Industrial Designer Marc Newson to Join Apple Under Jony Ive

[CFreymarc]

Ghastly, glitzy rubbish. The very sort of empty surface-oriented fashionable crap that would appeal to Vanity Fair or Bono.

Since the iOS disaster, Jony looks increasingly lost without Jobs to tell him when he sucks. He needs his worst instincts curbed and his best instincts honed. Clearly, the Howdy-Doody Tim Cook isn't the person to do it.

"The truth is more important than the facts." -- Frank Lloyd Wright

 

[matrix07]

I love Marc Newson and this is the best news this year, but Apple needs to hire better and more UI and UX designers. I never really saw a problem with their industrial design.

Hey I whole-heartedly agree with this. Yosemite is an improvement over iOS 7 though.

 

[rish]

I'll second and third that!

All in favour say aye!

 

[69650]

cool, now we can finally get an iTable that charges all of our devices wirelessly that sit on it.

That would be fantastic. The iDesk. The technology is all there it just needs someone with the imagination to build it. That would sell I'm sure of it.

I hope this announcement means two things:

1. Apple are going to start adding colour back into their products.
2. They are going to expand the range of products they make.

 

[Wiesenlooser]

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.

Ive suffers severly from stage fright. I think he was only one time on stage and that was during the macbook unibody introduction. And to be quite honest- it was kind of hart to watch him being that nervous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rJRMafcRUU&t=11m0s

However, it might be true that he wants a bit more spare time. Maybe since the Apple product palette is a bit increasing (specially with wearables), it was difficult to maintain 100% attention to every product and they want to share the leading work. That can be quite possible since Ive is now responsible for software aswell.

Another reason: Ive just had so much fun working together with him for the RED products, that he wanted him in.

 

[simonmet]

"According to the report, Newson will continue to be based in the United Kingdom"

Oh he's from the UK, thank goodness! IF Ive were to retire, I was afraid it meant the end of the British accent intro video at Apple keynotes. The products don't sound as magical without that accent.

I can already hear Marc Newson saying with his accent "In order to create something this remarkable, we had to start from scratch. We built this magical device from the ground up. It is truly the best iPhone yet".

Except he's actually Australian, but based in the UK.

Still, he'll probably sound British.

Edit: a bunch of other people beat me to it!

 

[page404]

Other than Dre (and let's get real that's probably mostly for show), what other celebrities has Apple hired?

Apple has hired some really smart, high-profile people that are at the top of their individual industries like Angela Ahrendts, Paul Deneve, Lisa Jackson, Kevin Lynch, Jimmy Iovine, Ian Rogers, Anand Shimpi, Michael Gartenberg, etc.

And you know why they hired them? Because they're Apple. Most of those people probably wouldn't have left their cushy other jobs to work anywhere else.

Only Apple could get top CEOs, CTOs, COOs and a former vice president of the United States to come work for it.

The talent pool at Apple has expanded dramatically since the death of Steve Jobs. There was noone else like Steve Jobs. It's going to take a village to replace his insight, creativity, drive and intuition. That's what Cook is doing. Setting Apple up for years to come.

You sir, you just nailed it. +1 for insight.

 

[simonmet]

This will be an insane collaboration. Love Newsons work. But if you look close enough, Ive is giving Newson the 'subliminal bird' in the photo as to say, "I'm still the boss". HA!
This is great news and I love what Apple is doing. Exciting!!!

I'm certain that Jonny has a sense of humour and he's just mucking around. They're good friends.

 

[thekeyring]

This is it. This is the first step in Ive retiring.

He's trying to find an iconic replacement figurehead so Apple still seems to be design driven so he can go back to England and enjoy being unbelievably rich.

2 years or less mark my words!

Don't say that!

If Ive leaves, who will replace Tim Cook as CEO if/when Tim Cook leaves/retires?

 

[simonmet]

Everybody like who?
The back of the 7 was definitley unique. It was uniquely ugly and that’s why it was panned.

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Now this guy gets it. I mean his car design is so good I can see Ferrari using it for their next model. No, just no. It’s crap.
Just like those atrocities we see on the catwalk that nobody wears. Having said that it doesn’t mean we can’t tone him down a little which I’m sure is what Dolce and Gabbana and the like do for the masses.

I disagree. I like his stuff. That car design is playing on a retro romanticism but giving it a really modern twist. Sure Ferrari makes beautiful cars but many aren't that practical either. I like the practicality in that design.

