CR Interviews Jonathan Ive...scary

[e-coli]

If anyone gets Creative Review, you undoubtedly saw the interview with Jonathan Ive. It was truly a strange event. A little too "Big Brother" for me over there at Apple.

During the interview, there is an Apple "guardian" present, who oversees the entire interview to make sure nothing negative or confidential is said. It was really really lame and awkward.

Here's a snippet:

MG (Malcolm Garrett): One of the things that attracted designers to Apple in the first instance was the clarity and the beauty of the interface...but, for many designers...the "look" of the OSX interface seems to be a retrograde step. The overly illustrative, animated icons and quite clunky default environment seems at odds with what was ordinarily an elegantly simple interface, and certainly at odds with your own designs...it feels more Disney than Apple. Is the interface something you get involved in at all?

Fair enough question, right? And certainly the sentiment of many, including myself. Get this, now the "guardian steps in, not allowing Jonathan Ive to answer the question.

At this point the Apple guardian interjects: Can I just comment that I've never heard that before?

It gets better (or worse)

MG: Really? Well, in the UK...er, I wonder if it's a different sensibility between the US and Europe?

Apple Guardian: I hear it's mostly application availability that's the issue. You've got ten minutes left, and I'm conscious you want to take some photos.

Whoa. Very strange. I mean, get real, who is this interview with, Apple Legal, or Jonathan Ive?

I thought it was really a poor reflection on Apple's culture.

 

[Stelliform]

Re: CR Interviews Jonathan Ive...scary

Originally posted by e-coli

Whoa. Very strange. I mean, get real, who is this interview with, Apple Legal, or Jonathan Ive?

I thought it was really a poor reflection on Apple's culture.

I think you are right, the guardian probably did more to hurt Apple's image more than Jonathan ever could have...

 

[Mr. Anderson]

rumor police? or some such, trying to control what is in print. Such a shame that the person had to step in at all, especially with a comment like that and the fact that you only get a set amount of time.....but Apple's paranoia causes it to have the mystery and wonder, feeding the rumor mill and hyping the hype.

I just didn't realize they'd go to such lengths to control it.

Also can't imagine creative types taking this sort of thing all that nicely. I'd love to see what was said off the record or after the event....

D

 

[e-coli]

The article goes on to say that after the recorder was turned off, Jonathan Ive became very amicable. He and the interviewer seemed to hit it off well.

Ive has nothing to do with the "look" of OS X, apparently.

 

[Durandal7]

Kind of makes you wonder what they're trying so hard to hide...

 

[socbyset]

Originally posted by Mr. Anderson
...
Also can't imagine creative types taking this sort of thing all that nicely. I'd love to see what was said off the record or after the event....

D

agreed. Ive is a major figure in the design industry and can't appreciate being publicly babysat by some two-bit PR flack during an interview.

A lot of companies would love to hire Ive away, he could also set up a very lucrative private design firm.

Apple owes a lot to Ive and should treat him accordingly.