Cambridge Awards Jony Ive With Honorary Degree in Science for Design Work at Apple

[MacRumors]

The University of Cambridge has awarded seven "distinguished individuals" with honorary degrees -- known as the highest honor bestowed by the University -- in fields like law, business, and medical science. One of those honored was Apple's own Jony Ive, who received a doctorate in science for the "elegance, purity and beauty" he brought to personal computers in his time at the company.

The man credited with introducing elegance, purity and beauty to the design of personal computers as Apple's chief designer was also honoured. A doctorate in science was conferred on Sir Jonathan Ive, Chief Design Officer at Apple, in recognition of his impact on the world of computing and in making technology approachable through design.

Cambridge won't be the only esteemed university giving Ive an honorary degree, as Oxford plans to bestow a similar honor onto Apple's chief design officer next week. The Oxford ceremony recognizes ten figures from similar fields as Cambridge, including theology, law, economics and, in Ive's case, science.

At Oxford, Ive will be named a "Doctor of Science," alongside neurobiologist Dr Cornelia Bargmann and physicist Mildred Dresselhaus. The honorary degrees will be given out at the University's annual Encaenia ceremony on June 22.

Article Link: Cambridge Awards Jony Ive With Honorary Degree in Science for Design Work at Apple

 

[H2SO4]

What a joke. He has managed nothing but to make everything thinner. He should have been awarded an honour by Slimfast.

 

[Dilster3k]

He should get the award for creating ugly looking UI.

 

[pat500000]

Harry Potter should be given this honorary thing with degree in magic and make believe.

 

[adamjackson]

At Oxford, Ive will be named a "Doctor of Science," alongside neurobiologist Dr Cornelia Bargmann and physicist Mildred Dresselhaus.

I wonder how a physicist and neurobiologist feel about the "honour" when a friend asks them, "didn't that iPod guy get one, too?"

 

[Zwhaler]

What a joke. He has managed nothing but to make everything thinner. He should have been awarded an honour by Slimfast.

Looool

If the new MacBook Pros and Mac Pros are ballin, I'm fine with it.

 

[chinesedemo]

It appears as if the honorary degree is exceptionally thin and light weight.

 

[Sandstorm]

That meticulously crafted ego will become even bigger and everything else thinner.

 

[Pbrutto]

He still works at Apple?

 

[2457282]

Love the picture but would have prefered them wearing the white wigs. You know more skeuomorphism.

 

[Loge]

Oxford start your photocopiers!

 

[mcfrazieriv]

The word "introduced" bothers me. Maybe it's because the real credit belongs to someone else.

 

[bobdobalina]

edit

 

[Steeley]

"The highest honour bestowed by the University."

Oh, please. It's just part of the marketing budget.

 

[DotCom2]

I LOVE the guy but that just looks plain SILLY!

 

[Plutonius]

What a joke. He has managed nothing but to make everything thinner. He should have been awarded an honour by Slimfast.

An honorary degree usually means that you brought a considerable amount of money into the college / university (through donations, endorsements, etc) or that they want you for a commencement speaker.

 

[Gigaman]

Awesome, if anyone deserves it, it's Jonny.

 

[Three141]

Bit of a joke really, feels like a marketing ploy/bandwagon jumping.

 

[FieldingMellish]

Clapton is still God.

 

[djang0]

One of those honored was Apple's own Jony Ive, who received a doctorate in science for the "elegance, purity and beauty" he brought to personal computers

At Oxford, Ive will be named a "Doctor of Science," alongside neurobiologist Dr Cornelia Bargmann and physicist Mildred Dresselhaus.

So design is a recognized science now? Makes neurology and physics pale in comparison.

 

[tw1ll]

How crass. Cambridge should be ashamed of themselves. Ive has done bugger all in any worthy field of endeavour and will leave no lasting mark on any branch of science or engineering. He has made NO contribution of note, not in semiconductor design, materials physics, algorithms, language etc etc. I.e. The subjects that actually matter to the IT industry (and require significant intelligence to master, not just the ability to rub out a pencil mark and oooh, make it thinner)

Pure publicity stunt. Might as well also give Taylor Swift an honorary PhD for her contribution to advertising Apple.

 

[dysamoria]

For abandoning decades of knowledge in user interface design, he gets an honorary science doctorate? It should be an ignoble prize.

 

[Three141]

How crass. Cambridge should be ashamed of themselves. Ive has done bugger all in any worthy field of endeavour and will leave no lasting mark on any branch of science or engineering. He has made NO contribution of note, not in semiconductor design, materials physics, algorithms, language etc etc. I.e. The subjects that actually matter to the IT industry (and require significant intelligence to master, not just the ability to rub out a pencil mark and oooh, make it thinner)

Pure publicity stunt. Might as well also give Taylor Swift an honorary PhD for her contribution to advertising Apple.

Got to agree with you, this is poor taste from both establishments but then again I'm surprised the fella was knighted.

 

[Mattsasa]

Watch bands

 

[MrGuder]

Look at the men's faces in the background. I wonder what there thinking?