JonyIve
Latest
Apple’s Jony Ive will return to his design management role
Apple's chief design officer, Jony Ive, is picking his old management duties back up again, 9to5Mac reports. Back in 2015, Ive was upgraded to chief design officer from senior VP and day-to-day management was taken over by Alan Dye and Richard Howarth. Earlier today, 9to5Mac noted that Dye and Howarth were no longer listed on Apple's leadership page and now word's out that Ive is back at the management helm. In a statement to Bloomberg, an Apple spokesperson said, "With the completion of Apple Park, Apple's design leaders and teams are again reporting directly to Jony Ive, who remains focused purely on design."
Apple is reportedly putting Mac development on the back burner
Apple only released one substantial update to its entire lineup of Mac computers in 2016, and what a controversial update it was. To many outsider observers, the last year made it feel like the Mac is far from a priority at Apple -- and a report from the reliable Mark Gurman of Bloomberg backs that up. According to Gurman's anonymous sources, the Mac team just isn't a priority with Jony Ive's design team, the company's software team or senior management at large. Additionally, both technical challenges and the departures of key members of the Mac team have also slowed things down.
Apple's Jony Ive helped design a Christmas tree with no lights
Jony Ive and Marc Newson have designed a range of products that have little to do with their work at Apple, but their latest is something... different. They've worked with set designer Michael Howells on the Claridge's Christmas tree for 2016, and it largely lives up to your "if Jony Ive designed this, it would..." stereotypes. Just as your new Mac or iPhone is devoid of ports, there are no conventional tree lights in this hotel display -- you'll see 13-foot light boxes beaming images of snow-covered birches, but the actual tree arrangement is bare. It's like Ive was sent on a mission to destroy your holiday memories with his signature minimalism.
Apple wants to sell you a $300 photo book about its products
Apple is known for two things: design and modesty. Okay, one thing. Today, the company announced a new photo book that "chronicles 20 years of Apple design," called Designed by Apple in California. Dedicated to the memory of its co-founder and former CEO, Steve Jobs, the new book intends to highlight both Apple's design process as well as its products. It features 450 photos of gadgets past and present, shot by Andrew Zuckerman, a photographer who is perhaps most famous for his Creature book and subsequent sequels.
Watch Apple show off its design studio and spaceship campus (update)
For years, most people have only known about Apple's secret design studio through anecdotes. There's talk of extreme security, loads of specialized manufacturing gear and other stories that make it sound more like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory than a real-world place. However, a lot of that mystery is about to disappear. CBS' 60 Minutes is airing a tour of Apple at 7:30PM Eastern that, on top of an interview with CEO Tim Cook, includes a rare peek at Apple's design wing. You unsurprisingly won't see future products (as hinted by the black cloth above), but there are promises of a talk with design chief Jony Ive about the process behind making all those iPhones, Macs and Watches.
Recommended Reading: Jony Ive tells the story of the Apple Pencil
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Jony Ive Interview: The Story of the Apple Pencil The Telegraph The initial wave of iPad Pro reviews arrived this week, and with them the first impressions from folks using the new Apple Pencil for an extended period of time. The Telegraph spoke with Apple's design guru Sir Jony Ive to get the backstory on the accessory and why habits like sketching don't have to become obsolete.
Jony Ive becomes Apple's first Chief Design Officer
There's no question that Jony Ive is more important than ever to Apple's design process given his heavy influence on everything from the look of iOS to the philosophy behind the Apple Watch, and the Cupertino crew just gave him a promotion to reflect that fact. The Telegraph has revealed that Ive was recently promoted from Senior VP to become Apple's first-ever Chief Design Officer. He'll still oversee the company's broader design efforts, but there will be leaders dedicated to user interfaces (Alan Dye) and industrial design (Richard Howarth) as of July 1st.
Watch Jony Ive and Elon Musk talk design and sci-fi transportation
Tired of hearing little more than soundbites from tech luminaries such as Apple's Jony Ive and Tesla's Elon Musk? Today's your lucky day. Vanity Fair has posted its full video interviews with both Ive and Musk, giving you an insight into how the two executives work. Not surprisingly, Ive's chat focuses on his design philosophies and processes, including what he thinks of Xiaomi's eerily familiar-looking products (spoiler: he doesn't see them as "flattery"). Musk, meanwhile, drops both hints about Tesla's semi-automated Model S P85D and discusses the motivations behind the science fiction-inspired transport from SpaceX and Tesla, including why it's important for humanity to go to Mars. The two discussions are lengthy at about half an hour each, but they're definitely worthwhile if you want to see what makes key industry figures tick. [Image credit: Kimberly White/Getty Images for Vanity Fair]
Recommended Reading: Apple's Jony Ive talks design and the timepiece
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. A Rare Look at Design Genius Jony Ive: The Man Behind the Apple Watch by Robert Sullivan, Vogue The man behind much of Apple's design doesn't often open up for interviews, but following Cupertino's Watch reveal, much of the focus has been on the fashion-minded. That said, Jony Ive offered Vogue a bit more on the upcoming wrist-worn device and his aesthetic mindset as a whole -- right down to things like the sound a watch band makes as it closes.
