Technical Guide & Strategic UX Design

Scrolling collection lists offer a dynamic way to showcase products while improving user engagement. Building on our previous guide for scrolling text banners, this tutorial focuses on implementing horizontal scroll behavior for collections in Shopify’s Dawn theme, optimized for modern eCommerce needs.

Why Scrolling Collections Drive Conversions

1. 38% Longer Session Times: Stores using horizontal scroll report increased browsing depth compared to static grids.

2. Mobile-First Design: 72% of users find horizontal swiping more intuitive than pagination on mobile devices.

3. Visual Storytelling: Curated collection scrolling enables thematic merchandising (e.g., "Summer Essentials" → "Back-to-School Picks").

Strategic Use Cases:

• New Arrivals Carousel: Auto-scroll latest collections.

• Category Highlights: Horizontal navigation between product types.

• Trending Now: Algorithm-driven collection displays.

Technical Implementation

Before making any code modifications, always ensure you create a copy of the theme first. Test all your changes on this copy to confirm everything works perfectly before publishing it to the live theme. This precaution helps prevent any issues from affecting your main theme and keeps your work safe.

Step 1: Create Collection Template

In the sections folder, create a new file named collection-list-marquee.liquid:

{{ 'section-collection-list.css' | asset_url | stylesheet_tag }}
{{ 'component-card.css' | asset_url | stylesheet_tag }}
{{ 'component-slider.css' | asset_url | stylesheet_tag }}

{%- style -%}
  .section-{{ section.id }}-padding {
    padding-top: {{ section.settings.padding_top | times: 0.75 | round: 0 }}px;
    padding-bottom: {{ section.settings.padding_bottom | times: 0.75 | round: 0 }}px;
  }

  @media screen and (min-width: 750px) {
    .section-{{ section.id }}-padding {
      padding-top: {{ section.settings.padding_top }}px;
      padding-bottom: {{ section.settings.padding_bottom }}px;
    }
  }
  
    @media screen and (min-width: 990px) {
  .grid--6-col-desktop .grid__item {
        width: calc(8.33% - var(--grid-desktop-horizontal-spacing)* 11 / 12);
        max-width: calc(8.33% - var(--grid-desktop-horizontal-spacing)* 11 / 12);
    }
  .grid--5-col-desktop .grid__item {
        width: calc(10% - var(--grid-desktop-horizontal-spacing)* 9 / 10);
        max-width: calc(10% - var(--grid-desktop-horizontal-spacing)* 9 / 10);
    }
  .grid--4-col-desktop .grid__item {
        width: calc(12.5% - var(--grid-desktop-horizontal-spacing)* 7 / 8);
        max-width: calc(12.5% - var(--grid-desktop-horizontal-spacing)* 7 / 8);
    }
  .grid--3-col-desktop .grid__item {
        width: calc(16.66% - var(--grid-desktop-horizontal-spacing)* 5 / 6);
        max-width: calc(16.66% - var(--grid-desktop-horizontal-spacing)* 5 / 6);
    }
  }
{%- endstyle -%}

{%- liquid
  assign columns_mobile_int = section.settings.columns_mobile | plus: 0
  assign show_mobile_slider = false
  if section.settings.swipe_on_mobile and section.blocks.size > columns_mobile_int
    assign show_mobile_slider = true
  endif
-%}

<div class="color-{{ section.settings.color_scheme }} gradient">
  <div class="collection-marquee collection-list-wrapper page-width isolate{% if show_mobile_slider %} page-width-desktop{% endif %}{% if section.settings.title == blank %} no-heading{% endif %}{% if section.settings.show_view_all == false or section.blocks.size > collections.size %} no-mobile-link{% endif %} section-{{ section.id }}-padding">
    {%- unless section.settings.title == blank -%}
      <div class="title-wrapper-with-link{% if show_mobile_slider %} title-wrapper--self-padded-tablet-down{% else %} title-wrapper--self-padded-mobile{% endif %} title-wrapper--no-top-margin">
        <h2
          id="SectionHeading-{{ section.id }}"
          class="collection-list-title inline-richtext {{ section.settings.heading_size }}{% if settings.animations_reveal_on_scroll %} scroll-trigger animate--slide-in{% endif %}"
        >
          {{ section.settings.title }}
        </h2>

        {%- if section.settings.show_view_all and show_mobile_slider -%}
          <a
            href="{{ routes.collections_url }}"
            id="ViewAll-{{ section.id }}"
            class="link underlined-link large-up-hide{% if settings.animations_reveal_on_scroll %} scroll-trigger animate--slide-in{% endif %}"
            aria-labelledby="ViewAll-{{ section.id }} SectionHeading-{{ section.id }}"
          >
            {{- 'sections.collection_list.view_all' | t -}}
          </a>
        {%- endif -%}
      </div>
    {%- endunless -%}

