design skills
 

is this a skill that can be learned? I consider myself a good programmer, but I have no creativity when it comes to designing something cool. Can this be learned? If so, can you point to some good resources on learning how to be a good designer?

Thanks!

Technical skills can be learned, but creativity is innate.

I think anything can be learned. But if you dont have 'the eye' for it, you can become a descent designer, but never an exceptional one imho.

Btw, i have the same problem ;)

I agree, you have it or you don't.

Can you discern the difference between a good design, and a great one? Can you articulate what the differences are?

I've learned that the vast majority of people out there quite literally cannot tell you what the difference is between a so / so design and an excellent piece of work.

Those people are your market. Go for it.

Also "good-looking-design-in-theory" is not necessarily what converts best.

Say you test 3 banners: 2 great ones and 1 ugly one.
It happens oh-so-many-times that the ugly one gets higher ctr..

Yeah, totally... and I've designed some of the most obnoxious ridiculous galleries that converted so fucking incredibly well off a small trickle of traffic. Design doesn't always make sense... a lot of times it's just about what works, versus what doesn't.

I would say that what you need is experience.
You make 1 site its so and so..you make an other and is little better...as long and you work on it , the more nice it will become.
Yet again in my opinion, try to use your imagination... picture it in your mind and then try to make it reality. I think this method works best for every one :)

you should get a technique to other nice design template you want so could formulate your own design.

Creativity cannot be learned, its what comes within. Sure you can learn how things are done and creativity automatically arise with experience. See a design from your point and don't let others control your senses, you might come up with a master piece.