finding partners for hobby/experimentation projects
fleitz: Take the DIY approach.A couple suggestions:
Get a Photoshop WOW book. This will teach you how to do the things you want to do graphics-wise.Get a design book, the principles of design and spacing are fairly straight forward.WikiMedia Commons: There are lots of great graphics on that site, they are all public domain. Combine these with the Photoshop WOW book.Flickr: Learn to use the advanced search features and search for images that are public domain.However, most importantly, iterate: Like great apps, great designs don't get there the first time. Use the wayback machine to convince yourself that it's ALRIGHT. Look at youtube's first iteration. It REALLY sucks.Just make something and then ask people about it. You've got the perfect audience here at HN, throw the URL into an Ask HN and say, what do you think of my design?Seriously, if you can teach yourself to program you can teach yourself design. There are a couple tricks to it but it's not really that difficult, like programming however it IS a lot of work.Also, buy/find a template design and then rework to suit your needs. Check deviantart find something you like and talk to the guy about it, most of them will even do the work for you if you're willing to pay.If you can find dev partners, become the design guy, problem solved. Plus, devs love to work with designers who can code.Also, beg borrow and steal design ideas. Look at jquery-UI, jqTouch, etc, there are lots of pre-made great looking designs that will get you by.