In case you do not know what CSS is here is quick review. CSS is a coding that web designers use to visually style websites. Adding styles like font color, size and font, width and widths of items on the page.

To show the import role that css plays in the current world of web design here is a screen of this page with and with out CSS.

Now something new has emerge, CSS3

CSS3 is the latest version of css and it allows for some very cool styling features. Now I could list off 10 ten new features or do a step by step how-to with CSS. Instead i’ll just show you something that is amazing.

The CSS Monster!

It’s pure css, no graphics at all. Click on the photo below to link to code version.

If you like this, you can see how it was done at Un blob CSS.
And if you would like a how-to CSS3 or CSS tutorial just ask.

Now maybe no one would notice, but all those small details mean the difference between a “B grade” website and an “A grade website”. The thing I am finding tho is the closer you get to being  100% done with a website the long and hard things seem to be. I would go so far as to say that the first 89% of a project is about equal to the last 11% of project in terms of effort or time.

This kind of art takes time, organization and dedication.

Kevin Cornell one of my new favorite illustrators has a website that is great example of what that extra 11% looks like. THE WEBSITE (you will also find Kevin’s work all over AlistApart.com)

This is the screen I landed on after making a PayPal purchase from Kevin’s store.

This type of customer care and detail in web design is inspiring to me. The thank you screen has a custom illustration and humor, even tho I have already bought a product. This kind of foresight and effort is noticed.

What makes Kevin’s  site is it’s attention to detail, which is something that take a lot of time, and to me means that someone cared a lot about there work, and about there customers. So kudos to that extra 11%.

**Look for Kevin’s art on the walls of the MAC soon.

Sites Sighted :
Kevin Cornells the Illustrator »
A list Apart.com »

Welcome aboard, Kevin! We’re happy to have you part of the crew.

“I found my perfect match on Matchbook. Johnathan Curry was willing to work with our non-profit budget (small!) on a database rebuild project. He understood my needs for keeping things simple, making it functional and still managed to add flair/creativity to a project as boring as a database. Best yet, he was very nice to work with and stayed within our budget.”

Awe… that just makes us feel special. Thanks, Cynthia.

Have you had a good experience with Matchbook? We’d love to hear about it.

As a designer, I find myself frequently needing to generate tints and shades from a color scheme.  I didn't see an online tool for this and I wanted to get better at JavaScript/JQuery, so I wrote my own. I'd be delighted if you had five minutes to look at it and tell me:

1) is it useful, 2) does it work well for you, 3) any suggestions.

The tool is at http://www.highintegritydesign.com/tools/tinter-shader.

Enjoy!

Thanks —North