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Comment by th0ma5 | Hacker News Reader

there's a field of color theory, concepts like compliments, but then tertiary compliments, and several other forms. unobtrusive gets into an overlap of usability concerns, taste, colorblindness, and just overall theme. i'm sure if you just pay attention to a little more and google some you can find answers to what you're looking for. ubuntu has a nifty color theory utility called avage ... and there are sites like color lovers and such.

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The thing is, i look at this theme and i know it looks great, but i can't understand why! As an hacker really bugs me.

I know this color tools, but what are the ingredients that makes something look good compared to another design? When i think the rounded colors are the reason, something like this comes up and proves me wrong.

I am aware design is not a trivial matter (i work at IDEO), but where do i start?

Two things that transcend trends. White space + good typography. Colors are an accent.

There is an underlying grid. The typography has a consistent visual flow. The elements form the structure on the "page/screen" instead of creating containers to hold the elements. Not to sound pompous, but there is clarity. You may want to look into swiss design for influences.

If you wanna talk to someone who went to art school with more specific questions, feel free to email me. My email is in my profile. :)

The email in your profile doesn't work.

Fixed and responded to your email. Good luck and don't blame us when you start to see the world differently.

I can understand feeling frustrated, but it's a little unfair on yourself. Most designers hone their ability through constant application of their skill, not to mention very often years of expensive schooling. Nobody does it overnight. Although it's certainly possible to do without the expensive formal schooling.

> what are the ingredients

The ingredients (AKA the elements and principles of design): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles

If you're not going to quit your job to go to SVA or RISD, I'd say the best place to start is to pick up a few books and do exercises. Give yourself time, don't get frustrated, and work at it. There are a lot of good resources in print out there. You could do worse than Alan Pipes's Foundations of Art and Design

http://www.laurenceking.com/product/Foundations+of+Art+---+D...

I'm not aware of anything really fantastic available for free online.

Thanks for the suggestions, what is so difficult for me is i don't see progress. How i said, i don't think it is something to learn overnight. I just don't saw a starting point yet, in the technical world there is always a tutorial.

That book sounds very interesting, this is probably the thing i was looking for.

This might be helpful too, a very good book on the basics:

http://www.amazon.com/Visual-Grammar-Design-Briefs-Christian...

I'm just like you in that I'm more of a hacker that has trouble figuring out how to make things look good. Try this book (I've read 3/4 of it--excellent book):

http://www.amazon.com/Design-Hackers-Reverse-Engineering-Bea...

It was made just for people like us!

I really like the book Design for Hackers http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005J578EW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... by David Kadavy.

I read it, and I've told about six of my friends to buy it. They all have, and we've all gone from really no design sense whatsoever to at least being able to understand WHY something looks good (or not)

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