendly is it simply pulls the navigation menu set by users and elegantly displays dropdown items.
Full-Width Header Images
When your brand relies heavily on visual impact, consider expanding your logo image to full width. This approach works especially well if you wish your brand’s logo to be prominent. The solution maintains Squarespace's responsive image handling while giving your header logo more room to breathe.
Slide-out Navigation
For sites with multiple navigation needs, slide-out menus offer an elegant way to handle secondary navigation without cluttering your main menu. This slide-out navigation simply uses our Pop-out Menu component as base with some CSS tweaks.
Language Switch Styling
For bilingual sites, transform Weglot's default dropdown into an elegant toggle. Since Weglot offers free support for two languages, many of our sites use this feature. But the default dropdown menu can feel excessive for a simple language choice. Our CSS-only solution creates a clean, minimalist switch that fits seamlessly with your navigation—perfect for sites toggling between two languages.
Content in Motion: Dynamic Display Solutions
Static content has its place, but dynamic presentation captures attention. These solutions bring movement and life to your Squarespace content:
Rich Content Marquee
Building on Squarespace's carousel list section, this solution lets you create scrolling displays with images, text, and links. It's intuitive to update and maintain, making it ideal for featuring team members, services, or highlighted content.
Slide-out Summary Previews
Preview content without page jumps using smooth slide-out summaries. Built using Squarespace's summary blocks, this solution keeps visitors engaged by bringing content to them rather than directing them away.
Vertical Marquee
Turn the standard gallery block into a smooth, vertical scrolling showcase. Simply add your images through Squarespace's familiar gallery interface, and watch them flow in an elegant vertical display, perfect for portfolios, product features, or brand storytelling.
Scroll-based Text Highlights
Text that highlights as you scroll (like karaoke!). Guide readers through your content with dynamic text highlighting that responds to scrolling. It's an engaging way to make the most relevant content more attractive without being distracting.
Details that Matter
Sometimes it's the subtle design choices that set a site apart. From perfectly geometric buttons to thoughtful content organization, these small refinements help create a more polished, intentional experience for your visitors.
Perfectly circular button
Create perfectly circular buttons that maintain their shape across all screens. It's a small detail that shows attention to design precision.
Product and Blog Post Taglines
Add taglines to products and blog posts for better content hierarchy. This simple addition adds context to your collection pages before users even visit individual products and articles.
Each of these solutions represents what we love most about working with Squarespace: taking a solid foundation and transforming it into something unexpected. They're all designed to work seamlessly with Squarespace's native features, adding sophistication without sacrificing the platform's core simplicity.
Want to stay updated on the latest Squarespace design techniques? Subscribe to our newsletter where we share tips, tricks, and inspiration for elevating your web design game.
An Invitation
If you're interested in mastering these techniques and accessing our complete library of Squarespace solutions, check out our Standout Squarespace program. We dive deep into implementation details and provide step-by-step guidance for each feature.