Learning to create beautiful /next-generation GUI

Question

I really want to create a stunning-looking GUI desktop application that looks like, for example:

• Mac OS X interface
• Picasa desktop client on wind

Answer 1

the key to a stunning graphical user interface is twofold:

1. it still has to be useful to the users, and that involves a lot of hard work, study, paper prototypes, user interviews, usability testing, et al.
2. hire a really really good graphic artist

Neither step is optional. If you -the programmer- also happen to be a really good graphic artist, that's fine - but the vast majority are not, and no amount of fancy tools and photoshop tutorials will replace the talent and training that real artists bring to the table.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but most programmers are terrible GUI designers. Myself included. It's ok to leave art to the pros. ;-)