4 Examples of Award-Winning Squarespace Websites
In July 2026, Squarespace partnered with Contra, a commission-free professional network where creatives showcase their work and connect with clients, to launch the Make It Real Challenge. The design competition invited web designers to bring their most ambitious ideas to life using Squarespace’s suite of Finish Layer tools. The professional-grade design toolkit built directly into Squarespace’s site editor offers advanced control and customization to build polished, client-ready sites without any code required.
These Squarespace website examples show how designers used Finish Layer to build custom Squarespace websites, from immersive and editorial portfolios to conversion-focused landing pages and responsive brand experiences.
Explore each site for ideas that you can bring into your own client work:
Best Overall: Most Creative and Innovative Use of Squarespace
Designers: Joy Yiu and Reyna Dashefsky, Hello-World
Project: KŌSA
KŌSA is a concept website for a contemporary artist residency in Tokyo. Inspired by the city’s convergence of art and culture, Joy Yiu and Reyna Dashefsky of Hello-World built an immersive web experience that unfolds gradually with every scroll.
Joy and Reyna used Layers and Block Transforms to create depth and an editorial sense of composition, particularly in the hero section where overlapping imagery establishes the visual language. Combining looping animations, hover effects, and Block Animations introduces cinematic movement that guides visitors through the narrative. With Stacks, they built flexible, modular layouts while maintaining the site’s alignment and rhythm. Finally, device-specific editing with Mobile Overrides ensures the immersive desktop experience translates to mobile.
Watch Joy and Reyna’s walkthrough of the KŌSA site.
Best Use of Finish Layer Tools
Designer: Rache De Luna, Squarestylist
Project: Design Forward
Rache De Luna of Squarestylist built Design Forward as a landing page for a live bootcamp that explores AI for web designers. She relied entirely on Squarespace’s native tools without custom CSS or JavaScript. The landing page invites designers to join a waitlist and features a distinct, fashion-forward visual identity.
Rache used custom font uploads to apply custom typefaces code-free, while scaling text maintains optimal heading hierarchy for SEO and accessibility. She also combined block transforms, animations, and block pinning to transition smoothly between color themes, and built a horizontal scroll section. Nested Stacks serve as the backbone for layered editorial cards featuring video blocks. And Mobile Overrides enabled Rache to adjust transform values and layouts for smaller screens.
See how Rache built the Design Forward site with Finish Layer.
Social Media Superstar
Designer: Michael Brodzik, Vative Creative
Project: The Void
The Void is a concept website for an AI-powered game art studio focused on remastering characters and environments. Michael Brodzik of Vative Creative sought to prove what’s possible when every design decision serves a distinct purpose.
Michael relied on responsive Stacks to build complex, structured layouts. He used block transforms to create layered, asymmetrical compositions to capture the visitor’s attention. Michael also combined scroll, hover, curse-follow, and appear animations to guide visitors through the online experience—purposeful motion that enhances the story of the website.
Watch Michael’s tutorial for building The Void website.
Honorable Mention
Designer: Kia Dyson, Golden Launch Creative
Project: The Future in Black
The Future in Black functions as a digital exhibit and living brand experience for artist Joy Fennell. Kia Dyson of Golden Launch Creative built an archival, vibrant site that makes visitors feel as if they’re walking through a digital gallery. She used a mix of Squarespace’s native features and custom CSS and JavaScript.
Kia focused heavily on the pacing of the site content with block animations. Text reveals on scroll, so the story unfolds in distinct beats while hover effects invite visitors to take a second look at images without pulling focus. Shapes transform and shift position as the visitor scrolls, adding depth that static layouts can’t always achieve. Kia used custom typography for editorial headlines and clean body copy to further cement the client’s visual identity.
Check out Kia’s tour of The Future in Black website.
Build expressive Squarespace sites with Finish Layer
Squarespace’s Finish Layer tools empower you to deliver highly customized, studio-quality designs for your clients. As the winners of the Make It Real Challenge demonstrate, you can build immersive, dynamic experiences within Squarespace with limited code or no code at all.
Learn more with these related resources:
Want more?
Join Squarespace Circle, Squarespace’s program for professional designers and web design agencies. Along with exclusive content, discounts, and other perks, Circle brings experts together from across the globe to exchange advice while connecting with new clients and collaborators.
