I went to a Seattle SIG CHI (Computer Human Interaction) event to hear Jake Knapp, a user interface designer from Google.  From my point of view there weren't any groundbreaking tips, tricks that I haven't heard of before in the world of user interface design.

Some points from the presentation that you might be interested in, especially regarding their product development strategy:

• Ethnography and user research - Ethnography, is the study of people and their environment and stems from social science.  The key idea is you find opportunities not only by what people say but just as much from what they don't say.  Google, much like other companies i.e. Microsoft uses ethnography to identify unmet needs by first studying people.
• Sharing research findings with company employees - The researchers share the valuable information to the team.  I have seen Microsoft use the same practices as well.
• Brainstorm as a team - At their research meetings, the team starts to brainstorm how they can solve unmet needs
• Prototype from paper to mock-ups - The UI design team starts to prototype on paper and then moves forward into more detailed interactive prototypes
• Usability Study - Usability testing is done on prototypes, products in development in an iterative fashion

The above strategies are common in user experience and with the type of products that Google are coming out with these days, it validates the process of user centered design even further.

Interesting Tidbit #1: From one designer to another:
It was comforting that Jake was talking about the same thing I had experienced just a week or two ago in one of his slides.  When there are many design issues and uncertainties to address, he goes back to prototyping on paper.  Whether it's flash, html or visio protoypes, even when you are building a mock up, it's easy for the designer to get caught up in the details:  Where do I align this button?  How do I label it?  Will the user see this on their screen?  These questions aren't important in the early stages if the design concept in general has yet to be proven because the design can radically change.  I found that paper prototypes work wonders here.  He was recommending the same.

Interesting Tidbit #2: Positive Reinforcement in the Bathroom
I ended up having to use the restroom at their office.  I once read that Google posts printouts or leaflets in their bathroom stalls.  Indeed they do!  I was amazed that the printout talked about how at Google, our #1 principle is to focus on the user and all else will follow.  The printout went on to talk about how it's important to question about the target audience, their unmet needs, their behavior and so on.  I was impressed.  I would call this, encouraging the "Cans" at the Can.  Good job Google.