The New Trends and Technologies Driving DesignInnovation in the way products are designed, manufactured and delivered is spelling opportunities for small businesses of all types. Learn how forward-thinking entrepreneurs are putting them to work.

There's no better way to discover how closely design and business are intertwined than to go looking for trends that present opportunities for business owners. Even if a trend isn't directly applicable to all industries, the notions behind it can inform and influence a diverse range of product development, distribution methods and business processes.

Here, we look at emerging trends that address the intersection of design andtechnologyand reflect the ways in which Generation Y, the Millennials, are exerting real influence as drivers of business.