Zen and the art of interface design

[StarPhoenix]

Recently, I was asked whether I would be interested in doing some software testing from an end-user/data capturer point-of view.

This entails giving my opinion on the look and feel of the software system rather than the more arcane aspects of software
development such as adhering to "business rules", "standards" or programming jiggery-pokery.

Having listed what I see as the shortcomings of the welcome screen, I started looking at the rest of the system this afternoon.

Knowing next to nothing about what works and is acceptable in interface design, I though I might ask for some advice here.

What range or combination of colours is acceptable on a web-based data capture page?
The one I am looking it is made up of various shades of grey and a teal gradient on title bars.
This looks rather uninspiring to me. [Then again, purple, pink and yellow probably wouldn't go down very well]

I am toying with the idea of incorporating some of the client's colours [shades of yellow or mustard] into parts of the interface,
more specifically into the title bars and am wondering who well that works against a grey background.

How difficult and time-consuming is it for someone using ASP.Net to make changes to colour schemes, layouts and menu
behaviour?

As always, your help is much appreciated.
What range or combination of colours is acceptable on a web-based data capture page?
The one I am looking it is made up of various shades of grey and a teal gradient on title bars.
This looks rather uninspiring to me. [Then again, purple, pink and yellow probably wouldn't go down very well]

I am toying with the idea of incorporating some of the client's colours [shades of yellow or mustard] into parts of the interface,
more specifically into the title bars and am wondering who well that works against a grey background.

How difficult and time-consuming is it for someone using ASP.Net to make changes to colour schemes, layouts and menu
behaviour?

As always, your help is much appreciated.

[Bladerunner]

Recently, I was asked whether I would be interested in doing some software testing from an end-user/data capturer point-of view.

This entails giving my opinion on the look and feel of the software system rather than the more arcane aspects of software
development such as adhering to "business rules", "standards" or programming jiggery-pokery.

Had a module at univ on this. Called "User Interfaces"....

Having listed what I see as the shortcomings of the welcome screen, I started looking at the rest of the system this afternoon.

Knowing next to nothing about what works and is acceptable in interface design, I though I might ask for some advice here.

What range or combination of colours is acceptable on a web-based data capture page?
The one I am looking it is made up of various shades of grey and a teal gradient on title bars.
This looks rather uninspiring to me. [Then again, purple, pink and yellow probably wouldn't go down very well]

Never ever use colours that will cause eye fatigue. This includes, but is not limited to: Yellow, bright green, red, etc

I am toying with the idea of incorporating some of the client's colours [shades of yellow or mustard] into parts of the interface,
more specifically into the title bars and am wondering who well that works against a grey background.

You could, but yellow isn't easy on the eyes

How difficult and time-consuming is it for someone using ASP.Net to make changes to colour schemes, layouts and menu
behaviour?

Not really much of an effort provided the stylesheets were done properly.

As always, your help is much appreciated.

[StarPhoenix]

Thank you

Where is the best place to put "next" and "previous" navigation buttons?

edit/

Seems I misunderstood what it is that I supposed to be doing and overstepped my mandate.