Cheap / free "Look and Feel" frameworks for web applications

Question

Hi,

Usually I'm fortunate enough to work with really good designers. They take care of the look and feel for all of the web applications / sites I build.

In the past when I've done cheap or free work for people for projects I'm interested in, I've used a template from templatemonster or similar.

I want to get involved with quite a large internal application to support a friends business, the usual brochure-ware templates that are available won't be suitable because this application is all about data access.

Obviously usability is paramount and I don't have the skills to produce a nice usable interface, neither do we have the money to pay for custom work. Are there any projects which look to provide usable web templates more designed for large forms, pages of data grids, charts etc. I don't need something that is graphically cutting edge, I just need consistent, usable, easy to apply templates.

I've looked at Ext.js which has themed components, but, even with a bunch of pretty house bricks, I can't design a good looking house :)

Thanks

Andrew

Answer 1

You could use YUI, its got fairly reasonable API and is VERY complete.

Answer 2

Open Source Web Design is a reasonable place to check.

If you're on Rails, Baseapp is worth looking at, if you like the 37 Signals look.

You could also try SproutCore or Cappuccino JS frameworks.

You are going to struggle finding out-of-the-box 'usability', though. Knowing where, and how, to place various elements in order to make a cohesive whole is a skill, rather than something that comes in template form. As you say, you can have a bunch of pretty bricks, but you still need a good brick-layer to make use of them. But nevertheless, the above links may help.

Answer 3

Why don't you try DotNetNuke?