Flatiron Squarespace Template Analysis
Helpful notes on the distinctive features of the Flatiron template
Updated March 2018
Template Name: Flatiron
Flatiron was one of the first templates that was released when Squarespace 6 first launched, way back in 2012, which means Flatiron is one of the oldest templates still available on Squarespace 7 today.
Why choose Flatiron?
Websites have changed a lot since 2012, especially when it comes to designing with mobiles and tablets in mind. Although the Flatiron template is fully responsive (meaning it flexes to work on all sizes of device), certain things have moved on, and the newer templates have been created with everything from huge HD screens and mobiles in mind from Day 1. This means Flatiron feels a little behind the times, especially when it comes to the amount of elements you can control style-wise. However, it's still a decent choice for creative portfolios, especially if you don't have a lot of time (or desire) to tweak lots of elements design-wise.
The (then) novel design approach of a "mosaic grid" of photos is not so novel now, and you can actually achieve a similar effect using other templates (or gallery blocks), now. Therefore, I'd only recommend Flatiron if you are happy with the positioning of elements and the way the demo site looks on all devices, and you want to quickly and easily slot your content into that framework.
Final tip: be sure to read my Squarespace Template Bible for further detail on what templates do and don't control - and how to avoid the single biggest mistake people make when choosing a Squarespace template.
| Strong Point / Best For… | Creative portfolio sites with many projects that need descriptive text. Comes with a subtle animated twist. |
| Design Notes | Full-bleed tiled grid index homepage. Fixed header and dark background inner pages. Medium style controls. |
| Homepage | Auto-flowing random tiled index with multiple galleries, and a bit of extra impact with translucent, subtly animated thumbnail overlays. |
| Index Page | YES, any page type (Galleries or Pages). Has many customizable options. Grid and arrows to navigate within. |
| Sidebars | NONE |
| Header | Minimal header: just logo, optional tagline and navigation in slimline format. |
| Header Images (Banners) | NONE |
| Main Navigation | Main horizontal nav at top, positioned left or right on same line as logo. Background color can be set. |
| Fixed Navbar? | YES - optional |
| Other Navigation | ONE: Index pages show thumbnail grid at bottom and arrows at top to allow internal navigation within the Index folder. |
| Social Icons | Bottom right, can change icon style, color and size. |
| Footer | Standard but with extra spice: it can be set to be hidden until you mouse over it. |
| Page Titles & Descriptions | YES - they are the main feature. Will display in left column next to Galleries and pages. This is fixed, so shows even on scroll. |
| Gallery Design | Grid only, no controls. |
| Gallery Display | Grid shows as large single column vertical scroll, with images expanding to full width of column. Fixed faux sidebar on left with page title and description. |
| Blog Notes | Full text of blog posts show in blog home. Blog column is narrower than full width of normal pages, showing a faux sidebar with meta content next to the post. |
| Promoted Blocks? | NO |
| Products Notes | |
| Other Features / Notes | Thumbnails on Index has slight animation zoom and motion that follows the mouse. |
| Similar to… | Wexley, Avenue |
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