Apple's Jony Ive: 'We're surrounded by anonymous, poorly made objects'
In a rare interview, Apple's VP of Design offers at least a little insight into both his thinking and how Apple makes its products. Apparently, it all starts with Jonathan Ive imagining what a new kind of product should be and what it should do. After that, the process moves on to what it should look like. Inspiration here apparently comes from, well, everywhere, from candy manufacturers to metalworkers in Northern Japan. It's no surprise to hear that Ive labors over the details: "months and months and months" were spent on perfecting the iMac stand. "When you realize how well you can make something, falling short, whether seen or not, feels like failure." "We don't take so long, and make the way we make for fiscal reasons." More than any Apple product in particular, however, it's the idea that customers might not be completely driven by prices -- that's what he's most pleased with. "We're surrounded by anonymous, poorly made objects. It's tempting to think it's because the people who use them don't care - just like the people who make them." Ive references that life-changing products, unimaginable before, are expensive - and that's part of the Apple premium. "We don't take so long, and make the way we make, for fiscal reasons."
Jony Ive and Marc Newson discuss their upcoming (RED) auction
On November 23, the famed auction house Sotheby's will be holding an auction to benefit Bono's Project (RED) charity. While Sotheby's holds notable auctions quite regularly, the Project (RED) charity is unique insofar as all of the products up for grabs have been curated by two of today's most distinguished designters: Apple's own Jony Ive and eclectic industrial designer Marc Newson. In addition to picking which items will be up for grabs, both Ive and Newson worked together to design some unique items that you won't be able to find anywhere else. Some Apple-centric items include golden EarPods and an all-red version of Apple's highly anticipated Mac Pro. One of the more intriguing items is a one-of-a-kind Ive and Newson-designed Leica M camera. With the auction less than two weeks away, Ive and Newson sat down to discuss some of the themes that run across many of the objects which will be on the auction block. Also making an appearance in the video is Bono, who is as engaging as ever. The auction, naturally, is titled "Jony and Marc's (RED) Auction" and you can peruse all of the 44 items available over at the Sotheby's website. Some other notable items include a Stormtrooper helmet from Star Wars, a Soviet space suit and a Product (RED) inspired Steinway & Sons Grand Piano. As a point of interest, Sotheby's anticipates that the aforementioned Leica camera will fetch the most money, with bids expected to fall in the range of US$500,000 to $750,000. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to The Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. While we're on the topic of auctions, I wonder what ever happened to the person who won the auction to have coffee with Tim Cook at Apple headquarters. If you recall, the winning bid came in at $610,000. So many questions to ponder: Did this meeting already go down? Has the meeting been delayed until Apple's new mothership campus is finally up and running? Was Carl Icahn the lucky winner?! Questions for the ages.
Jony Ive turns Mac Pro RED for charity
Suddenly, the 20th Anniversary Mac seems downright commonplace. Apple's Jony Ive is teaming up with recent design partner Marc Newson to auction a one-of-a-kind red Mac Pro as part of a Product RED charity fundraiser. It's not clear what's different on the inside versus the regular black model, but look at that outside -- it's guaranteed that this workstation will be the centerpiece of the office. Be prepared to pony up if you like the idea of an ultra-exclusive system, though. Sotheby's estimates that the red Mac Pro will sell for $40,000 to $60,000; while that's a steal next to an Apple I, it's not exactly chump change. Check out both the Mac and some (slightly) more affordable rose gold EarPods at the source links.
Sotheby's auctioning off special Jony Ive designed Product (RED) Mac Pro
The entry level Mac Pro will set you back about $2,999, but If you've got much deeper pockets you might want to take a look at this one-of-a-kind Product (RED) Mac Pro that was custom designed by both Jony Ive and industrial designer Marc Newson. The candy red and super sleek Mac Pro will be up for auction at Sotheby's and is expected to fetch any where between $40,000 and $60,000. The auction is set to kick off on November 23 at 7 PM. Recall that the uniquely colored Mac Pro won't be the only special Apple product up for auction come November. A pair of 18k gold EarPods, also designed by Ive and Newson, will also be up on the auction block.
