[css-d] Minimal CSS Design: searching for inspiration
Hi all, I'm actually kinda bored of all these resource websites who present pseudo-minimal CSS designs which feature a lot of graphics and decorations instead. I'm searching for a true minimal CSS design, much like one of the past designs of David Laakso site. I need a strong focus on my contents, just as Nicolas Gallagher shows on his blog. All information will be greately appreciated. Thanks in advance. Gabriele http://gabrieleromanato.com http://blog.gabrieleromanato.com/ (English) __ css-discuss [css-d@lists.css-discuss.org] http://www.css-discuss.org/mailman/listinfo/css-d List wiki/FAQ -- http://css-discuss.incutio.com/ List policies -- http://css-discuss.org/policies.html Supported by evolt.org -- http://www.evolt.org/help_support_evolt/
Re: [css-d] Minimal CSS Design: searching for inspiration
Strongish opinions follow; consider accordingly. ...Or disregard if you have a good art history education. Gabriele, a look at your site makes it clear that you already understand at least SOME of what follows. It seems like what you're really trying to do is strip away all the parts that aren't essential to the user experience. On 9/16/12 1:04 PM, Gabriele Romanato wrote: I'm actually kinda bored of all these resource websites who present pseudo-minimal CSS designs which feature a lot of graphics and decorations instead. I'm searching for a true minimal CSS design, much like one of the past designs of David Laakso site. I need a strong focus on my contents, just as Nicolas Gallagher shows on his blog. By minimal do you mean lacking accents or conveying an emphasis on simplicity ...? In the first case, start with hierarchy, minimze (but don't eliminate) your use of color, don't be afraid to let negative space lie, and set limits on additive iteration. Cf. http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/26979.html . In both cases, you won't gain much from looking at the trend for inspiration - these days it's rather about custom brushes and distressed whatsits. Instead, start plumbing art, design, and architecture from the late Twenties through the early Sixties, when emphasis on simplicity was something of a fetish. That may require a trip to the bookstore or the library in the end, but there are searches you can do - Gropius, van der Rohe, Paul Rand, and Saul Bass are gimmees. I'm tempted to add Eero Saarinen to the list, but that's a bit more of a challenge. (...And I apologize for the U.S.-centricity of these names, but you write what you know, right?) You'll likely discover once you've sketched something out that the styles will be easy to write. Related: with respect to composition the Fibonacci squares and the Golden Ratio (approx. 1.618:1) will be your best friends. If you really want to get down to brass tacks: 1. Decide on the relationship between IA and hierarchy 2. Choose three colors - foreground, background, and accent 3. Create a single column layout while avoiding any and all shades and tints of your palette colors -- Ben Henick lurker...@henick.net Sitebuilder At-Larget:@bhenick +1 785 856 1863 __ css-discuss [css-d@lists.css-discuss.org] http://www.css-discuss.org/mailman/listinfo/css-d List wiki/FAQ -- http://css-discuss.incutio.com/ List policies -- http://css-discuss.org/policies.html Supported by evolt.org -- http://www.evolt.org/help_support_evolt/
Re: [css-d] Minimal CSS Design: searching for inspiration
Ben Henick wrote: (what appeared to be a great deal of sense, but parts of it left me completely bemused) ... Ben, what do you mean by : don't be afraid to let negative space lie set limits on additive iteration. Gropius, van der Rohe, Paul Rand, and Saul Bass are gimmees. Decide on the relationship between IA and hierarchy Philip Taylor __ css-discuss [css-d@lists.css-discuss.org] http://www.css-discuss.org/mailman/listinfo/css-d List wiki/FAQ -- http://css-discuss.incutio.com/ List policies -- http://css-discuss.org/policies.html Supported by evolt.org -- http://www.evolt.org/help_support_evolt/
