how do you make GUIs less boring?

[TecHNooB]

I only know how to use built-in stuff How do I make my GUIs stand out? I can draw well... on paper :|

 

[BigDH01]

I only know how to use built-in stuff How do I make my GUIs stand out? I can draw well... on paper :|

It's like saying to Pavarotti, "Teach me to sing like you."

Honestly, when it comes to design, some people have a really good eye and some people don't. You might want to start with the online color scheme designers that help you put different colors together that will look good. I think beyond that, though, you just have to have a sense for things.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I don't consider myself to be very good at design. I enjoy the logic, not the interface.

 

[DaveSimmons]

What is your audience? Boring is good if it makes the program easy to use.

A data-entry clerk does not want their electronic forms to be "exciting."

I use Foobar2000 to play music. It's boring but the music plays, which is all that I want from it.

Companies make millions selling cell phones that only let you make and receive calls. Because some people don't want a camera or PDA, they just want a phone.

 

[hellfreeze]

Combined with the advice from BigDH01 and DaveSimmons, I would say that a marketing class would be handy. As a previous professor once told us, "If an advertisement doesn't capture you're attention, then it wasn't meant for you." That said, your GUI should be geared towards the audience. If you're making an app for senior citizens to balance their budget (I know, rough example), you don't want it to have flashing icons and complicated interfaces.