User Interface Design patterns

Smashing Magazine provides a thorough look into common UI patterns and their importance in creating an effective and successful user interface and user experience. The idea of design patterns was first introduced in the 1960s by an architect named Christopher Alexander. These design patters provided solutions to reoccurring problems–and thus UI design patterns are solutions to reoccurring user interface problems. Some of the design patterns discussed are utilizing a “forgiving” format, having clear primary actions and the use of breadcrumbs in navigation.