The Interface Layer: Where Design Commoditizes Tech

Behold the power of the “Interface Layer,” it’s not just about great design, it is about the integration of the actions that make life easier and the commoditization of the services underneath.  It is more than a layer, it is a shift in the economy that is led by designers rather than cable executives, tech titans, and logistics masterminds.&

Designers become the most important leaders of this new business era (which is why we see people like John Maeda joining firms like Kleiner Perkins, and funds like the Designer Fund emerging with a focus on designer-founded businesses). The success of companies in the Interface Layer will be designer-driven, and the greatest user experience (speed

Increasingly, the greatest competitive advantage will be ease (and speed) of use —  not just for a particular action/service, but for a  sequence  of related services working together to make your life better.  No doubt, the best businesses kill friction.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or the leader of a product and services company, if you don’t play in the interface layer then you’ll be squeezed out of the consciousness of your customers.

The success or failure of a product is less about the technology and more the user’s experience of the technology.  Be sure to find, keep, compensate, and celebrate those that are pushing the world of UX/UI forward. In the world of web services, design can no longer be outsourced or relegated to a department. As interfaces become companies, d