Heya, I'm Zell
Welcome to my corner of the internet
I’m a web developer who builds products and thinks about how to live. I started out by teaching front-end development, helping millions of developers become better at building for the web.
Over the years, I’ve invested a large amount of time, money, and energy into learning about psychology and personal development — this has helped to change the way I see the world.
These days, I build products and coach people while creating a sustainable business that jives with how I work. I bring a dev background and deep interest in psychology to everything I make.
Read about my storyNow Now Now
Things I'm focusing on right now
Unorthodox Tailwind
A course that shows you how I use Tailwind and CSS to build amazing looking websites in (perhaps) half the time.
Find out moreSplendid Labz
A library of components that helps me build websites and applications quickly and effectively. This is built with Astro and Svelte.
Find out moreLife Coaching
We all have potential but we're trapped behind our stories and blindspots. I do a small part in unlocking the potential of the people I coach. Maybe yours too?
Find out moreFinding What Works
What more do I need to say? :)
Blog
Building a Honeypot Field That Works We Might Need Something Between Root and Relative CSS Units for “Base Elements” Thinking Deeply About Theming and Color Naming Making a Masonry Layout That Works Today A Primer on Focus Trapping Using CSS Cascade Layers With Tailwind Utilities A Better API for the Intersection and Mutation Observers A Better API for the Resize Observer Streaming capabilities comes to zlFetch Read more articlesNice words from peers, friends, and customers
Geoff Graham — Chief Editor @ CSS Tricks
Zell is the rare sort of developer who both knows his stuff and can explain even the most technical jargon in approachable — and even fun — ways!
I’ve taken his courses and always look forward to his writing because I know I’ll walk away with something that makes me a better front-ender.
Heydon Pickering — Web & Accessibility Extraordinaire
Zell is one of those rare people who commands tremendous knowledge and experience but remains humble and helpful. They want you to know what they know, not just be impressed by it.
In other words, Zell is a natural teacher. You’re lucky to have him because he feels lucky to be able to help you in your journey.
I've also been featured in the following publications
Follow My Journey
If you’re into making things and growing as a person, you’ll probably feel at home here.
I share what I’m learning on this newsletter — code, building businesses, and living well.
Sometimes I write about technical deep-dives, product updates, musings on how to live, and sometimes my struggles and how I’m breaking through.
Regardless of the type of content, I do my best to send you an update every week.
“I’m always designing, aligning
Combining ideas, and always refining
I’m a real bright thinker and a genius when I tinker
With a love of problem-solving as a model canoe sinkerWe’re failing fantastically, yes, we’re a mess
And we’re messing up drastically, falling on your face is the best
If you do it wrong, then you run another test
There’s really only failing, then learning, then death