Jakob Nielsen's 10 general principles for interaction design. They are called "heuristics" because they are broad rules of thumb and not specific usability guidelines.
User interviews have become a popular technique for getting user feedback, mainly because they are fast and easy. Use them to learn about users’ perceptions of your design, not about its usability.
Interviews
User Interviews: How, When, and Why to Conduct Them — NN/g
SVG graphics can be animated using animation elements. A lot of very impressive effects can be created, especially ones involving morphing and transforming shapes. The sky’s the limit.
