The idea of mobilized window washers (human or robotic) is inherently flawed. In either scenario, the moving parts can fail and pose a danger to everyone involved (including people on the ground). Why not just fit an irrigation system to the window trim, similar to the windshield washing system on cars? This would eliminate the danger of having a moving object dangling outside the building, and individual windows could be washed on demand.

How do these experiments benefit mankind, other than manufacturing a new zoo attraction?

Ultimately, good design is about communication. Webpages communicate a message to the end-user, and provide 'links' to more detailed information related to that message. In order to communicate effectively, you must put yourself in the role of the end-user and anticipate their expectations. In today's high-bandwidth society, end-users expect to recieve the information they are looking for clearly and with as few steps as possible. That's why the second rennaissance of web design (Web 2.0) has been largely about simplicity. Some common elements of Web 2.0 design include: navigation that is shallow & promintently laid out, clean & streamlined graphics (rounded corners, gradients, glass textures), top-level site search, and bold & clear headers.

Back to my point about communication, the role of graphics on a webpage has changed from being merely decorative to playing an essential part in the navigation. You should be able to glance at a webpage and break down a complete heirarchy of importance without reading any of the text. The reason for this is that your end-users will not take the time to read text, they will look at what catches their eye and expect that piece to provide the information they want. The longer it takes to receive and understand the information they are looking for, the less likely they will be to visit your site in the future.

As a general resource for multi-role web professionals like you and I, I highly recommend alistapart.com. It's an online publication authored by well-respected names in the web industry that addresses topics ranging from abstract design and user interactivity, to code solutions, and business strategy. They thoughtfully break down modern challenges facing web professionals and provide clear explainations and solutions.