Disable Search completely

Ideally we would like to add it to the shortcode only and use we are using some custom css for the user search that is used when users type a phrase into the search field which we are adding to our header. So, maybe in search.php as well. Would one or both of those be possible?

Thanks in advance.

The topic you linked to has the exact solution for adding a featured image with that class to a shortcode. Is it not working?

Okay. So just making sure I understand correctly... The class mentioned in the thread I linked to can be used in any of the custom php code in our GP child theme then, correct?

Thank you in advance.

Yea, it should work regardless on any WP site, even without GP :)