I'm not a designer, but, since this is a subjet that really interests me, I was wondering if design skills can be learned through books + practicing or just developed in those who already have a talent for it. Also, for those who agree with the first alternative, which seems more reasonable: wouldn't it be like being able to play an instrument after studying it vs being able to play an instrument like [insert here a super-duper musician] and naturally composing?

Design talent is made up of technical skills and an innate ability to solve problems with creative solutions. You accomplish this through learning from books, people and the world around you. It's about taking in loads of information and then accessing them when they can help solve a design problem.

That's an interesting definition you just gave me: I could easily generalize the references in which you explicitly mention design and apply it for programming. I never got to think that both skills could be directly related. I guess I was just looking at it in the wrong way, but until which point can programmers be successful designers for their projects and vice-versa? Does he necessarily have to have drawing skills or am I stereotyping it?

You can learn certain skills through books, tutorials and practice. I do believe, however, that Design requires a creative brain. If you don't have that, you're just using software. You do not have to possess drawing skills but I think those who enjoy drawing/art have the upper hand because they already know how to communicate an idea visually. They also save a lot of money in clip art (shudder) and stock photography by creating it themselves. A good designer solves problems creatively and is able to simplify the communication of an idea or concept. I have seen many designers with wonderful technical skills but those same designers couldn't come up with an original concept if they were cornered at gunpoint.

Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts guys! You were really helpful! I guess is that a good computer scientist with a design sense can do great things.

Typo correcting: "I guess that"