With the introduction of Format’s latest feature, flex block, who better to test out this new tool in portfolio creation than our own in-house experts. Our Member Support and Marketing teams are made up of artists who know our platform inside and out, giving them incredible insight into the needs of creative professionals looking to uniquely showcase their work. We asked them to build templates within flex block to support our members in getting the most out of their website designs. Let’s look at what they came up with.
Ben Sheetz, Format Marketing
Hi, I’m Ben – a multidisciplinary artist based in Durham, NC. My work often explores themes of entropy, nostalgia, texture, and atmosphere, with a focus on collage. I’m drawn to analog formats like VHS, Mini-DV, and cassette tape and primarily work in film, video and music–working under the moniker eaten by nostalgia. Through that project, I’ve scored the early-access strategy game It Stares Back.
In addition to my creative work, I co-host Pod People, a weekly horror film podcast. Since 2022, I’ve been Format’s video content lead – if you’ve seen a Format video on social, in-product, or anywhere else, there’s a good chance I made it.
What most excited Ben in working with flex block:
What excites me most about Flex Block is how versatile and open-ended it is. Whether you’re creating a dense collage of image documentation, building a modern-feeling projects page, or writing about individual works in a way that feels specific and intentional, Flex Block opens up a lot of creative possibilities. It gives you the tools to tailor your site to your work.
Ben’s play with layers, opacity and a full-frame background.
About Ben’s template:
My vision for this template was heavily inspired by print. I love the layout play you see in contemporary movie posters and magazine design. I wanted to channel that energy and show off what Flex Block can really do when pushed creatively.
Ben’s plans for flex block:
I’m really excited to use flex block to better document my own work – especially the process and ideas behind it. A lot of my video work is abstract or conceptual, and flex block gives me a way to visually expand on those ideas using screenshots, collages, and writing, rather than just showing the finished piece. It feels like an opportunity to deepen the experience of the work, moreso than simple documentation.
Anna-Sophia’s free-form template
Anna-Sophia, Format Customer Experience
Hi – I’m Anna-Sophia. I’m part of Format’s CX and Site Building Teams. I love the visual world, particularly painting, drawing, and graphic design. I received a BFA from NSCAD University and an MFA in studio art from Rutgers University. My creative work is process based and ideas come through doing, collecting, building and making. I come from a classical music background and feel this has influenced my love for abstraction and hits history.
What were you most excited about working with Format’s new Flex Block?
The new addition of background colors! Color and color combinations can set such a strong visual tone, I hope members see the potential that color can bring to their site. While Format offers a wide range of themes and custom pages that allow for variability, the creativity and variety of decisions available with Flexblock are far more nuanced and open-ended than previously possible. Images can be overlaid, unlimited buttons can be added, multiple background colors can exist across a single site, and the relationship between text and images is much more dynamic. You can engage with the layout of your work on an entirely different creative level, which I find to be very existing.
Anna-Sophia’s template using colour blocking
About Anna-Sophia’s templates
It started out very organically, not really thinking about the final use. As images and text were placed, elements evolved naturally.
Anna-Sophia’s plans for flex block
I am excited to play around with flex block and how my work is showcased online. The digital space is the norm these days, and I am curious to see how layout can change the viewing experience of my work. At this exact moment, I view my site as an ever-changing creative project, and am looking forward to seeing how my site evolves with this feature!
Theodora, Format Customer Experience
Hi! I’m Theodora. I’ve worked for Format since 2023 as part of the CX team and managing our Help Centre. Prior to that, I was a full-time photographer, working in product, fashion, and portraiture, and a part-time author publishing romance. Nowadays, I’m more of a hobbyist, and enjoy a nice cup of tea while sifting through photo edits or taking on new creative hobbies.
What excites Theodora the most about flex block
A lot! I work for Format’s Site Building Service, so the Flex Block was highly anticipated. Buttons are so helpful, as is the ability to get creative with text and image positioning. Being able to overlap elements is incredibly useful in creating image backgrounds and adding depth to page design.
About Theodora’s Template:
I wanted to create a simple but bold hero template that could be used as a call-to-action on a site’s homepage. While I was making it, I imagined it as the front page of a store or a title card for an artistic project, but I aimed to make it versatile for any type of site. I also created an About page template that fits a lot of content into a smaller, compact area. You could use multiple of these templates for team bios, or a longer-form About section.
Theodora’s plan for flex block:
Introductory pages for my larger creative projects, as well as creating image layouts the same way I would put together a gallery wall—with intention and a lot of experimentation. I can see myself using page composition as a way to enhance the impact of my work. I’ve had the same site layout for some time now, and I’m excited to try new things with it!
Sarah Jasmine Hodgson, Format Marketing
Hello! I’m Sarah Jasmine Hodgson, a multimedia artist, curator, and Social Media and Content Specialist at Format. My practice is rooted in photography but spans a diverse range of mediums as a way to explore human connection and our evolving relationships with technology.
I’m based in Ottawa, Ontario and I’m very active in its arts and culture scene, driven by a love for community-building and curatorial work. After completing my BFA at the University of Ottawa, I co-founded Nosy Mag, a local DIY platform that showcases arts and culture in the city through interviews, reviews, exhibitions, and events.
What excites Sarah most about flex block:
What I appreciate most about flex block is how it lets you treat your site like a curated space. As someone whose practice spans a multitude of mediums, I love that it doesn’t force you into a rigid structure. Whether you’re layering visual material, creating layout for text, or creating a narrative between elements, flex block gives you the tools to build something that feels personal with ease.
About Sarah’s templates:
I designed my two templates with different goals in mind. One showcases my photographic series through layered imagery and transparency. Zoomed-in details sit behind full-sized images, creating depth and visual intrigue. The layout encourages viewers to scroll, revealing the work in a way that feels curated.
The second takes a more minimalist approach to an “About Me” page, with a focus on highlighting the “Curriculum Vitae.” I composed the layout to emphasize the button to encourage visitors to click and read on.
Sarah’s plans for flex block:
I’m excited to use flex block as a way to bring more storytelling into the user experience. It gives me the ability to shape how viewers move through the work. I see it as a tool to build more intentional pacing and atmosphere, whether I’m presenting an exhibition archive or a new body of work. I’ll be able to craft an experience.
Make It Your Own
You can customize any flex block template, or try making your own. It’s an intuitive process that invites experiment and innovation with layers and elements. To see more examples, check out artist Alex McLeod’s world of gif’s, or photographer Brittany Bravo’s editorial-inspired layout, both templates are also available in your Format editor.
Go, flex.
Thousands of customizations to match your unique style.
Customize your site to tell the story of your brand. Format has nearly 100 templates offering thousands of design variables.
