The demand for apps is strong, and it’s coming from everywhere! This comprehensive guide provides an introduction to many of the skills and best practices you need to build modern web apps. This field guide is designed to help you create great user experiences in your web apps. Whether you’re building your first web app, or are just looking for ways to improve existing experiences, there’s something here for you!

HTML KickStart includes everything you need to rapidly create website layouts – things like slideshows, menus, flexible grids, image placeholders, buttons, and more – saving you a ton of time so you can produce faster and make more money.

Good designers:

Decorate
Believe “less” is more
Fix problems
Are inspired within a genre
Macrodesign
Treat text as content
Use good typefaces
Code for one instance
Redesign

Great designers:

Communicate
Believe “less” and “more” co-exist
Prevent problems
Are inspired by their total environment
Microdesign
Treat text as UI
Use good typography
Code for many instances
Realign

via: http://www.cameronmoll.com/archives/001266.html

Great video on practical ways to grow as a designer. Ryan Sims talks about the diferences between novices and experts, but really watch it all, at the end the video gets even better.