[pzuraq]

Design is fashion. It's trends. And personally, I really like the flat trend (though that's the modernist in me, I also enjoy Le Corbusier and Mies Van Der Rohe while many look at their designs as stale).

I agree that cookie cutter sites are becoming more common, but that's because most designers are following the trend. Flat is fresh after years of skeuomorphic design literally everywhere. It's simple, it's clean, and yes, there isn't much you can do within those parameters. That doesn't make it bad design.

Look at any arbitrary modernist building. 90% of the time, it's terrible: boring, simple shapes; uninspired color choices; too much concrete. At the time it was a breath of fresh air. Moreover, when it's done right, it's beautiful forever:

http://www.fallingwater.org/img/home_assets/new_first.jpg

http://www.theconservationcenter.com/Farnsworth%20House.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ru1VYyd8Dw/TrdHRcLZrrI/AAAAAAAAAa...