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Steve Jobs Organized Apple to Give Jony Ive Complete Operational Freedom
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Since slavery is abolished in the USA, we can say for certain that he didn't "try to leave". If he wanted to go, he would be gone, but he's there, so he didn't. There is no "trying to leave" a company like Apple.
On the other hand, there were _rumours_ that he wanted to leave, but it turned that he had never actually given any indication at all that he wanted to do so. In other words, these rumours turned out to be completely made up.
Well, you don't tell him "do whatever you want", you tell him "create some amazing good stuff". Or possible "create something like this, but better". As long as you have a designer who is capable and willing to create stuff that is better than anything you could create yourself, you should be fine.
First time I've really heard about Ive was in the documentary Objectified. He has a small piece in the movie, but it's easy to see how excited he is about what does. I think that's an important part of any design.
The devil is in the details. I suspect we're all misinterpreting what they mean by "complete operational freedom". As Senior VP of Industrial Design, Ive didn't report to anyone but Steve anyway - as all Senior VPs. But I doubt Jobs meant "do WHATEVER you want", because that would essentially put two heads at the top of Apple - one product head and one operational head.
I would imagine that Ive will still have to "report" to Cook in the sense that almost any cohesive organization needs one head to make the final calls. Steve Jobs knew that better than anyone. But no one in Apple can "tell" Ive how to design anything. No one can restrain the resources he needs or the employees he hires or the methods he uses. IMO, that's what "operational freedom" is. Not being co-CEO with Tim Cook. And as far as I know, Jony Ive has zero interest in that kind of thing anyway.
Maybe more details will emerge as the book comes out.
I would imagine that Ive will still have to "report" to Cook in the sense that almost any cohesive organization needs one head to make the final calls. Steve Jobs knew that better than anyone. But no one in Apple can "tell" Ive how to design anything. No one can restrain the resources he needs or the employees he hires or the methods he uses. IMO, that's what "operational freedom" is. Not being co-CEO with Tim Cook. And as far as I know, Jony Ive has zero interest in that kind of thing anyway.
Maybe more details will emerge as the book comes out.
I so much remember the story being more concrete than that, but I must be remembering wrong. I too thought that he was pretty well set to leave earlier this year.
>cough<...hockey puck mouse...>cough<
Look I love Apple design and their products too....but "ergonomic" is NOT the correct term here. Since the iMac, the Apple mice have been ANYTHING but ergonomic. In fact, they've been very much anti-ergonomic. They've been design over form and fit. There is nothing about Apple mice that is ergonomic in the least.
Magic Mouse Fixed
I'm still glad Ive has free reign. I don't need to use Apple's mice to enjoy the rest of their great products.
Wow at this rate I dont need to read the bloody book I've pre-ordered!
This isnt a rumour so stop putting this along with other bits from the book on the front page and ruining the book for people.
This isnt a rumour so stop putting this along with other bits from the book on the front page and ruining the book for people.
I have to agree 100% with what you say.
Most of Apple's products are about as un ergonomic as you can possibly get.
ergonomic is all about something that's functionally excellently designed to fit with the human form.
Take a screwdriver, with an ergonomic handle that's been designed so you can get excellent grip with areas for every finger to rest.
An Apple one would look very cool, with a perfectly smooth brushed finish aluminium handle and be very stylish, but not much use.
Be honest, the iPad is about as un ergonomic as any device can be.
It's almost designed deliberately to be as droppable as possible!
Where is the lip on the back to stop is slipping from your hands, or the grippable anti slip finish on the back.
I'm not saying these things don't look nice, but angular, and smooth does not mean ergonomic in any way. Normally quite the opposite in fact.
Wow at this rate I dont need to read the bloody book I've pre-ordered!
This isnt a rumour so stop putting this along with other bits from the book on the front page and ruining the book for people.
How is 'finding out what's in an unreleased iPhone' a rumor but 'finding out what's in an unreleased book' not a rumor?
Same stuff. We're all here because we want to be spoiled in this way.
Amen. As a 'creative type' who has worked internally for large corporations being stuck in operations, R&D strategy and other meetings (constantly) that have nothing to do with what I'm working on were the bane of my existence.
Granted I gave constructive insight into product planning/launch meetings obviously because those were related to marketing their products but 99% of the time I didn't need to be involved.
Wow at this rate I dont need to read the bloody book I've pre-ordered!
This isnt a rumour so stop putting this along with other bits from the book on the front page and ruining the book for people.
Agree with this, Macrumors needs to stop ruining the damn book
Like the wrist slicing edge to their unibody Macbook Pro! Honestly I LOVE their industrial design overall (I love shiny, pretty things) but there are issues.
The way we talk about Rams or Eames is how Ive will be remembered, no matter if he eventually leaves Apple or not.
And I figure Jobs knew that.
And I figure Jobs knew that.