Jony Ive, Marc Newson interviewed by Vanity Fair
Earlier in the week, TUAW featured a post about a special, one-of-a-kind Leica M camera that was designed by Apple's Jony Ive and his close friend, designer Marc Newson. The camera was created for Product (Red) and a charity auction that's scheduled for November 23 at Sotheby's in New York. Vanity Fair's Paul Goldberger interviewed the two designers about design, the auction and their friendship, revealing some fascinating stories and facts. Ive and Newson have been good friends for years; their families actually spend time together each July at Britain's Goodwood Festival of Speed. While Ive has become well-known as the designer of Apple's mass-market products, Newson is best known for some of his more rare and handcrafted works like 1986's "Lockheed Lounge." One single example of this rare (10 were made) chaise lounge sold at auction in 2009 for US$1.6 million. The two designers share a passion for understanding the materials of which their products are crafted; in the Vanity Fair post, Ive highlighted that passion by saying that "We are both fanatical in terms of care and attention to things people don't see immediately. It's like finishing the back of a drawer. Nobody's going to see it, but you do it anyway." Newson concurred, replying that "You discover that very few people have the level of perfection we do. It is actually very sick. It is neurotic." As for the co-designed Leica M camera and the other items selected (and in some cases modified) by Ive and Newson for the Product (Red) auction, it should be a big moneymaker for the charity. U2 frontman Bono, who co-founded the charity in 2006, has his own idea as to who will walk away with the camera: "Jony and Marc are so excited about this, that I think what will really happen is that they are going to outbid each other to see who gets the Leica." Mocoloco also reports that Ive and Newson have designed a one-of-a-kind aluminum desk for the Product (Red) auction.
[1].jpg.cf.jpg)
The Jony Ive-designed limited edition Leica M for (RED) camera
Last month we told you that Jony Ive was working on a limited edition Leica M camera to be auctioned off for The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Well, that very limited edition camera -- there is only one -- has been unveiled. According to Leica's Google+ post, the camera took 85 days to create and required a total of 561 models and nearly 1,000 prototype parts. Ive was assisted by his good friend and fellow designer Marc Newson on the project. The camera "features a laser-machined aluminum body and an anodized aluminum outer shell," and has "a full-format CMOS sensor, high performance processor and new Leica APO-Summicron -M 50mm f/2 ASPH lens." Provided you have very deep pockets, you can participate in the auction at Sotheby's on November 23, 2013 and the one-of-a-kind camera could be yours.
Jony Ive-designed Leica M emerges ahead of November charity auction
Ever wondered what happened to Sir Jonathan Ive's custom-designed Leica M? Wonder no more, because the one-a-kind camera has been spotted in the November edition of Vanity Fair. A render of the Apple-inspired Leica M shows one of two original pieces designed by Ive in collaboration with influential Australian designer Marc Newson set to be auctioned as part of a (RED) auction at Sotheby's New York in November. The German camera maker reportedly spent more than 2,149 hours and used 55 engineers to manufacture 561 models with nearly 1000 prototype parts, which may not be surprising given Ive's fascination with aluminum. For their part, Ive and Newson spent more than a year and a half curating the 40 auction items for the original collection, including an 18 carat rose gold pair of Apple EarPods and a limited edition 2012 Range Rover. Considering the hefty list prices a regular Leica can fetch for, we might just have to postpone purchasing that super yacht.
Jony Ive, Craig Federighi chat with USA Today
In anticipation of Apple's worldwide iPhone launch this Friday, Apple executives have been hitting the interview circuit. Earlier today, we pointed to a Businessweek interview with Tim Cook, Craig Federighi and Jony Ive; and now comes yet another chat with Apple's higher-ups courtesy of USA Today. In detailing why iOS 7 does away with the skeuomorphism so favored by Steve Jobs and Scott Forstall, Jony Ive explains: When we sat down last November (to work on iOS 7), we understood that people had already become comfortable with touching glass, they didn't need physical buttons, they understood the benefits," says Ive. "So there was an incredible liberty in not having to reference the physical world so literally. We were trying to create an environment that was less specific. It got design out of the way." On the same note, Craig Federighi explains that graphical improvements in mobile devices have somewhat negated the need for previous iOS mainstays like drop shadows. "This is the first post-Retina (display) UI (user interface), with amazing graphics processing thanks to tremendous GPU (graphics processing unit) power growth, so we had a different set of tools to bring to bear on the problem as compared to seven years ago (when the iPhone first launched)," he says. "Before, the shadowing effect we used was a great way to distract from the limitations of the display. But with a display that's this precise, there's nowhere to hide. So we wanted a clear typography." Ive jumps in. "Yes, we wanted to defer to the content, and just get out of the way." There's a whole lot of interesting information in the interview, and seeing as how interviews with Apple executives are rather hard to come by given the secretive nature of the company, the USA Today piece is certainly worth reading in its entirety.
