I spent 3 days exploring the new Shopify Horizon template. And it's definitely not for beginners.

Shopify releases new features only twice a year. This summer, one of them was a new Shopify design editor.

In a few days that I spent creating a landing page, I managed to get acquainted with its great features:

1. Extensive design customisation options.

The new structure with sections > groups > blocks allows for 100% unique layout and design.

Compared to the previous one: section > block, where blocks were already pre-created and could be adjusted ~ up/down, colours and a checkmark on/off.

Now, with the new editor, the possibilities are impressively wider.

There is a whole new dimension: groups. In one group, we can create a unique layout.

✅ This is mostly a positive direction, as creating more precise and suitable landing pages will be much easier.

❌ In contrast, creating a unique design in the new templates is a time-consuming process.

When creating a new Shopify e-store, I would still consider a pre-prepared design template.

That definitely will save a lot of time.

Also, maintenance – adding new pages or editing existing ones – will be much simpler.

2. AI “block” generator

This miracle saved me at least a few euros but cost me several hours of hassle.

Especially when I wanted a technically more complex section like video or logo scrolling in a loop.

Adjusting the “prompt,” adding tiny details about what should be and how it should be, took hours. And it was unnecessary, because the end result still turned out only partially functional.

However, for simpler concepts, at first it looked promising.

It quickly created and worked.

Until I checked the mobile version.

It turns out that the generator needs to be explicitly told about the necessity of correction options for the “mobile” version. Then it turned out more coherent.

✅ No-code generated blocks, which were previously only available with an extra application.

❌ Time and hassle to hit the correct “prompt.”

If a reliable solution is needed, I would recommend turning to a design template or application, because functionality with the price is guaranteed, and so is maintenance.

In contrast, with the “AI generator,” neither functionality is reliable nor is maintenance ensured. With changes, the entire block has to be regenerated.

So...

For beginners, I recommend staying away from the new templates. The editor offers many new possibilities, making it easier to create an overly complex store.

You might accidentally get bogged down in pixel pushing or generating correct “prompts” and lose at least a few hours, if not days, of time.

If Shopify is not your main occupation, stick to the reliable and relatively unbreakable “Dawn” or a pre-prepared design template from the Shopify Theme store.

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