This site http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm was on www.webpagesthatsuck.com
I was just wondering how you guys balance looks with usability. I know that most clients want amazing graphics and a really "cool" design. I have been having trouble with this because it seems like the cool looking designs use horrible logic and navagation. How do you guys deal with this?

Yep, that sure is a terrible site from a design and usability perspective.

I think that simplicity is best, for most sites. A few graphics and a nice, clean layout goes a long way.

I didn’t really think that site about the Pope was that bad....but man some of the sites on there are just plain terrible....they make you go OMG....

I really think it depends on what/who your audience is and what type of site it is......I mean if say MTV had a plain simple text site with links on it no one would visit it....but a site that was say for technical specifications and was full of graphics, not cut and dry, people would get annoyed and leave the site.....

If your site is intended to entertain then graphics are key...if your site is intended to provided information then the more cut and dry and wham bam thank you mam you make it the better....now if you are trying to sell something I would think you need to have a nice balance of both....

That’s my 2 cents on the subject

I think it depends on the theme..Because some would give more importance to the text while others to the images. In this case, the message is more seen through the images.
Moreover, it is true that it should be better if the design and usabilitiy are balanced.