Torre, Author at Hooked On Code

Design in the Background

Our web designs are filled with elements, and every element has its own background area– each and every one a practically infinite canvas on which we can paint, layer by layer. In this talk, Eric will dive into that space and explore some of the many useful and surprising ways it can be used.

However, CSS has changed in the past few years, evolving into a system which can be understood like any other language. We do CSS and our own productivity a disservice if we continue to take a piecemeal approach to the language. By learning the key elements that underpin this system, you will find that the rest of CSS falls into place. In this brand-new talk, Rachel Andrew will set out the core concepts that enable a proper understanding of CSS. Whether you are a beginner or have been wrangling front-ends for years, you will find something here that will make your life much easier.

How to Understand CSS

We often learn CSS via looking for solutions to problems: We need to create a certain layout, or a particular animation, and so we go look for the exact CSS that will make it so. Many web developers today started their careers using a framework, and so much of their experience of CSS is in tweaking the code written by someone else. Too much time is spent trying to overwrite styles, and make customizations, without an understanding of what the underlying framework is actually doing.

Our Stylish Future

The capabilities of CSS have expanded in leaps and bounds in recent years, as browsers have sped up their release cycles, and specifications are being developed and adopted faster than before. There was a time back then when CSS was not even meant for doing layouts, but that time has long past. Today, web layouts are practically synonymous with CSS. In addition to that, CSS can now be used to build components that used to only be feasible with Javascript. This talk will go in-depth into a few of such features and how each property works to cater to real-life use cases.

Building Brands Online

We are long past the days of having to sell the benefits of the web to our clients, but a web presence alone nowadays isn’t enough to stand out from the crowd. There are many facets that all need to come together, almost perfectly, to allow a brand to thrive.In our post-pandemic world, we see brands shift from bricks and mortar stores to wholly online; the transitional shift is a complex and ever-changing beast for us as designers, developers and UX professionals to solve.In this talk, Sarah will tell you the exact blueprint she uses to guide her clients through the online branding process and how to be fearless in your choices to convince your clients, stakeholders and investors that following the crowd and chasing follower counts is a fool’s game