A horizontal scroll – page navigation that scrolls left and right to reveal content rather than the traditional up and down – has until recently been considered a no go. Thought to be gimmicky and attention-seeking (what’s wrong with that?), web design do and don’t-lists from even just a few years ago will tell you users are used to scrolling down. So please don’t confuse them, or risk them clicking away – fast.

But Instagram, and a certain dating app (or so we’ve been told) have had us swiping left and right for a while now. And ever since Netflix became a household name we’ve learned to look right for more juicy stuff. It’s actually kind of kicking it old school in that it’s how we all read magazines and books.

While going sideways can get a bad rap, it’s a great way to shake up the status quo. But done properly with simple arrow icons, dots or informational text to point users in the right direction. Another visual hint that works really well is to let a part of the scrollable content peek out letting consumers know there’s more to be had if they want it.

Though there is something to be said for the element of surprise – when a spin of the mouse wheel unexpectedly takes users sideways instead of down. This works well for one-pagers like this one on the HISTORY OF AMSTERDAM’S CANALS – which feels like flipping through a gorgeous coffee table book.