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Industrial Designer Marc Newson to Join Apple Under Jony Ive
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Funny how many many people describe Apple owners EXACTLY as you described above. Firstly, use your brain. Do you really think the guy is gonna come in and design high art pieces that no one but "eccentric art circles" can afford? Word is he's been working with Apple for awhile now so we've perhaps seen some of his influence already.
The comments here kill me sometimes. If you all only knew when you used the word "hipster" you were describing yourselves. I suppose we all move the goalposts when it suits us.
In fairness... he did nothing but the aesthetic on that device. He had absolutely no control on the engineering of the unit to make it thinner than it was. Pentax, sticking with their traditional K-mount, forced the issue with the size/mass of the device being bigger. The lens and how it fits into the body, even without a mirror box, forced the depth of the device to be what it was.
That said... aesthetic-wise, I think it'd looked better if they followed the lead of Fuji and their retro chic aesthetic vs. the funkiness of the K 01's styling. The alternating colors, and even the use of bonkers yellow, just didn't look all that pleasing. The Black/Silver model is better although I'd preferred either more silver or just make it all Black. The white model... all white, like the K-x and K-r. There were also some basic camera usability questions from Pentaxians who didn't like some of the button finishes, the button position changes and the texturings. They felt it was done more for style than for substance. Function follows form vs. form following function.
To be honest, I rather liked the idea of the camera and as a K-5 owner was interested in picking one of the future generation of the K 01 models (K 02, K 03, etc.) to use as a second body once they perfected the process. The device was flawed in the first generation (focus speeds were slow, something that some of their D-SLR's suffered through due to lenses more than the body itself) as it was Pentax's first real go at a mirrorless camera. It didn't do everything it was designed to do as well as the competition but it did get a lot of what we Pentaxians wanted right in that it managed to make a mirrorless offering that used K-mount lenses. I expect it might've gotten a scant bit thinner or smaller around the lens although it still would always have limitations with the K-mount vs. more tailored applications for mirrorless use.
I actually was fine with that.
I was hoping with further development and refinement that it'd evolve into the mirrorless option many Pentaxians wanted. A camera that could use the amazing K-mount lenses that existed without any fiddly adapters, including their incredible primes... and still had their great I/O. That is, ultimately, what I'm still waiting for out of Pentax. The other thing many Pentaxians are waiting for is a full-frame D-SLR. Hopefully Ricoh will eventually help deliver that. It's long overdue.
Instead the K 01 got killed off and now we stick with D-SLR's (still good although the latest K S1 is a bit meh and gimmicky), Medium Format (still one of the best bang for the buck options with the 645 series, leaves many a Mamiya or Hasselblad in the dust for the costs it comes in at) and the Q line (meh). Eventually I'll probably just buy an M4/3 mirrorless (Panasonic>Olympus, the OM-D not withstanding) to keep alongside my Pentax D-SLR's. As much as I like Pentax, I do love a good Panny camera too (GX-7 or whatever it's successor might be).
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I have to agree (other than the fact that he's since left BMW design). To be honest, the latter BMW's since Bangle left have actually looked worse than anything came up with on his watch. The new 3/4 series especially. They follow the theme he helped create (evolved or devolved) but they just... cheapen the look. The funky cut lines between the headlights and the kidney grill look fiddly and ugly. The proportions are still elegant but things have gotten a lot more bland and dull.
As far as the entire industry following Chris? It's widely known. Love him or hate him (and many speak ill of him even as they go and Bangle everything they touch), everyone has jumped on his wagon in one way or another. Flame surfacing has been used from most major manufacturers. The "Bangle Butt" from the 7-series, love it or hate it, has been copied on everything from mainstream Camry's and Accord's and Malibu's, Impala's, etc.
--> http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/process/design_essays/display/store4/item152778/ <--
Well worth the read. As much criticism as his designs levied, BMW's sales skyrocketed with him at the helm and he had the cahonies to make significant changes to the design aesthetic that freshened the model range and went away from the conservatism that most German cars followed to a sort of avant garde approach that caused people to flock in.
To say he wasn't influential... when he forced Mercedes' hand? They went from a similar conservative approach to firing back with their own attempt to push design further up the pecking order. To go from a very conservative Audi to a company that went out and figured out how to push their own boundaries and limits aesthetically since.
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Seriously, I love it when people in their fantasy world still do believe that the redisigned iOS is a disaster.
Dang that is an ugly watch.
So Jonny I've and this guy drink from the same Kool Aid bowl I guess.
Ugly? Come on... This thing is a monstrosity, an eyesore. And there's a pic of Ive wearing it!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaE1G85Qgps
Marc Newsons Design language is a bit more playfull than Apples, but they share the same values (taking away unnecessary things).
He kind of reminds me of the more playful iMac era.
Marc Newsons Design language is a bit more playfull than Apples, but they share the same values (taking away unnecessary things).
He kind of reminds me of the more playful iMac era.
Who knows how it works. For all you know Mr Starck may have been approached but declined. Having browsed through Marc Newsons designs I have to say I kind of like what I see. May need to reign in the colours and the only thing I don't like is the line green chair. I think the watch design is nice and I love the cartoon like car. Camera is ok.
All in all I think this is positive.
