0 Being Smart About CSS Grids
Ben and I have been actively discussing the benefit and usage of CSS grids. Grids aren’t always necessary everywhere.
Thanks to Blueprint, 960.gs, Yahoo UI and various other low profile CSS “frameworks”, we now have a ripened world of solid tools to help us layout web pages. When it comes to grids it’s easy to relegate your thinking to pure perfectionism. Frankly perfection on the web is about as attainable as good music from Paris Hilton.
They’re Tools
The web is filled with methodologies and philosophies and no one seems to realize that if it can’t apply itself to a problem and actually get something done, then it’s all rather pointless. I’m all about applicable solutions and in the end this is what people stick around for, things that work and work well (and all the while, being aesthetically pleasing).
CSS grids are a tool/utility. They’re simply there to ease the pain of throwing down somewhat complex layouts. Grids in and of themselves are not the means to an end, but rather an additional asset to your design process. With that said, grids are much like scaffolding in that eventually everything will follow a specific language that makes since for your web application.
How to Be Smart About CSS Grids
Being smart means being responsible. Using grids for any and everything can be smart, but its probably not responsible. We need to understand that grids will not always fit every design case (unless you make them fit). Discerning their proper use and application is an important responsibility.
Use grids sparingly. There is nothing worse than a design that forces the grid. Sometimes spacing and page flow need to be carefully approached. Just like a trend, don’t go overboard with it, use them where it’s absolutely necessary, like in a community portal homepage, a dashboard or a newspaper-based design. Use them where they will excel the most.
Conclusion
Use what works best for your project and gives you the most productivity. In the end users aren’t going to care whether or not you used grids or pick axes to design a website, but only as long as it works and the experience leaves the user happy and satisfied.