One Day Workshop

CSS for Designers

Expert CSS training by Molly E Holzschlag and Andy Clarke

Make the move from creating restrictive table-based layouts to a more fluid, CSS-based layout. This practical, hands-on workshop is aimed specifically at helping designers to start using CSS. How can CSS be used to enhance the look of your web site? To manage space, shape, colour, typography and other aspects of graphic design? All these issues will be tackled and more.

Event Photo

A Different kind of workshop
CSS is the buzzword on everyone’s lips right now, but many designers are challenged by the complexities of the technology and how to implement it effectively across all browsers. What's more, most CSS training courses are aimed at technical people and do not take into account the way designers work, how they create their designs and express themselves through visual means. Our one day workshop, CSS for Designers, is different.

Energetic and witty style
By the end of the day you will have the confidence to create CSS layouts and designs that are manageable, accessible, forward thinking and beautiful. There will be visual examples from other genres of design including fine arts, architecture and product design to show you exactly what can be done with CSS. There’ll also be plenty of time to ask specific questions or pose individual problems on the day. Our presenters, Molly E. Holzschlag and Andy Clarke, who are teaming up especially for this workshop, are both experts in their field and share a passion for the Web, CSS, and especially visual design. Their presentation style is energetic, witty and inspirational and you’ll leave the workshop feeling invigorated and ready to design in CSS.

Any questions? Prefer to pay with a cheque? Just email .

What You'll Walk Away With

The CSS Survival Kit: - Each attendee will receive this amazing kit, which is chock-full of Molly's and Andy's best practical examples of CSS, examples and PDF articles. We'll also be placing valuable tools on the disc as well!
Years of Experience: - Years of valuable knowledge and experience. You'll be benefiting from all the triumphs and mistakes that Molly and Andy have made over their careers.
Practical Knowledge: - We're not going to bore you with theory. The workshop is going to focus purely on practical information that you can immediately incorporate into your site.
30% off Pearson Books: - Just go to our special discount bookstore

Who should attend?

Web designers who have an intermediate to advanced understanding of HTML (or XHTML) and are familiar with using CSS

Past Reviews

"Easily the best workshop that I've attended." - John Pilbeam

"Thanks for an enjoyable and enlightening day!" - Jez Butler

"The Survival Kit was really helpful." - Paula Davies, Legal and General

"Brilliant." - Henry Goodburn

"The workshop was great value for money." - Sarah Smart

"Superb organisation and preparation - thankyou!" - Andrew Hoskings

"Well paced, well planned and very professionally delivered." - Michael Buzzard, Cuban Council

How large is the workshop?

We've limited the number of attendees to 40, so that you will be able to interact with the speaker and get your questions answered.

Schedule

Registration & Coffee: 8:15 - 9:00am

Demystifying Structure, Semantics and Style

What is structure and why is it important for designers to understand?
How semantics relate to visual expression on the Web
How structure and semantics set the stage for great style

Boxes and Grids, Oh My!

Review of grid-based design approach, its advantages and failings
Ideas for Breaking out of table-based thinking by using art, architecture, package and industrial design models for inspiration
Visualizing the box model – the "new" grid

Coffee Break: 10:30 – 10:45

Designing with Semantic XHTML and CSS

Using lists to create beautiful navigation
Working with definition lists to create sophisticated interface elements
Gaining control of space using margins, borders and padding
Using element backgrounds to create patterns, layers of imagery and design components
Using element backgrounds and text-based type for ultimate typographic results
Working with shadows, transparency and shape for break-out-of-the-box design

Lunch is provided: 12:30 – 14:00

Low-Bandwidth, High Impact, Accessible and Beautiful CSS Layouts

How to create common layouts with floats
Using CSS positioning in layouts
Combining floats and positioning for ultimate results
Using body classing to achieve multiple layouts from one style sheet
Working with child, adjacent sibling, attribute and other advanced selectors
How, when, and why to push the envelope and implement progressive design

Coffee Break: 15:30 – 15:45

CSS: Managing Design Process and Alternative Device Design

Understanding the role of CSS as a management tool
Using CSS within web design workflow
How CSS enhances accessibility, global device access and is essential to the progress of the Web
Designing with CSS beyond the desktop: Print, Handheld and alternative media design overview

Q & A: 17:30 - 18:00

Social: 19:00 - till late

Who's speaking?

Molly E. Holzschlag

Molly (www.molly.com) has been coined "one of the greatest digerati" and deemed one of the most influential women on the Web, there is little doubt that in the world of Web development, Molly E. Holzschlag is one of the most vibrant people around.

With over 30 Web development book titles to her credit, Molly is a Steering Committee member for the Web Standards Project (WaSP). She recently co-authored "The Zen of CSS Design" with Dave Shea, featuring the best of the CSS Zen Garden.

Many recognise Molly from her books, public events, feature articles, and popular web site.

Andy Clarke

Andy has a background in advertising and started design agency Stuff and Nonsense in 1998. He is also a founding director of Karova.

Outside of the studio, Andy writes on his personal site, And All That Malarkey and is also on the Web Standards Awards judging panel.

He has written articles for A List Apart and contributed to the CSS Zen Garden.

Partners

Questions?

E-mail us:

or give us a call on: +44 (0) 1225 859 835