Apple's Marc Newson Believes Automotive Design is Lacking Progress

[MacRumors]

The Wall Street Journal has published an in-depth profile of industrial designer Marc Newson, a longtime friend of Apple design chief Jonathan Ive who joined the Cupertino-based company in September 2014. The interview touches upon a number of topics, ranging from Newson's creative process and design philosophies to his favorite artists and fashion designers.

Apple designers Marc Newson (left) and Jonathan Ive (right) via Vanity Fair​

Just months after reports claimed Apple is actively researching and developing an electric and possibly self-driving vehicle, Newson added fuel to those rumors by referring to the automotive industry as one of his design pet-peeves. The designer said that while cars used to encapsulate "everything that was good about progress," the industry is now "at the bottom of a trough."

My design pet-peeve is: the automotive industry. There were moments when cars somehow encapsulated everything that was good about progress. But right now we're at the bottom of a trough.

Newson's comments certainly do not imply that Apple is working on a vehicle, but it is clear that multiple executives at the Cupertino-based company are car enthusiasts. Apple's SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue joined Ferrari's Board of Directors in November 2012, while Ive has owned several luxury vehicles ranging from Aston Martins and Fiats to Bentleys and Land Rovers.

Jonathan Ive's previous Aston Martin DB9 supercar​

The New Yorker also reflected on how Newson and Ive are "car guys" in February:

He and Newson are car guys, and they feel disappointed with most modern cars; each summer, they attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where vintage sports cars are exhibited and raced in the South of England. "There are some shocking cars on the road," Ive said. "One person's car is another person's scenery." To his right was a silver sedan with a jutting lower lip. Ive said, quietly, "For example." As the disgraced car fell behind, I asked Ive to critique its design: "It is baffling, isn't it? It's just nothing, isn't it? It's just insipid." He declined to name the model, muttering, "I don't know, I don't want to offend." (Toyota Echo.)

It was reported in February that Apple has hundreds of employees, including former Tesla, Ford and GM engineers, working on an electric vehicle at a top-secret research lab possibly located in the Sunnyvale area. The much-rumored initiative, known internally as "Project Titan," likely remains in the early stages of research and development, with Bloomberg reporting that Apple hopes to begin production in 2020.

Article Link: Apple's Marc Newson Believes Automotive Design is Lacking Progress

 

[jmh600cbr]

Well hopefully our cars don't bend more easily

 

[neuropsychguy]

"I don't want to offend." Nice sentiment but the Echo was/is pretty hideous. At the time it was described kindly as "oddly proportioned".

 

[Jakexb]

If there was any doubt left about what "special project" he was working on...

 

[xARx2]

bottom of a trough

 

[neuropsychguy]

Well hopefully our cars don't bend more easily

You hope they do bend more easily. That's called crumple zones and the "bending" saves a lot of lives and reduces a lot of injuries.

/Just trying to put a damper on yet another "bendgate" comment.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

The DB9 is a beautiful car but it's no supercar. Fairly slow, doesn't handle all that well, etc. Sounds great though.

 

[jschu22]

I suspect they are referencing the wrong car (Toyota Echo) or they were not actually at the festival when those comments were made. Its highly unlikely a car of such insignificance would be anywhere near. Maybe in an adjacent parking lot.

 

[Mr Fusion]

My design pet-peeve is: the automotive industry. There were moments when cars somehow encapsulated everything that was good about progress. But right now we're at the bottom of a trough.

I could say the exact same thing about the computer and electronics industry. Apple's designs have hit a trough too.

 

[Tamagotchi]

I wouldn't buy an Ive designed car even if I were crazy.

Imagine the design flaws... would it bend? Would it be my little pony coloured? Would the power on button brick itself? ... Would I get his ego rubbed all over the car?

 

[Crosscreek]

One point he missed was a good designer must be full of them selves.

 

[definitive]

The auto makers don't really see enough threat from eachother in order to have to make great leaps in technology. It's only up until recently that they started to ramp up their electric research when they saw that Tesla could start eating into their sales. Until that point, they were all fine adding things like an extra cup holder, or a more efficient engine which could squeeze out an extra mpg every few years...

 

[KdParker]

That vanity fair pic looks pompous. But i guess that is kinda what vanity fair pics look like.

That being said, it would be nice to see fresher designs for cars.

 

[jeremyschultz]

I guess we can't all drive $200K cars. Or spend $3,000 on a computer or $10,000 on a watch.

 

[jasonklee]

In Marc Newson I trust...or not.

 

[davefree11]

Wow, talk about irony! Where's the Progress with Apple? a watch? Apple hasn't seen anything innovative since Steve Jobs left.

 

[AngerDanger]

I suspect that the unreleased Apple Car would feature a design with a few water-atomzing shower heads—it's just what automotive design needs to shake it up.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

"I don't understand why cars aren't getting thinner every year..." - Ive

 

[ghostface147]

I also think car designers are lazy. I picked up a 2016 Mazda6 a month ago and I do enjoy it. However, look at the rear ends of some cars and SUVs. They all look very similar. Just lazy. I don't know what's wrong with Toyota to add a big plastic open mouth at the bottom of their Corolla and Camry.

 

[gaximus]

Wow, talk about irony! Where's the Progress with Apple? a watch? Apple hasn't seen anything innovative since Steve Jobs left.

Show me a better looking lap top then Apples new MacBook.

 

[rrm74001]

Well hopefully our cars don't bend more easily

Stop it. It's not funny anymore.

Every freaking thread:
"Herp derp, but does it bend?"
"Hurr Durr, you're bending it wrong!"
"Hopefully it doesn't bend! Amirite guys? You know, like the iPhone 6 did? Are you getting my extremely subtle reference? ...Guys?"

 

[iBlazed]

Wow, talk about irony! Where's the Progress with Apple? a watch? Apple hasn't seen anything innovative since Steve Jobs left.

You mean died?

 

[aaronvan]

I'd hate to butt-dial my Apple Car.

 

[69Mustang]

In Marc Newson I trust...or not.

OMG. You beat me to the punch. Newson, like everyone else, can have an opinion about car design. But when you design the Ford 021C, you don't have a lot of room to talk about design. Although from 1999, this thing looks like something a 6 year old drew with crayons. I personally think he's wrong about today's automotive design. There are numerous beautifully designed cars on the road today.

 

[itguy06]

I also think car designers are lazy. I picked up a 2016 Mazda6 a month ago and I do enjoy it. However, look at the rear ends of all many cars. They all look very similar. Just lazy.

No different than this garbage "flat" and "modern" design. Screams that designers have no talent.