[2005] Soliciting Design Ideas

[Hack]

I'm not looking for any code here, I'm looking for some ideas on designing my startup form.

The application that I'm rewriting in VB.NET has twelve different components, or modules of functions (depending on your choice of terms .)

The startup form needs to act as a menu, which lists all twelve. Once a selection has been made, the screen dealing with that selection is displayed, and the user will do/enter/process/etc whatever needs to be done/entered/processed/etc'ered)

The VB6 equivlant is basically nothing more than some command buttons which function as a menu. There is also a drop down menu which performs the same task as the buttons.

Since I'm redoing this, I think I would like something a bit snazzier. However, I'm a database programmer, not a graphics designer, so I really don't have any ideas.

When you guys develop an app and need a menu/navigation form as your startup, how do you design it? I know, functionally speaking, what it needs to do, I'm just looking for some tips/hints/examples on how to make it look cool doing it.

Screen shots would be cool.

Thanks.