Apple Design Chief Jony Ive Appointed Chancellor of London's Royal College of Art

[MacRumors]

Chief Apple designer Jony Ive has been appointed chancellor of London's Royal College of Art (RCA), it was announced on Thursday. Ive is set to take up the role in July and will replace British engineer Sir James Dyson, who has been provost of RCA since 2011.

"I am thrilled to formalise my relationship with the RCA, given the profound influence the college has had on so many of the artists and designers that I admire," Ive said in a statement.

"Our design team includes many RCA alumni, who embody the fundamental values of the college. I look forward to advising both the college and students, hoping that my experience proves useful in their work."

In his unpaid five-year term as head of the college, Ive will preside over meetings and help to govern RCA, which in 2017 was ranked the world's best institution for art and design for the third year in a row by QS University World Rankings.

"We are delighted to welcome Sir Jony Ive as our new chancellor," said Paul Thompson, RCA's rector. "It is a great honor to be joined by the world's leading designer of his generation, who has produced consistently innovative and commercially successful technology and design."

The designer of the iMac, iPod, and iPhone received an honorary doctorate from the RCA in 2009. Ive also holds honorary doctorates from Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and has received several other accolades from leading British institutions.

Article Link: Apple Design Chief Jony Ive Appointed Chancellor of London's Royal College of Art

 

[Crosscreek]

I hope he can make art thinner.

 

[Blackstick]

Pretty long commute in to work, even by private jet.

 

[576316]

Pretty long commute in to work, even by private jet.

Meh. There's been continuous rumours of his departure from Apple. Maybe he'll move back here once he's done with them.

 

[jayducharme]

Five years is an eternity in the tech world. I wonder if he'll split his time between RCA and Apple, or whether he's taking a leave of absence. Either way, I'd assume his participation at Apple is on the wane. It'll be interesting to see what the company's designs look like in five years.

 

[Zirel]

Jony Ive is the best in the active.

When he got praised by the best ever (Dieter Rams), everyone shut up forever!

 

[MrGimper]

Five years is an eternity in the tech world. I wonder if he'll split his time between RCA and Apple, or whether he's taking a leave of absence. Either way, I'd assume his participation at Apple is on the wane. It'll be interesting to see what the company's designs look like in five years.

Looking at some of the crap apple have churned out recently, and tbh not churned out with respect to Mac updates etc, it would appear Jony has already taken a leave of absence......

 

[zen]

Meh. There's been continuous rumours of his departure from Apple. Maybe he'll move back here once he's done with them.

Chancellor is a largely ceremonial position given as an honour.

 

[djeeyore25]

Jony Ive: These Mac Pros are four years old! Why has the school updated them to the latest model?
RCA: These ARE the latest model.
Jony Ive: Oh, right. Sorry.

 

[_Refurbished_]

He was really excited, until they informed him he would need to get buzzed into the building using the back door, instead of the front.

 

[maflynn]

Pretty long commute in to work, even by private jet.

I believe he mostly resides in England at this point.

 

[Kabeyun]

Whoa. He's smiling. Nice.

 

[Wahlstrm]

Pretty long commute in to work, even by private jet.

Never heard of FaceTime?

 

[kemal]

While Dieter gets a bratwurst and a bier.

 

[LordQ]

As an Industrial Designer, he went from my favourite designer and inspiration to overrated trash.

 

[Denmac1]

I believe he mostly resides in England at this point.

From Wikipedia:
"His family resides in the Pacific Heights district of San Francisco, California, US"

 

[5105973]

Whoa, he looks thinner! It's the Jony Ive Edition model.

He does look happy in addition to having lost some of the bloat. Maybe he's in a less stressful and demanding position at Apple now and has offloaded some of his former duties to underlings. Good for him, IF that's actually the case. He's near my age and my husband's age. By this age all of the intense hours put in during youth coupled with changes in metabolism is a recipe for health problems. He put in his time. Now it's time for him to do what calls to him. I don't begrudge him that.

I just hope he has a solid succession plan at Apple.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Well deserved.

 

[tw1ll]

Awesome, a PC case designer replaces a one trick pony vacuum cleaner manufacturer. Seriously, if either of those represent the pinnacle of British design skills we are royally screwed.

 

[Kabeyun]

Whoa, he looks thinner! It's the Jony Ive Edition model.

He does look happy in addition to having lost some of the bloat. Maybe he's in a less stressful and demanding position at Apple now and has offloaded some of his former duties to underlings. Good for him, IF that's actually the case. He's near my age and my husband's age. By this age all of the intense hours put in during youth coupled with changes in metabolism is a recipe for health problems. He put in his time. Now it's time for him to do what calls to him. I don't begrudge him that.

I just hope he has a solid succession plan at Apple.

This is a temporary, unpaid, 5-year gig. You think this suggests he's quitting Apple?

 

[Schizoid]

People still think he wants to move from Pacific Heights to Slough!

 

[flat five]

Jony Ive is the best in the active.

When he got praised by the best ever (Dieter Rams), everyone shut up forever!

well, except everyone at these particular forums.
[doublepost=1495723847][/doublepost]

As an Industrial Designer, he went from my favourite designer and inspiration to overrated trash.

that's quite a slide.

i could understand this view in the case of someone like Bill Cosby.. but what could of j.ive possibly done to go from number one to number none?

 

[LordQ]

i could understand this view in the case of someone like Bill Cosby.. but what could of j.ive possibly done to go from number one to number none?

Guess I am bored / disappointed / differ with his view of form over function.

 

[neutralguy]

Jony Ive is useless without Steve. I have not seen anything radical new coming out his design room besides making phones thinner. May be those were the last words from Steve to him : "make it thinner". He still continues to follow that gospel.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Jony Ive is useless without Steve. I have not seen anything radical new coming out his design room besides making phones thinner. May be those were the last words from Steve to him : "make it thinner". He still continues to follow that gospel.

You do recall Jobs died at least a year before the Retina MacBook Pro or iPhone 5? That's... well, that's a lot of new and pretty aesthetically pleasing products.

I guess it depends on your definition of 'radical'. Regardless, you're presenting a very black or white argument. Whichever side of the fence you're on (pro or anti-Apple), oversimplification or blanket statements means the point ultimately holds very little weight or merit. Just thought I'd give you a heads up.