Top 8 Principles For Good Design

Keep it simple, stupid principle states that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complicated; therefore, simplicity should be a key goal in design.

Hick's Law predics that the time and the effort it takes to make a decision increases with the number of options.

Less, but better - because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials.

The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness becasue products we use every day affect ourself and our well-being. But only well executed objects can be beautiful.

The IKEA effect is a cognitive bias that can influence the outcomes and perceived value of products to a big degree. People tend to place a high value on products they partially have created. 

White space or negative space is simply unmarked space in the design. Using white space evenly makes the content in the design easily scannable and significantly improves legibility.

Good design avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years even in today's throw away society.

Proportion signals what's important in a design and what isn't. Larger elements are more important, smaller elements less.