    <slider-component class="slider-mobile-gutter{% if settings.animations_reveal_on_scroll %} scroll-trigger animate--slide-in{% endif %}">
      <ul
        class="collection-list contains-card contains-card--collection{% if settings.card_style == 'standard' %} contains-card--standard{% endif %} grid grid--{{ section.settings.columns_desktop }}-col-desktop grid--{{ section.settings.columns_mobile }}-col-tablet-down{% if section.settings.swipe_on_mobile %} slider slider--tablet grid--peek{% endif %} collection-list--{{ section.blocks.size }}-items"
        id="Slider-{{ section.id }}"
        role="list"
      >
        {%- liquid
          assign columns = section.blocks.size
          if columns > 3
            assign columns = 3
          endif
        -%}
        {%- for block in section.blocks -%}
          <li
            id="Slide-{{ section.id }}-{{ forloop.index }}"
            class="collection-list__item grid__item{% if show_mobile_slider %} slider__slide{% endif %}{% if block.settings.collection.featured_image == nil %} collection-list__item--no-media{% endif %}{% if settings.animations_reveal_on_scroll %} scroll-trigger animate--slide-in{% endif %}"
            {{ block.shopify_attributes }}
            {% if settings.animations_reveal_on_scroll %}
              data-cascade
              style="--animation-order: {{ forloop.index }};"
            {% endif %}
          >
            {%- assign placeholder_image_index = forloop.index0 | modulo: 4 | plus: 1 -%}
            {%- assign placeholder_image = 'collection-apparel-' | append: placeholder_image_index -%}
            {% render 'card-collection',
              card_collection: block.settings.collection,
              media_aspect_ratio: section.settings.image_ratio,
              columns: columns,
              placeholder_image: placeholder_image
            %}
          </li>
        {%- endfor -%}
                {%- for block in section.blocks -%}
          <li
            id="Slide-{{ section.id }}-{{ forloop.index }}-1"
            class="collection-list__item desktop-only grid__item{% if show_mobile_slider %} slider__slide{% endif %}{% if block.settings.collection.featured_image == nil %} collection-list__item--no-media{% endif %}{% if settings.animations_reveal_on_scroll %} scroll-trigger animate--slide-in{% endif %}"
            {{ block.shopify_attributes }}
            {% if settings.animations_reveal_on_scroll %}
              data-cascade
              style="--animation-order: {{ forloop.index }};"
            {% endif %}
          >
            {%- assign placeholder_image_index = forloop.index0 | modulo: 4 | plus: 1 -%}
            {%- assign placeholder_image = 'collection-apparel-' | append: placeholder_image_index -%}
            {% render 'card-collection',
              card_collection: block.settings.collection,
              media_aspect_ratio: section.settings.image_ratio,
              columns: columns,
              placeholder_image: placeholder_image
            %}
          </li>
        {%- endfor -%}
      </ul>
      {%- if show_mobile_slider -%}
        <div class="slider-buttons">
          <button
            type="button"
            class="slider-button slider-button--prev"
            name="previous"
            aria-label="{{ 'general.slider.previous_slide' | t }}"
          >
           {{- 'icon-caret.svg' | inline_asset_content -}}
          </button>
          <div class="slider-counter caption">
            <span class="slider-counter--current">1</span>
            <span aria-hidden="true"> / </span>
            <span class="visually-hidden">{{ 'general.slider.of' | t }}</span>
            <span class="slider-counter--total">{{ section.blocks.size }}</span>
          </div>
          <button
            type="button"
            class="slider-button slider-button--next"
            name="next"
            aria-label="{{ 'general.slider.next_slide' | t }}"
          >
            {{- 'icon-caret.svg' | inline_asset_content -}}
          </button>
        </div>
      {%- endif -%}
    </slider-component>

    {%- if section.settings.show_view_all and section.blocks.size < collections.size -%}
      <div
        class="center collection-list-view-all{% if show_mobile_slider %} small-hide medium-hide{% endif %}{% if settings.animations_reveal_on_scroll %} scroll-trigger animate--slide-in{% endif %}"
        {% if settings.animations_reveal_on_scroll %}
          data-cascade
        {% endif %}
      >
        <a
          href="{{ routes.collections_url }}"
          class="button"
          id="ViewAllButton-{{ section.id }}"
          aria-labelledby="ViewAllButton-{{ section.id }} SectionHeading-{{ section.id }}"
        >
          {{- 'sections.collection_list.view_all' | t -}}
        </a>
      </div>
    {%- endif -%}
  </div>
</div>

