so just what is good design?

What do the really popular sites have in common?
Well they have the following;

• fast download times for web pages
• similar navigation systems
• high-contrast text with lots of white space
• most links in traditional blue, underlined text
• no background imagery
• very fews obvious JavaScript tricks
• no DMHTL
• no splash pages
• a solid database-powered back-end

As you can see, as long as your site isboth useful and consistent, there is no need for anything flash.