Simplicity and usability are a standard in all aspects of design from websites to print. Let's face it if you can't read it, or understand how to use it, it's not serving it's purpose.
The word “design” refers to the process of originating and developing a plan for an aesthetic and functional object. Usually this requires considerable research, thought, modeling, iterative adjustment and re-design.
Here at Contempo we are about clean simple design and web standards. It seems nowadays everybody is a web or graphic designer to a certain extent. The difference between an educated designer and a self taught one are immense. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with having your cousin design your website. He or she might not know about web standards and accessibility.
The web is evolving everyday with the ever growing support for slimmed down CSS based tableless designs like the one you're viewing this very moment.