I think he is contentious and that's why there's such vastly differing opinions in this threat. Most designers are challenging and contentious deliberately. It's how they make a name for themselves.

Apple needs to bring a bit of flair back. Their products, though great, lack the flair and fun of some of their early cult classics like the original iMac and lampshade iMac G4 and even the toilet seat iBook! Mac Pro excepted!

 

[Four oF NINE]

I hope this announcement means two things:


2. They are going to expand the range of products they make.

Well there's a recipe for disaster, and one of the first issues Steve Jobs had to address when he returned. It's a matter of focus, you can do a handful of things really well that match a particular theme or you can make everything from phones to refrigerators like Samsung.

 

[simonmet]

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.

I love it for the reasons you don't. It's all a matter of personal taste.

If I could have one watch I think I'd want that!

Shame it costs more than car!

 

[DanneSAndin]

It's becoming a Who's Who over at Apple.. wow...

 

[the8thark]

Here's Jony wearing one of Marc's watches.

Image

**** **** ****. Jon is half smiling there. Wow. That's a rare ting from Jon indeed.

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This committee-of-celebrities Apple is basically the complete opposite of the Apple that got to where Apple is today.

I give them 7 more years before they are the next Sony/Microsoft. They're about 30% of the way there so far.

This and the too make SKU's Apple is producing now. All worrying signs.

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You'll have to recalibrate your imagination because he's Australian.

He is, from Sydney. But at 50, he's no spring Chicken. At best 10-20 years from him. That's not really long term. But it's a good start. And it would be refreshing to hear an Aussie accent in the Apple videos. I'm so used to hearing the US/UK accents that I almost have forgotten what my local Aussie accent sounds like.

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Great. Now Apple videos are going to be twice as long with two people saying "unapologetically plastic" and "aloo-minium."

Nope. Most Australians say those words differently.

 

[Keeval]

Well worth watching this now, an interview with Marc Newson and Sir Jony Ive about design.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/563008

 

[Mashurrab]

He's already tried his hand at designing watches.

Image

This is beautiful

 

[dbrinn]

Good Choice

They've been friends for a long time.

 

[Rocco83]

Just me or is Ive hitting him with the bird on the sly?

 

[kazmac]

I know zilch about Mr. Newson but it seems like he's a nice fit for Apple. I look forward to seeing some of his designs.

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Well there's a recipe for disaster, and one of the first issues Steve Jobs had to address when he returned. It's a matter of focus, you can do a handful of things really well that match a particular theme or you can make everything from phones to refrigerators like Samsung.

I agree with this. I really hope they stop branching out after the proposed tv. You can constantly innovate in the areas you already produce. Look at the rMBP, the iPad Air and the nMP.

 

[k995]

Apple needs more technical innovation not more designers .

 

[Rogifan]

Well there's a recipe for disaster, and one of the first issues Steve Jobs had to address when he returned. It's a matter of focus, you can do a handful of things really well that match a particular theme or you can make everything from phones to refrigerators like Samsung.

When Steve returned to Apple it was close to bankruptcy. It's easy (and probably necessary) to narrow your focus and products when you're not making any money. Apple's profits for the last fiscal year were $37B. Apple is ranked the 5th largest company in the US (15th worldwide) with annual revenues of $173B. Only Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron, Exxon Mobile and Walmart generate more revenues than Apple. How does Apple grow that revenue base if they don't expand their focus/products? Steve was the right guy to get Apple back on its feet again. I think Tim's the right guy to run Apple now that it's this massive corporation. I'm sure that's why Steve chose Tim to be his successor.

 

[winston1236]

Luckily there's no salary cap to deal with in business, so why not get the best where ever they are?

Internal talent usually ends up in stagnation as they all nod their head yes to the boss for too many years.

 

[Moto G]

This guy's a genius. Pentax hired him to design their camera and he came up with this brick...

Image

You do better, then.

 

[MacVista]

Here's Jony wearing one of Marc's watches.

Image

Back in the days when he used to smile. Now he is too full of himself.

 

[Rogifan]

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.

Um, no. The Vanity Fair piece specifically said Newson would be based out of the UK and still involved with other projects. That sounds to me more like a consulting role than anything else. Plus Newson is in his early 50s. I doubt he's being groomed to take over anything.

As far as Bono goes, have people forgotten the special red & black U2 iPod that was launched on Steve's watch? Apple designing red versions of products for product (RED) also happened on his watch. Bono spoke at Steve's private memorial service. You might not have any time for Bono, but Steve certainly did.