{% schema %}
{
  "name": "Collection list marqueen",
  "tag": "section",
  "class": "section section-collection-list",
  "max_blocks": 15,
  "disabled_on": {
    "groups": ["header", "footer"]
  },
  "settings": [
    {
      "type": "inline_richtext",
      "id": "title",
      "default": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.title.default",
      "label": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.title.label"
    },
    {
      "type": "select",
      "id": "heading_size",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "h2",
          "label": "t:sections.all.heading_size.options__1.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "h1",
          "label": "t:sections.all.heading_size.options__2.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "h0",
          "label": "t:sections.all.heading_size.options__3.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "hxl",
          "label": "t:sections.all.heading_size.options__4.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "hxxl",
          "label": "t:sections.all.heading_size.options__5.label"
        }
      ],
      "default": "h1",
      "label": "t:sections.all.heading_size.label"
    },
    {
      "type": "select",
      "id": "image_ratio",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "adapt",
          "label": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.image_ratio.options__1.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "portrait",
          "label": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.image_ratio.options__2.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "square",
          "label": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.image_ratio.options__3.label"
        }
      ],
      "default": "square",
      "label": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.image_ratio.label",
      "info": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.image_ratio.info"
    },
    {
      "type": "range",
      "id": "columns_desktop",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 6,
      "step": 1,
      "default": 3,
      "label": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.columns_desktop.label"
    },
    {
      "type": "color_scheme",
      "id": "color_scheme",
      "label": "t:sections.all.colors.label",
      "info": "t:sections.all.colors.has_cards_info",
      "default": "scheme-1"
    },
    {
      "type": "checkbox",
      "id": "show_view_all",
      "default": false,
      "label": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.show_view_all.label"
    },
    {
      "type": "header",
      "content": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.header_mobile.content"
    },
    {
      "type": "select",
      "id": "columns_mobile",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "1",
          "label": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.columns_mobile.options__1.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "2",
          "label": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.columns_mobile.options__2.label"
        }
      ],
      "default": "1",
      "label": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.columns_mobile.label"
    },
    {
      "type": "checkbox",
      "id": "swipe_on_mobile",
      "default": false,
      "label": "t:sections.collection-list.settings.swipe_on_mobile.label"
    },
    {
      "type": "header",
      "content": "t:sections.all.padding.section_padding_heading"
    },
    {
      "type": "range",
      "id": "padding_top",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100,
      "step": 4,
      "unit": "px",
      "label": "t:sections.all.padding.padding_top",
      "default": 36
    },
    {
      "type": "range",
      "id": "padding_bottom",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100,
      "step": 4,
      "unit": "px",
      "label": "t:sections.all.padding.padding_bottom",
      "default": 36
    }
  ],
  "blocks": [
    {
      "type": "featured_collection",
      "name": "t:sections.collection-list.blocks.featured_collection.name",
      "settings": [
        {
          "type": "collection",
          "id": "collection",
          "label": "t:sections.collection-list.blocks.featured_collection.settings.collection.label"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "presets": [
    {
      "name": "t:sections.collection-list.presets.name",
      "blocks": [
        {
          "type": "featured_collection"
        },
        {
          "type": "featured_collection"
        },
        {
          "type": "featured_collection"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
{% endschema %}

<style>
  .desktop-only {
    display: none;
  }
@media screen and (min-width: 990px) {
    .collection-marquee .slider-mobile-gutter {
    overflow:hidden;
  }
  .collection-marqueer .slider-mobile-gutter ul {
    animation: marquee 18s linear infinite;
    width: 200%;
  }
  .collection-marquee .slider-mobile-gutter ul li {
    float: left;
  }
  .desktop-only {
    display: block;
  }
  @keyframes marquee {
			from {
				transform: translateX( 0% );
			}
			to {
				transform: translateX( -50% );
			}
  }
}

</style>

Copy

Step 2: Add to Theme

1. In Shopify Admin:

   1. Navigate to Online Store > Themes > Customize.

   2. Add the "Collection list marquee" section to your homepage or anywhere you wish to place it.

Note: This currently supports only 3 to 6 collections.

Conclusion

By integrating scrolling collections into the Dawn theme, eCommerce stores can showcase a greater variety of products and encourage deeper engagement. Following the outlined steps allows merchants to create a dynamic and visually appealing storefront that enhances product discovery.