Exactly this is done here. Every element of the master-template and even the portlet design is defined as CSS classes that are loaded. This was very important since our new gatekeeper module allows the usage a master-template where the external content is placed in. Also the portlets can have content that used external css files.
Thus defining unique css classes for dotLRN gives a much better control on the one hand and as you said a better support for customizing.
The designs you are both two instances of these css templates.
Greetings,
Nima