Re: [css-d] Minimal CSS Design: searching for inspiration
On 9/16/12 2:03 PM, Philip TAYLOR wrote: don't be afraid to let negative space lie Don't be afraid to leave parts of the canvas completely blank/empty. set limits on additive iteration. Keep under control the impulse to add accents or tweak the design. Gropius, van der Rohe, Paul Rand, and Saul Bass are gimmees. These are the names of well known artists, architects, and in the latter two cases designers who might inspire good work. Decide on the relationship between IA and hierarchy Every site has an architecture and flow - establish those first, freeze your decisions, and then sketch/compose ideas that focus on absolutely nothing more than conveying the desired priority and wayfinding cues to the various parts of the site's content. And here's what a classic says about hierarchy in particular: http://webstyleguide.com/wsg2/page/hierarchy.html -- Ben Henick lurker...@henick.net Sitebuilder At-Larget:@bhenick +1 785 856 1863 __ css-discuss [css-d@lists.css-discuss.org] http://www.css-discuss.org/mailman/listinfo/css-d List wiki/FAQ -- http://css-discuss.incutio.com/ List policies -- http://css-discuss.org/policies.html Supported by evolt.org -- http://www.evolt.org/help_support_evolt/
Re: [css-d] Minimal CSS Design: searching for inspiration
Many thanks, Ben : much clearer, and just one question remains -- what are gimmees, as in Gropius et al are gimmees ? Philip Taylor __ css-discuss [css-d@lists.css-discuss.org] http://www.css-discuss.org/mailman/listinfo/css-d List wiki/FAQ -- http://css-discuss.incutio.com/ List policies -- http://css-discuss.org/policies.html Supported by evolt.org -- http://www.evolt.org/help_support_evolt/
Re: [css-d] Minimal CSS Design: searching for inspiration
Hi all, I'm actually kinda bored of all these resource websites who present pseudo-minimal CSS designs which feature a lot of graphics and decorations instead. Gabriele So do a layout that uses no graphics or decorations. It does not necessarily mean that it must be boring as a consequence. Best, David Laakso aside Do you have a CSS comment or question? -- Chelsea Creek Studio http://ccstudi.com __ css-discuss [css-d@lists.css-discuss.org] http://www.css-discuss.org/mailman/listinfo/css-d List wiki/FAQ -- http://css-discuss.incutio.com/ List policies -- http://css-discuss.org/policies.html Supported by evolt.org -- http://www.evolt.org/help_support_evolt/
Re: [css-d] Minimal CSS Design: searching for inspiration
On 9/16/12 2:22 PM, Philip TAYLOR wrote: Many thanks, Ben : much clearer, and just one question remains -- what are gimmees, as in Gropius et al are gimmees ? http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gimme - fourth definition, second sense. -- Ben Henick lurker...@henick.net Sitebuilder At-Larget:@bhenick +1 785 856 1863 __ css-discuss [css-d@lists.css-discuss.org] http://www.css-discuss.org/mailman/listinfo/css-d List wiki/FAQ -- http://css-discuss.incutio.com/ List policies -- http://css-discuss.org/policies.html Supported by evolt.org -- http://www.evolt.org/help_support_evolt/
Re: [css-d] Minimal CSS Design: searching for inspiration
Ben Henick wrote: On 9/16/12 2:22 PM, Philip TAYLOR wrote: Many thanks, Ben : much clearer, and just one question remains -- what are gimmees, as in Gropius et al are gimmees ? http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gimme - fourth definition, second sense. OK, thanks Ben. So in this context, and in slightly more standard English, we might say that Gropius et al are all easily accessible authorities on the subject, if I understand 4th def., 2nd sense correctly. I have no idea what the fifth definition is trying to tell me at all, but that has nothing to do with CSS so I simply state it as a fact. Philip Taylor __ css-discuss [css-d@lists.css-discuss.org] http://www.css-discuss.org/mailman/listinfo/css-d List wiki/FAQ -- http://css-discuss.incutio.com/ List policies -- http://css-discuss.org/policies.html Supported by evolt.org -- http://www.evolt.org/help_support_evolt/
