Combining beauty with usability is one of the big challenges we, at ZN Creative Studio, normally confront when designing websites. How do we make a complete experience? How do we find equilibrium?  Not only do we want it to be beautiful but also real, easy to navigate and useful. This is the secret.
In the following interview from Digital Observer, Ralph Caplan talks about the difference between making things right as a designer, as opposed to making things nice. Good source of inspiration.

Listen to the interview