Website Design: CSS

1. Don't start from scratch
A blank window, a blinking cursor. What do I say next? Nothing is more intimidating than a blank editor window. Sure you have a lot of ideas. You're raring to go. But how to begin? Start from something. Develop a template for your web pages and the supporting CSS files. Put the rules you always use in there. When you start a new project, reach for the templates and fine tune them. Voila, no intimidation!

2. Add the content
If you started with the template, grab some content and add it in. Don't worry about how it looks. Don't even worry about what it says. For the initial layout, just use some Lorem Ipsum. The important thing is to get some headlines and text in there.

3. Mix in some style
Now start making it pretty. What fonts are you going to use? How big will the text be? How much white space? Go ahead and style the navigation too. What about rollover buttons? You can use CSS effects for those too. Remember your comps from Photoshop? Now it's time to add in the banners and styled text.

4. Question: is it content or eye candy?
Remember, use HTML for the content and CSS for the presentation. When you add a graphic, ask yourself if it is important to the meaning of the site or does it just make it look good. If it's important, then it is content. Use the img tag to embed it in the HTML. If it's "just for looks" consider using CSS background images.

5. Take joy in the details
Remember, it's the little things that make a site memorable. Did you optimize the images so that it looks good and loads fast? Do you highlight form fields for easy navigation? What about label tags and element titles. While not really CSS, these constructs remove uncertainty and improve the user experience.