I've been working on apps where packaged themes don't quite cut it due to UI requirements. I've never had technical trouble implementing ideas, but my layouts, colors, and general UI leave a lot to be desired. How do I improve my design know-how?
Gathering skill will take time, so for that read up on the sources often linked here. But to get your apps looking less than fugly asap, just copy others. Buy some cheap wordpress themes, view source, rip them apart to pick and choose individual elements. Copy the CSS from the best designed sites out there.
Initially it will feel like you're cheating, but over time you will learn the patterns and develop your own style.
EDIT: This couldn't have arrived at a better time - https://postgres.heroku.com. Just look at that beautiful design. A lot to be learnt (and copied!) there.
Agreed. It's very easy to learn by example, and with all the great CSS frameworks out there you won't need Photoshop to produce good-looking widgets. A lot of my early designs were based on ideas from this book:
There are a number of resources that can be found via Google (i.e. "app design") but Smashing Magazine has some good articles relating to app design and layout in general.
You can also try searching for "beautiful apps" which brings up links to collections of different apps that might provide an idea.
As far as color goes, I like searching for web site templates or 'best web design of 2011' collections and finding a color scheme that I like or think would work well with the general feel of what my product does. Remember, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"
An easy first step is to focus on spacing and alignment. Make sure everything is consistently spaced with equal distance between items. This will make even a mediocre layout look better designed.
I used to stress about making my apps look good. Now I just use Skeleton (http://www.getskeleton.com/) to cover the basics and when my app is ready I pay a designer to make something that looks awesome.
I like http://colourlovers.com. I can choose what I like as a color and then see 4 other colors that other people felt went well with it. Saves me the brain power.
Copy. Modify. Repeat many times. Pretty soon you'll be doing "original" work that's really the sum of everything you've learned copying other people + your influence.
Hire a professional designer and spend your time programming. I personally don't think skill of "designing" can be learnt, it's something you already have, adjusting and refining all the way.
[+] [-] MrMike|14 years ago|reply
http://blip.tv/djangocon-europe-2010/idan-gazit-design-for-d... (great overview of the major design aspects - nearly 1hr)
http://media1.kadavy.net/allthefontsyoulleverneed-kadavy.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X4f83C8ANg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkJ6fPPRA5Q
18min http://vimeo.com/1542721
http://journal.drawar.com/d/we-do-not-need-you-to-design-any...
http://designingfortheweb.co.uk/book/ (free)
[+] [-] charles_d|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dchuk|14 years ago|reply
Go here: http://themeforest.net/category/site-templates/admin-templat...
Purchase a theme for $20 that would take you weeks to design and more time to slice and code. Get profitable, then hire a professional designer.
[+] [-] kodeshpa|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] revorad|14 years ago|reply
Initially it will feel like you're cheating, but over time you will learn the patterns and develop your own style.
EDIT: This couldn't have arrived at a better time - https://postgres.heroku.com. Just look at that beautiful design. A lot to be learnt (and copied!) there.
[+] [-] munaf|14 years ago|reply
http://www.amazon.com/Web-Designers-Idea-Book-Vol/dp/1600619...
[+] [-] jmuir|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nathanbarry|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] detour|14 years ago|reply
Other options include Less Framework (http://lessframework.com/) and Twitter's Bootstrap (http://twitter.github.com/bootstrap/)
[+] [-] ScottWhigham|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ForrestN|14 years ago|reply
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2971477
[+] [-] iisbum|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] staunch|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] digitalbanana|14 years ago|reply
http://www.amazon.com/Design-Hackers-Reverse-Engineering-Bea...
[+] [-] venturebros|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rouss|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dylanmcd|14 years ago|reply