Building a Dropdown List with Images

Standard dropdown lists fall short in conveying essential product details, especially when it comes to elements that have a large number of visual variations such as multiple colors. Our client Sola Wood Flowers (SWF) was faced with such a problem. Their users when selecting the color option struggled to visualize product colors without referring to a separate color gallery, leading us to devise an innovative solution. 

SWF initially relied on conventional word-based select dropdowns, which posed limitations in conveying color variations effectively. Users found it cumbersome to navigate through color options without direct visual references, resorting to a hidden color gallery tucked within an accordion menu.

To address the shortcomings of traditional dropdowns, we leveraged JavaScript to customize the existing select lists. Our solution centered around integrating Select2, a powerful library that facilitated the incorporation of images into dropdown options. By harnessing Select2’s capabilities, we transformed the mundane dropdowns into visually rich elements, matching each color option to its corresponding thumbnail image. Furthermore a search option was added to easily find the color by typing in the name instead of scrolling through the long list of colors.

The technical implementation involved some challenges and we had to build some custom functions to ensure the list would load reliably every time. 

Initially SWF used a Shopify app called “Bold Product Options” to implement multiple product variant options to their product page. This created a challenge when we tried to implement Select2 on top of “Bold Product Options”. We had to ensure implementation of Select2 did not interfere with Bold.

We also had to ensure color options were fetched dynamically and all the correct events were fired when a user made an option selection. We crafted functions to format the dropdown options, dynamically fetching color images and seamlessly integrating them into the dropdown interface.

We also implemented event listeners to ensure smooth user interactions, including pre-selecting color options based on metafields and removing unnecessary UI elements for a cleaner look.

Finally since not all SWF products needed this functionality we only targeted products with custom tags and let SWF choose where to implement the functionality.

The end result was a transformative enhancement to the user experience. With our custom dropdown solution, buyers could effortlessly visualize product colors directly within the dropdown interface. Our solution bridged the gap between product selection and visualization, empowering users to make informed choices with ease.

By embracing innovation and leveraging the power of JavaScript and Select2, we successfully overcame the limitations of standard dropdown lists. Through thoughtful customization and technical ingenuity, we not only addressed user pain points but also elevated the overall shopping experience. As we continue to evolve, we remain committed to crafting solutions that delight and empower our users every step of the way.