I would like to point to a new CSS framework called “Blueprint”, made by Olav Bjørkøy. Framework means: It’s a set of CSS definitions you can use to build your website design unto. The advantage is: Lots of everday-problems are already solved across the major browsers. You can just use and rely on what’s already there. You link the CSS definitions by using the built-in classes and IDs and you’re done.

Here is an example page of Blueprint in use.

And here is the Blueprint page, where you can download and get more info.

Blueprint in the current version includes grid layout, based on a 14-column base-grid. You just need to set the class with i.e. class=”column span-3” to get a column that spans over 3 of the 14 given columns. You can nest and layout as you like.

It also has basic typography, with headings, quotes, pull-outs, etc. It also aligns all the type to a vertical baseline-grid with a rhythm of 18 px. This is already common in print design and is now adopted for the web. It provides a very clean and “aligned” look.

There is even more stuff like nice buttons, tables, etc. I already played around with it for some time, but of course it is too early to say if this framework holds up in real-world web design conditions. The biggest questions: Is it flexible enough for what you want to do? And will it render in all the major browsers as intended?

Time will tell. The idea of not having to worry about the standard web design tasks has me excited, already.