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

[needfx]

Probably woke up on a Sunday and realized he didn't want to be wheeled or carried out of the Spaceship in a coffin.

by the time of his death, a simple white cloth would suffice for deep space funerals

 

[jayducharme]

Wait, he's still going to have a working relationship with Apple. I don't think much will change.

Exactly. I'm not sure what I think about this change. I would rather see a clean break with him than to have Apple hiring on an outside firm to do its design work, even if it is headed by Ive. Apple really needs to keep design in-house and continue to innovate. Hiring an outside firm to handle what is the main distinguishing feature of Apple -- its design -- is IMO a poor route to follow. But I'm happy for them to prove me wrong.

 

[justperry]

I think it’s awesome news.

Maybe now we can have number pads on larger laptops, an iMac with ports on the front, mice that are usable while charging, etc.

Few people need number pads, ports on the front..no thanks, mice..I agree.

 

[Envo]

Cool, then i think we can get a better keyboard sooner or later.

 

[DevNull0]

Looking forward to the limited edition iPhone IveX, with a $500 premium.

$500??? It will be limited to 10 phones. The premium will be $50,000 but a portion of proceeds will go to Project(Red). That portion will be $1 even though they won't tell you that part.

 

[nostaws]

This is actually a really good thing for Apple. Ive will be able to create a team and mentor designers without the constraints of the Apple system. These mentees will be able to carry on his design sense long after he’s retired and gone.

 

[realtuner]

This makes sense.

He couldn't really take on other clients while employed by Apple, so by starting his own company he can still "work" for Apple and also "work" for others. Apple doesn't really lose Ive - Ive just gets to work on other projects ALONG with Apple.

 

[Mr Todhunter]

Wish he could go away permanently. And take with him his stupid minimalistic crap. Now, if only Scott would come back.....

 

[Speedy2]

Wow.
Didn't two high profile members of his teams leave just a few months ago?
I guess they knew what was coming and might be joining his new firm.

 

[anarchos]

In my honest opinion he hasn’t designed anything stunning or original since maybe the lampshade iMac. Some of the iPods were nice. Every thing since has been ‘safe’ or evolutionary.

You forgot the iPhone 4, iPhone 5, and the new, 'bezel-less' iPad Pro.

 

[DevNull0]

Cool, then i think we can get a better keyboard sooner or later.

And make the phone 2mm thicker to eliminate the camera bump, using the extra volume for larger battery capacity and a headphone jack.

 

[the_color_orange]

Who is going to say “revolutionary” and “aluminum” in the apple videos?!?! Loved his voice, not going to lie.

 

[justperry]

In my opinion Ive is taking it easy, he most likely has plenty of cash, so he might be taking it slow, as in retirement.

 

[msama]

so the mac pro was his mic drop?

 

[abhibeckert]

I know there will be loads of idiots in here saying it's a good thing. Those people are just that though, idiots. Jonny has made Apple what it is today along with Jobs since his return. Let's hope he passes on the design ethos and level of attention to detail to whoever is in charge next.

Johnny did good work in the early days when other people - like Forestal - had more influence. His recent work hasn’t been good in my opinion - too much focus on aesthetics, not enough focus on functionality.

 

[Reapro]

He had some great designs, but Apple should completely split with him. It's time for something fresh.

 

[cube]

so the mac pro was his mic drop?

No external bays.

 

[hugodrax]

Word is he was against the new mac pro tower and wanted to design a sphere shaped computer and that idea was shut down.

 

[teknikal90]

$500??? It will be limited to 10 phones. The premium will be $50,000 but a portion of proceeds will go to Project(Red). That portion will be $1 even though they won't tell you that part.

Source?
Why the cynicism against Product red? Would you rather they do nothing at all?

 

[ProcessorSolderedToMB]

People talk about Forstall being so great. Ok. So what is he exactly doing now then that’s so innovative?

He's a popular figure with Apple web forum dorks who have nothing to do with Apple and have no idea what type of dynamic he actually brought to the company, but liked his personality during the keynotes and assume his exodus is the reason why they no longer find Apple products exciting.

Re: Apple web forum dorks - it takes one to know one, if you know what I mean

 

[Yojimbo007]

Bring back Forstall!

Forstall? He is a software guy..

 

[cube]

Word is he was against the new mac pro tower and wanted to design a sphere shaped computer and that idea was shut down.

A sphere would be a better reason for a form-over-function desktop.

 

[bleak7]

Thank Christ, maybe the notch was the last **** influence from him.

 

[macduke]

Holy s***.

So, uhh, would he take Samsung as a client? This is gonna be really weird.

 

[bbednarz]

Can we please have someone who has more design objectives than "make it thinner". Enough of the literally 2-dimensional thinking.

The last few iPhones have gotten thicker.