Practical Layout Workshop Brings Print-Inspired Design to the Browser

Andy Clarke, a longtime voice in web design, is hosting a live online workshop focused on applying classic layout principles from comics, posters, and magazines to digital interfaces. The Practical Layout Workshop runs Thursday, 18th September, starting at 3:00 p.m. UK time.

The two-hour session includes live demos and a Q&A segment. It is fully online, with the recording included in the £69 ticket price.

What the Session Covers

Clarke has spent the past year examining how print-era design conventions can inject energy and narrative into digital products. The workshop is where he shares those findings, using examples and demonstrations aimed at producing takeaways attendees can apply immediately.

Over the past year, I’ve been exploring how classic layout principles from comics, posters, and magazines can bring energy and storytelling to digital design. This session is where I share what I’ve learned, with examples, demos, and practical takeaways you can actually use.

The subject matter builds directly on a string of recent articles Clarke has published, each revisiting a specific CSS feature or technique through a creative lens:

  • Getting Creative With HTML Dialog — published June 3, 2025
  • Getting Creative With Versal Letters — July 18, 2025, covering initial-letter and typographic inspiration
  • Revisiting CSS Multi-Column Layout — January 27, 2025
  • Revisiting CSS border-image — March 21, 2025
  • Revisiting Image Maps — April 30, 2025

The range is telling: from dialog elements to border-image, from multi-column layout to image maps, the material targets underused or overlooked CSS capabilities that can produce distinctive, playful results.

Clarke has also published Toon Title demos alongside these articles, offering a preview of the techniques and visual style attendees can expect from the workshop.

Booking Details

CSS-Tricks readers can save £5 on registration with coupon code FRIEND5 (with the number 5) at checkout.