Yeah, I've never had a big problem with the designs of the prequels (they weren't McQuarrie, but they passed).
Naboo was cool, Kamino was cool, Jango was cool, the blasters and ships and other stuff were all neat.
Just the execution of the films blew. Once again it comes down to writing and directing: great components (design, the most basic plot elements, et cetera), all spoiled by bad execution.