Good Design is Trustworthy

I know no one read this page, I see the server logs... but here are my $0.02 on the whole pretty vs ugly site design debate. I think the problem most people are having is that Marketers and Good design don't typically mix. Or, good design is not good marketing. Marketers want their ads to be in the face of users all the time. If not ads then something that says BUY BUY BUY!!! The thing is, there are different levels. Look at Nike.com. Nike makes enough money that they can give LeBron James $10 Million a year for flashing his pearly whites. Their shopping site is amazingly understated. It consists of an orange logo, a couple of nicely arranged photos and some nice gray links. The site is attractive and sophisticated and people buy their product. Maybe it's just because I have an inherent distrust of anyone trying to sell me something. If I don't want it already or I can't see how it will effect my life right now, I don't need it. I go to a website to buy or research (and usually I don't trust facts and figures on their website anyway), not to be sold on something. So what does this all have to do with design? Design can be effective and pretty. Not all designers can accomplish this.