Apple's Longtime Design Chief Jony Ive Leaving to Start New Design Company With Apple as a Primary Client

[jonnyb098]

Instead of stupid conspiracy theories here are some thoughts based on reality.

Jonny has been mostly hands off for the last few years so products like the iPad Pro and Mac Pro redesigns are likely under this new leadership team, hence their new industrial looking design language. Also from a human and career standpoint Jonny is probably just ready to do something different. Lots of key players at companies simply want to do other things in life after decades. He is close to 60. At that point in life many people long to either retire or do something more low key or work on personal passion projects.

The team he built is still there and they will continue to crank out amazing stuff. (They already have been)

So don’t expect some radical change people. It’s already happened. This transition is years in the making. That’s how business are run. Unlike the way many others speculate “ oh Jonny is gone they can make cooler looking stuff now “. I’m sure his team has known for months or even years.

 

[Spectrum]

The best news I've heard in ages. The recent designs are stale and too focussed on one aspect (thin ness) at the expense of useabiltiy and durability.

I look forward to future Mac book pro designs with a working KEYBOARD!

 

[Onelifenofear]

Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out. Shame you will just now be able to double dip and get paid by your firm and apple. If Tim Cook had any cajones, he would not be using his firm and find someone willing to build in a bit more function than form.

Wow you clearly know how large companies and designers work. Huge Slow hand clap for you.

 

[ssgbryan]

One down....

One to go......

 

[BigBoy2018]

Oh man, this is surprising and bad when somebody like this leaves

Yes. Apple will be without it's leader in form over function designs, plus we'll dearly miss his pompous ruminations about the 'elegant, pure' design of whatever computer or phone that apple puts out that looks pretty much like the previous version that came out.

 

[centauratlas]

Maybe Apple will no longer value form over function.

 

[jonnyb098]

No Jobs, Ive or Forstall. No more DNA left from the Jobs era. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Except their CEO Tim. Who has made it the biggest company on planet earth. Don’t be so short sighted.

 

[kmj2318]

Jony has done some projects outside of Apple from time to time. His taste is pretty eclectic but most people only know him from his Apple products. He had to keep everything consistent under the Apple brand and that probably got boring as a designer. I'm interested in seeing a lot more variety in his work.

 

[Plutonius]

Wow. That’s not good.

I think it's very good.

Jony is a world class industrial designer which I'm not sure is needed at this time.

An industrial designer is responsible for the look and packaging of the product.

The products can not get much thinner and I think Apple needs to concentrate on a good hardware / software system design engineer for the next generation products.

For too long, the emphasis has been on look / packaging over functionality.

 

[routine_analyst]

future exclusive product:

Beats by Ive

 

[kingofwale]

Good, this way Apple can reject his ugly design...

 

[Pipper99]

Is our morphism going to be skewed, now?

 

[dazed]

I wonder how much real design he’s done for them recently other than helping with the mothership.


Time for new blood. Apples designs are looking tired and they need something new.

 

[MacHiavelli]

Was odd when he wasn’t at the recent keynote.

Angela and Jony in quick succession. If a third senior exec goes soon, things are going to look very interesting.

 

[mozumder]

Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out. Shame you will just now be able to double dip and get paid by your firm and apple. If Tim Cook had any cajones, he would not be using his firm and find someone willing to build in a bit more function than form.

This is something a fragile, insecure person would say as he tries to prevent his losses.

 

[Abazigal]

Yeah, kind of an odd choice, functionally. It may just be a temporary arrangement while they seek a replacement.

I wonder if this is hinting that Jeff Williams is being groomed to be Apple’s next CEO. Tim’s forte was operations as well. Makes sense that his successor would share the same area of expertise.

 

[bluecoast]

Eddy Cue?

 

[mozumder]

I think it's very good.

Jony is a world class industrial designer which I'm not sure is needed at this time.

An industrial designer is responsible for the look and packaging of the product.

The products can not get much thinner and I think Apple needs to concentrate on a good hardware / software system design engineer for the next generation products.

For too long, the emphasis has been on look / packaging over functionality.

Industrial design is also about functionality.

 

[GuruZac]

Wow. That’s not good.

Why? He’s had amazing designs no doubt, but Apple is capable of bringing in all kinds of talent. Jony’s past few designs have not been ground breaking. Apple milked the iPhone 6 design for basically 4 generations. I would argue in some ways, many other Android phones have been on par or better design wise, especially the S10+. I love the notch design and the design of the X style phones in general, but there’s nothing really cutting edge with the iPhone design.

 

[TonnyM]

He will still work on the most important projects for Apple, but without the need of managing the whole team, with his legacy, talent and reputation this makes a lot of sense.

 

[Onelifenofear]

So. Loads of well out comments on here are usual by the usual level headed people.

As a designer, I am sure that he has left because he has been designing computers etc for 30 years and wants the freedom to design other things.

I am sure he will be a consultant for Apple on Product design and won’t be on the day to day.

To all of you that say good riddance, Keyboards, too thin... blah blah blah. What have you done as productive and successful in your life?

 

[Hieveryone]

Does anyone think this has something to with the $999 STAND?

 

[Unity451]

I think they're NOT telling us something !

Ding Ding Ding

 

[magicschoolbus]

thats not good at all

 

[MallardDuck]

So. Loads of well out comments on here are usual by the usual level headed people.

As a designer, I am sure that he has left because he has been designing computers etc for 30 years and wants the freedom to design other things.

I am sure he will be a consultant for Apple on Product design and won’t be on the day to day.

To all of you that say good riddance, Keyboards, too thin... blah blah blah. What have you done as productive and successful in your life?

Not as much as I wish I could have today...ran out of battery life and left my dongles at home.