Learn how web standards can help make any project more findable for your users and accessible to search engines. Findability bliss is even attainable with Ajax and Flash interfaces with some web standards wisdom.

Findability Bliss Through Web Standards by Aarron Walter

This demo shows how compound microformats can be used to progressively enhance HTML with semantic meaning.

If you have no idea what Microformats are, check out Microformats - Plugging the Gaps in HTML. Semantic web is the future i.e. it will coexist with advanced robots and stuff :p

Compound Microformats from Premasagar

Microformats are small formatting pieces designed to make your data easier to read by both users and software. Although their use is not widespread, it’s important that every web developer becomes familiar with them, as they’re sure to be an integral part of the web’s future.

Microformats University: 100+ Articles and Resources from Jessica Hupp

Not design related but I believe knowing more about the future will help you choose the right path to awesomeness.

In this article, we'll analyze the trends and technologies that power the Semantic Web. We'll identify patterns that are beginning to emerge, classify the different trends, and peak into what the future holds.

Semantic Web Patterns: A Guide to Semantic Technologies from Read Write Web