When it comes to technology, I like to think of design as a hidden hero. Remember the first-generation Apple iPhone? It was so novel and groundbreaking that it drove an almost cult-like following and unprecedented consumer loyalty. At the time, Apple revolutionized the phone industry with its unique design, pure touchscreen functionality and no keyboard — the antithesis to the Blackberry. Since then, there has been a renewed understanding of the potential of design to influence business success, and whether in hardware or software, innovations in technology have almost always meant accompanying innovations in design. Today, design is often the single differentiating…

This story continues at The Next Web