Tim Cook, Jony Ive and Craig Federighi chat with Bloomberg Businessweek
On the eve of the iPhone 5c and 5s launch, Apple executives Tim Cook, Craig Federighi and Jony Ive sat down for an all-encompassing interview with Bloomberg Businessweek. It's not often that Apple execs sit down for in-depth interviews, but when it happens, it is usually chock-full of interesting information. The Businessweek interview is no different. One of the many persistent criticisms regarding Apple's iPhone strategy is that the company needs a cheap handset to appeal to more cost-conscious consumers. Cook, however, explained that Apple's business model isn't predicated on churning out low-value devices at cheap price points. To Cook, the mobile industry doesn't race to the bottom, it splits. One part does indeed go cheap, with commoditized products that compete on little more than price. "There's always a large junk part of the market," he says. "We're not in the junk business." The upper end of the industry justifies its higher prices with greater value. "There's a segment of the market that really wants a product that does a lot for them, and I want to compete like crazy for those customers," he says. "I'm not going to lose sleep over that other market, because it's just not who we are. Fortunately, both of these markets are so big, and there's so many people that care and want a great experience from their phone or their tablet, that Apple can have a really good business." Later on in the interview, Cook drives the point home, noting that Apple never preoccupied itself with the idea that it had to develop a low-cost phone. "Our primary objective," Cook explained, "is to sell a great phone and provide a great experience, and we figured out a way to do it at a lower cost." The article also touches on the close collaboration between Ive -- Apple's design guru -- and Federighi -- Apple's senior VP of software engineering. Indeed, one of the predominant mantras heralded by Cook following the ouster of Scott Forstall was that Apple needed to "encourage even more collaboration" between the company's various teams. With desks that are reportedly just a one-minute walk from one another, Ive and Federighi have worked closely together for quite some time. What makes that collaboration work is the two men's shared focus on usability and simplicity. Sit down with top executives from, say, Samsung's mobile division, and you'll probably hear a great deal about how much the company listens to the market and can move to address global needs with astonishing alacrity. Ive and Federighi will spend 10 minutes talking about how hard they worked to perfect iOS 7's blurred-background effect. "I think, very often, you can't call out by attribute or name areas of value," says Ive regarding what people look for when using a product. "But I do think that we sense when somebody has cared. And one thing that is incontrovertible is how much we've cared." With respect to Apple's chief competitor in the smartphone space -- Android -- Cook appears to be unfazed by Android's ever-increasing market share. For Cook, the true metrics that matter are customer satisfaction and actual device usage. Does a unit of market share matter if it's not being used?" Cook asks. "For us, it matters that people use our products. We really want to enrich people's lives, and you can't enrich somebody's life if the product is in the drawer." There's a whole lot more to digest in the full article and it's well worth checking out. From Cook's view on Apple's share price to his views on Android fragmentation, the Businessweek interview provides a rare glimpse into the minds who help churn out some of the world's most popular products. You can check out the story in its entirety over here.
Jony Ive creates solid gold EarPods for charity auction
At an upcoming Sotheby's auction, folks will be able to bid on a pair of solid gold 18k EarPods designed by Apple design guru Jony Ive and industrial designer Marc Newson. In addition to golden EarPods, there will be a number of other items up for auction, all curated by Ive and Newson. "It's been a fantastic honor to curate this collection of objects with Marc for the auction at Sotheby's," Ive explained. "Each piece represents the value of thoughtful design. What we create for each other is not only a comment on our culture, but of course in many ways defines it. (RED) is making a difference in the lives of millions of people and we're humbled to make this contribution to such an important and worthy cause." Other items on the auction block include a unique Leica digital rangefinder camera, a grand piano from Steinway & Sons, artwork contributed by Banksy, a Russian cosmonaut suit, an Ive-customized 2012 Range Rover and a whole lot more. The auction, organized by U2's Bono for the benefit of his Project (RED) charity, will take place on November 23 in New York.
Give me a break: The Kit Kat parody video
The fun news yesterday from Google World Dominance Headquarters was the announcement of Android 4.4 "KitKat." The new OS name follows in the footsteps of other sugary monikers like "Jelly Bean," "Donut" and the ever-popular "Ice Cream Sandwich." It's also the first sponsored OS name, blessed with the name of Nestlé's crunchy chocolate wafer bar confection. In keeping with the general tone of mockery between Google and arch-rival Apple, the Kit Kat (confection) team developed a video that parodies the general tone of Apple's product intro videos featuring Jony Ive. Take a break from your day and enjoy a crispy, crunchy video that's perfect with all liquid accessories:
