First of all, I'm coming from Eve Online, which I ditched for Vendetta. I feel Vendetta's gameplay is vastly superior to Eve's, mainly because of the fact that the player actually controls the craft, which is a crucial element for me. However, the interface and graphics within the game and on the site could use a pro's touch. These things stick out to me in particular because this is what I do for a living (interaction design) and I'm sure most players probably don't care but the in-game interface, actual graphics (planets, ships, etc), and website need some work. Otherwise, this looks promising. I can't wait to see how it develops over time.

The graphics do indeed need updates, however Guild Software doesn't currently have a dedicated graphics artist. :(

Wow, really? Well, I didn't know that...I'd be happy to volunteer some time here and there.

Read this...

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/21226#262881

it'll explain a lot for you.

As far as the HUD and UI goes, you can skin it, though probably not to the extent you're hoping.

Check out the community projects side of the forums.