Deconstructing Design

Deconstructing a design is a fantastic way to discover new ways of overcoming design challenges. When I encounter a unique approach to web design, the first thing I do is open up Firebug and break down what went into creating the effect.

Sometimes I find it was a clever combination of CSS and JavaScript and other times it's a graphic that has done a lot of the work. When it's the latter, I can only make assumptions as to how it was accomplished. I hate that feeling.

That's why I was interested to see Campaign Monitor's release of their Designer Email Templates a while back. Not only did they offer downloads of the HTML template, but they also included the original layered Photoshop docs. These documents give you a view of the techniques that were used to create those little touches that make a design really work.

Download and learn.