Interview w/ CSS-Tricks

Interviewee: Chris Coyier of CSS-Tricks

1. What motivated you to start blogging?

My very first blog was a "band blog" for a bluegrass band I was in, in college. It's long gone now, but it introduced me to the concept. Then for the next few years on and off I would play with the idea and start some dumb little blog or another and none of them ever went anywhere.

Somewhere along the line I learned about Google AdSense and how some bloggers were actually making good money but putting ads on their blogs. I was working in the print industry at the time, so the little entrepreneur in me decided I would take all this stuff I was learning about the Adobe Creative Suite products and turn that into a series of blogs. Long story short, none of those really "clicked" with me, and I learned that in order to have a successful blog, you need to truly love and be passionate about the subject matter. Just because a site is a good idea or you happen to be knowledgeable on the subject isn't enough. For me, my passion turned out to be web design. Hence the birth and flourishing of CSS-Tricks.

2. Whats the biggest obstacle you face as a blogger?

I don't think I face any obstacles really. I'd love it if I could make enough money doing it that I wouldn't have to work a regular job, but I'm far away from that.

3. With IE8 passing the Acid 2 test, do expect browser compatibility issues for web designers will diminish?

It will help, for sure. When IE 8 comes out, IE 6 will be a full two generations behind and I think we'll see it's use significantly drop. We are already seeing that now. People are caring much less about IE 6 today than they were even 6 months ago. But we'll always have something to bitch about =). For example, people really want to use the CSS display: table stuff for multi-column layouts, but IE 7 doesn't support that, and dropping IE 7 support is a LONG way off.

4. What's your take on free open-source design software such as The Gimp, and Inkscape?

I love it. Free software is amazing and it opens doors for people that might not otherwise have that opportunity. That being said, I want the best software I can have because I see it as an investment in myself. Right now that includes things like the expensive Adobe Creative Suite. Adobe has a great team with a lot of great developers creating great products that ultimately make me money. I have no problem paying for that.

5. Parting words of wisdom for aspiring web designers?

Sure. Just design, design, design. Design stuff every day. Immurse yourself in it and you WILL get better at it. Thanks for having me Michael!