10 Useful Techniques To Improve Your User Interface Designs

From Smashing Magazine: Web design consists, for the most part, of interface design. There are many techniques involved in crafting beautiful and functional interfaces. Here’s my collection of 10 that I think you’ll find useful in your work. They’re not related to any particular theme, but are rather a collection of techniques I use in my own projects. Without further ado, let’s get started.
1. Padded block links
2. Typesetting buttons
3. Using contrast to manage focus
4. Using color to manage attention
5. White space indicates relationships
6. Letter spacing
7. Auto-focus on input
8. Custom input focus
9. Hover controls
10. Verbs in labels

Don’t use a technique just because it exists: use it if it makes sense in your context.Dmitry Fadeyev

The 5 habits of highly effective project teams

Suzy Thompson (Senior Interaction Design Consultant at Cooper) has written an article on 5 habits of successful project teams:
1. Establish structure and discipline
2. Act with urgency
3. Cultivate a sense of ownership
4. Lead
5. Be the change you want to see in the project


Projects succeed when project managers and team members alike operate with discipline, urgency, ownership, and leadership.