Grid systems
While not an entirely new topic in design in 2009, I’ve started to look seriously at the pros of using a grid system. Objections typically come to grid systems over their constraints and that the web would all look the same if every site was built from a grid.
I disagree. Grid systems provide an excellent framework to rapidly prototype new design directions quickly, and have a pretty natural fit within an agile organization that lives its charter to deliver more value more often to their stakeholders. Further, while the learning curve is a bit heavy to understand somebody else’s CSS and markup, that pain occurs everyday in design shops when new designers come online. A good grid system should have very consistent naming conventions and should automate HTML hacks so that designers can focus on design. When designers can be freed from the pains of repetitive CSS I believe they are able to concentrate their energies on creative problem solving.
My current grid system of choice is http://www.960.gs – which after some ‘competitive shopping’ seems to fulfill most of my needs with the least amount of technical hurdles to jump through. Google’s EMastic also sounds interesting, particularly in the speed department.
I’ll be developing some mockup sites to test both frameworks in the coming weeks. I look forward to your feedback at that time.