... isn't there anyone with at least some basic design skills at Avid?

Haven't visited this site for long time and while thie engine is better than older one - still far from good though EDIT: it's rather a better crap, just found out I can't even insert a picture from PIcasa - the overall outlook is pretty darn bad... look at this start page:

http://picasaweb.google.com/kammkamm/AvidForum/photo#5190630162776244530

It's one thing it looks like crap - look at these colors, ouch - but it's partially unreadable as well.

In other words it's not only ugly, tasteless but also defeats the purpose - who the hell puts white text on a white-ish, very-very light blue background? And why? Only to make it literally impossible to read?

One would think a company that develops tools for visual design wouldn't let such a HS-grade garbage page online like this. Well, apparently one doesn't know, I guess...

Apparently you are very late to the party. As was announced when this forum went live, this is nothing more than the default skin provided by the BB software company. Avid's designers will be working to improve and change it over the coming months.

Thanks for the constructive criticism though. 

and avid's community rocks.  take a look at Creative Cow - this is way better. (but at the same time no offense to that forum!!!) 

BLKDOG:

... this is nothing more than the default skin provided by the BB software company.

BLKDOG:

... Avid's designers will be working to improve and change it over the coming months.