Inspiration – Gallery Layout: Carousel vs. Grid (Template Test): Test how layout style impacts browsing and engagement

Overview

Goal: Test how different gallery layouts (carousel vs. grid) influence user engagement and browsing behavior.

Build time: 5 minutes.

Expected impact: Potential uplift of 4–10% in product interaction and conversions.

Hypothesis

The way content is visually displayed can shape how users engage with it. By testing a horizontal carousel layout against a classic grid layout, we can identify which layout encourages visitors to explore more products and engage deeper with your catalogue.

Assumptions

• Ease of Exploration: A grid layout allows quick scanning of multiple items, while a carousel highlights one product at a time and invites interaction through scrolling.
• Engagement Style: Carousels create a dynamic experience, while grids offer a straightforward overview.
• Performance: Carousel layouts can reduce clutter, but may hide content behind user interaction.
• Conversion Impact: The layout that best balances clarity with interaction may lead to higher engagement and conversions.

Setting up the experiment in Personizely (Template Test)

For a detailed setup guide, see the Template Experiment tutorial →.

1. From your Personizely Dashboard, go to the Campaigns tab and click Create Campaign.
2. In the Create new campaign window, select Template Test, name your campaign, and define your hypothesis.
3. Choose the page template you want to test. The currently active template will serve as the control.
4. Under the Variation, apply your gallery layout changes:

• Original (Control): Use the Grid layout, displaying multiple product tiles at once.
• Variation: Switch to a Carousel layout, showing fewer items with lateral navigation arrows.
• Keep product information, styling, and CTAs consistent across both layouts.

5. Adjust your Traffic allocation to decide how visitors are divided between the two layouts.
6. In the Goals section, select actions to track, such as Product Clicks, Add to Cart, or Purchase.
7. Click Start to activate your template test.

Additional notes:

• Ensure both templates use optimized loading and identical product data sources.
• Template Tests are ideal for testing full-page layout differences or major design changes.

You’re all set. The Template Test will help you discover whether your audience prefers browsing through a dynamic carousel or a grid layout for quicker product discovery.

Updated on: 10/11/2025