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Marc newson on his own, I'd rather leave him to make crap chairs and desks.
Marc newson under jony Ive and his team, my oh my that will be amazing! He really is creative and tasking him with the challenge of fitting his designs with hardware like the products they already did for charity could result in the best work newson has ever been involved in.
I honestly loved the collab products they did so much this is a great choice as he and jony work great together.
Marc newson under jony Ive and his team, my oh my that will be amazing! He really is creative and tasking him with the challenge of fitting his designs with hardware like the products they already did for charity could result in the best work newson has ever been involved in.
I honestly loved the collab products they did so much this is a great choice as he and jony work great together.
Philippe Starck is not really matching with Apple. If it were fitting, he would have long joined Apple since he was best friends with Steve Jobs.
His design language is also way to extravagant. The only thing I really like is the lacie hard drive
His design language is also way to extravagant. The only thing I really like is the lacie hard drive
A view from the watch world.
Apple Hires Marc Newson, iWatch Smartwatch Watches Likely To Be Designed With His Help
I'm not sure that would go down very well with AAPL investors.
Apple Hires Marc Newson, iWatch Smartwatch Watches Likely To Be Designed With His Help
I'm not sure that would go down very well with AAPL investors.
Pffffff I wouldn't want to 'regularly' fly a few thousand miles all the time! See this is why they should never have grounded one of the most stunning industrial designs in human history, Concorde
Well, the Concorde actually really sucked. I would be much happier if they'd replaced it with a newer, better supersonic passenger jet. Certainly we have the technology. There's just no will.
And failed in my opinion. Too much non-functional bezel that easily scratches. There is not enough balance between the bezel and the dial. For that price I would rather get a Tudor or spend a bit more and get a Breitling Cosmonaute.
There's all these things Wall Street says Apple has to do (e.g Trip Chowdry saying if Apple doesn't release a watch in 60 days they'd be finished as a company) and now that rumors point to Apple doing some of them Wall Street is "meh". Payments won't generate much revenue, just about locking people into iPhones; "iWatch" won't be enough to move the needle on a company of Apple's size; running out of new carriers to launch iPhone on, etc. I think it's impossible for Cook to satisfy investors on the product side. I hope he does what he thinks is right and not stuff just to try and please investors.
This is certainly an interesting new hire. I think it's important for everyone to realize that he'll be working under Jony Ive's direction, not acting as head designer. Whatever your nightmare scenario might be, this isn't it.
I for one happen to like Marc's designs a lot. During the last 5 years Apple products have become a little too clinical, iPhone 5c was the first slightly more playful product in a while along with the new iPods. I think Marc's influence will bring some more playfulness into the products again. Good hire.
Same pattern as other recent exec replacements. Hire a qualified replacement & slowly bring them to the fore. I'm on record here - it was telling I've didn't get stage time at WWDC. Ive wants to raise his kids in England.
And he's done a great job. Made good money. Served Apple fans above & beyond. I'll miss him. And he'll probably miss Apple. But it's a burnout job and nobody could begrudge him choosing a life & family at this point.
Cook is doing his best to make Apple a nicer place to be & hopefully that will pay off for the next generation best-in-their-field, but you don't deliver what Apple delivers without pain and sacrifice.
I'm very happy with his designs, iOS 8 & Yosemite. As long as he avoids Bono's charity scams. I wish him well.
Most people don't realise how bitter Bono is that the world has moved past his music and how much he's taking everyone for a ride, out of pure spite. He even teamed up with Bush, the greatest charity scammer of all (billions missing from the Haiti fund) and people give him a pass because he's in a rock band.
Ive is too close to Bono for my liking (witness the pretend stoush with Bono recently over RED branding) both trying to improve their image. Jobs knew most charities were rich men lining their pockets with poor people's money. Hope I've breaks away for his own soul & karma.
Thanks Jony & good luck. Look for Newson taking a public role & moving to Cupertino. Of course, it might be a talent acquisition, but I doubt it. The pieces have been moving into place for a couple of years, now.
Ive might hold on a year, but I doubt it. My guess is he will move on in the new year.
And he's done a great job. Made good money. Served Apple fans above & beyond. I'll miss him. And he'll probably miss Apple. But it's a burnout job and nobody could begrudge him choosing a life & family at this point.
Cook is doing his best to make Apple a nicer place to be & hopefully that will pay off for the next generation best-in-their-field, but you don't deliver what Apple delivers without pain and sacrifice.
I'm very happy with his designs, iOS 8 & Yosemite. As long as he avoids Bono's charity scams. I wish him well.
Most people don't realise how bitter Bono is that the world has moved past his music and how much he's taking everyone for a ride, out of pure spite. He even teamed up with Bush, the greatest charity scammer of all (billions missing from the Haiti fund) and people give him a pass because he's in a rock band.
Ive is too close to Bono for my liking (witness the pretend stoush with Bono recently over RED branding) both trying to improve their image. Jobs knew most charities were rich men lining their pockets with poor people's money. Hope I've breaks away for his own soul & karma.
Thanks Jony & good luck. Look for Newson taking a public role & moving to Cupertino. Of course, it might be a talent acquisition, but I doubt it. The pieces have been moving into place for a couple of years, now.
Ive might hold on a year, but I doubt it. My guess is he will move on in the new year.