[jwarren]

Brilliant advice here. I often see similar questions about photography, and the advice given always centres around learning technical things about your camera or photoshop. Nobody ever mentions looking at photographs, visiting exhibitions, talking to artists, finding peer groups, learning about history, etc etc etc.

You do need to combine this broadening and growing education of taste with a technical understanding of simplicity and communication. Understand that design is essentially just communication. Realise that you may have to start doing extra, even "wasteful" work, in order to prioritise ease and pleasure of use. This seems to be an upsetting idea to many developers, but I adore it. What's better feedback of your interface/design/object than someone saying "of course that's how it works"?