In the year that we left behind, web design trends and techniques where described in the opening paragraph of a post at WebDesignerWall by Nick La one of most prominent web designers of 2008. Here is what he puts forward:

This year, more designers are using the large background technique and utilizing Javascript frameworks (such as jQuery and MooTools) to enchance the user experience. I also came across a few designs that mixed Flash with CSS; perhaps a new trend we should look for in 2009?

He has been very descriptive in information and selective in words, letting us  have, in few words, a clear view of what 2008 contributed to the world wide web in terms of design and user experience.

I strongly suggest that you have a look at the article and enjoy the best of CSS web desing in 2008.