• Reported by Alessandro

We all know CSS Zen Garden and its uniqueness for inspiration and demonstration of CSS possibilities. In the last two or three years, we've seen a growing number of inspirational sites. They feature personal, commercial, and institutional CSS-based sites of every type and from all corners of the world. Here's a small list (sorted alphabetically) of the ones I usually visit:

• CSS Beauty
• CSS Drive
• CSS Import
• Css-mania
• CSS Vault
• StyleGala
• The Weekly Standards
• Unmatched Style
• W3 Compliant Sites
• Web Standards Awards
• Wow-factor
• Piepmatzel (added by Nate)

Next, here's a few tips I hope you could find useful on how to get the best from CSS showcase sites.

First, when visiting a featured site, forget you're a web designer, a CSS passionate or a hobbist. Look at it as if you were interested in the content of the site you're facing, as if you were an interested visitor, even if it's in a foreign language you don't know. Is the website pleasant? Do layout, typography and color choice serve content in an adequate manner? Don't stop at the homepage. Navigate it. Is the website well structured? Are sections well organized and easy to navigate?

At this stage, you could start looking at it with your CSS knowledge. Visiting CSS sites is a good way to self-evaluate. Apart from your graphical skills, would you be able to do it? If your answer is no, don't discourage yourself. You could learn to do it, and perhaps better, if you put yourself to hard work. Whether for passion or job, there are no limits for your possibilities. But always remember that CSS cannot be played by ear (or, to better say... by eye). It's not through trial and error, nor by see and learn, that you'll master the concepts. It's by theory. A possible three steps and very effective path could be: one, two and three.

Now, back at the site you're visiting, you're ready to look under the surface and start digging the code. First, the markup: does it serve the content or the presentation? It is light and well structured? Next, CSS. At this step, remember: if there's something you're not sure know how it's done, try to understand it. If it's beyond your knowledge, pass it on, bookmark and return when you'll know a little more. If everything is clear for you, and perhaps there's something that you've done in a cleaner and lighter manner, you're on the right track. Keep on!

Finally, consider that the sites you're visiting through inspirational sites are original artworks. Do respect them, and use them for aim yourself to improve. This is the real sense of the word "inspirational" in this case.

Originality and creativity should be your best companions when you've been sufficiently inspired. Also, always remember that curiosity is a delicious nectar in our lifes.

Finally, a suggestion for your next project: try to use active inspiration by reversing it. Make something different and outstanding from whatever you've seen as an exercise to put yourself on proof... and maybe on top of inspirational sites. Have fun!