> I decided not even to attempt it (product looks like hell if I do it)
You should try reading on the subject though.
Design is not only about how the site looks, it's also about the user's workflow, and if you don't have some good sense on that, your app is going to feel like an ass, no matter how shiny it is. It often happens that the design drives implementation changes.
I also have problems in that area, but I know a good design when I see one, so what I do ... I draw the general layout, and then I search for a design that looks good enough and that fits the layout, and then I steal from that design (only the minimal to make it look decent, while adding elements of my own). Sometimes the result is crappy, sometimes it's decent. Overall it's better than nothing, because you're not too ashamed of giving a link to your friends to get early feedback.
You should try reading on the subject though.
Design is not only about how the site looks, it's also about the user's workflow, and if you don't have some good sense on that, your app is going to feel like an ass, no matter how shiny it is. It often happens that the design drives implementation changes.
I also have problems in that area, but I know a good design when I see one, so what I do ... I draw the general layout, and then I search for a design that looks good enough and that fits the layout, and then I steal from that design (only the minimal to make it look decent, while adding elements of my own). Sometimes the result is crappy, sometimes it's decent. Overall it's better than nothing, because you're not too ashamed of giving a link to your friends to get early feedback.