If you’ve ever filled out a form that kept asking irrelevant questions, you already understand why conditional logic matters. Conditional logic lets your form respond intelligently to what someone selects or types. Instead of showing every possible question up front, the form adapts in real time — showing or hiding fields based on previous answers. In short: smarter forms, happier applicants.
What Is Conditional Logic?
Conditional logic allows a field to either appear or stay hidden depending on how another field is answered. It works on a field-by-field basis. Every individual field in your form can be programmed to:
Show when a specific answer is selected
Hide unless certain criteria are met
For example:
If someone selects “Other” in a dropdown → a new text field appears asking them to specify.
If someone selects “Yes” to submitting multiple works → additional upload fields appear.
If someone chooses a different submission category → pricing or payment fields adjust accordingly.
The form becomes dynamic instead of static.
How to Set Up Conditional Logic in Forms
Head to your Projects and select the one you'd like to edit. Head to the Form Builder.
Create a new field or select an existing one that you would like either show or be hidden based on the outcome of another existing field.
Select the Conditions tab.
You will now be able to add a rule. In this example, I want to add an "Other" field whereby a creator can give more details after selecting "Other" in a list of other options. Here's my existing field:
If an applicant selects Other (please specificy), I want another field to pop up that gives them the option to write more information. If they choose any of the other options, I want this field to stay hidden.
I create a new field, select conditions and Add Rule.
I select Hide by Default so that this field is always be hidden unless the creator selects the specific answer I choose.
Next, add the specifics of the rule. I select Show When, and then select the field that this should pull from (e.g Additional Mediums) and then the answer that is given [e.g Other (please specify)]
Add any additional rules under this using the AND/OR options.
Once you have finished adding all your fields and programmed all the conditional logic, make sure to test what this looks like to the end user. Save the current version of the form, then open up a preview of the forms. Go through each of the fields where logic is programmed and test it works correctly by adding in an answer to a field and seeing whether the new field appears or is hidden.
Please note: When creating conditional logic fields, they will always be shown in the admin and not be hidden here!
Why Conditional Logic Is So Useful
1. It Keeps Forms Short and Focused
Nobody wants to scroll through pages of irrelevant questions.
Conditional fields keep your form clean by only displaying what’s necessary. That means:
Less overwhelm
Faster completion
Higher submission rates
And yes, people absolutely abandon forms that feel too long.
2. It Creates a Better Applicant Experience
When a form responds intelligently, it feels thoughtful.
Instead of forcing applicants to skip over irrelevant fields, you guide them naturally through a tailored flow. That’s especially important in creative contexts — where clarity and simplicity matter.
3. It Supports Complex Submissions (Without Looking Complicated)
Conditional logic is particularly powerful for:
Art exhibitions
Awards
Contests
Open calls
Opportunities accepting multiple works
Let’s say you’re running an art exhibition:
If an artist selects “1 Work” → show one upload field.
If they select “3 Works” → reveal three upload fields.
If they select a higher tier → show a different payment amount.
If they choose “Other medium” → reveal a specification field.
Instead of building separate forms or overwhelming everyone with every possibility, the form simply adapts.
Best Practices
A few gentle guardrails:
Use conditional logic to simplify — not to overcomplicate.
Keep logic flows easy to follow.
Test your form thoroughly to ensure all paths work as expected.
Make sure payment adjustments clearly reflect what the applicant selected.
The goal isn’t cleverness.
The goal is clarity.