Jony Ive has left the building
Former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive has officially left the company
When he announced his departure from Apple, Ive said, “After nearly 30 years and countless projects, I am most proud of the lasting work we have done to create a design team, process and culture at Apple that is without peer. Today it is stronger, more vibrant and more talented than at any point in Apple’s history. The team will certainly thrive under the excellent leadership of Evans, Alan, and Jeff, who have been among my closest collaborators. I have the utmost confidence in my designer colleagues at Apple, who remain my closest friends, and I look forward to working with them for many years to come.”
…but he is no longer seen on the page
A report in the Wall Street Journal had blamed Ive’s decision to leave Apple on what it called his unhappiness with the design direction that Apple was heading in. But that report was denied by Tim Cook and Apple’s CEO called it “Absurd” saying that the Journal’s story is not based in reality.
Meanwhile, Ive and designer Marc Newson have created a new firm called LoveFrom that will include Apple among its clients. Cook says that Ive’s new company will work with Apple on “exclusive projects.”
Back in June, Cook summed up Ive’s Apple career by saying, “Jony is a singular figure in the design world and his role in Apple’s revival cannot be overstated, from 1998’s groundbreaking iMac to the iPhone and the unprecedented ambition of Apple Park, where recently he has been putting so much of his energy and care. Apple will continue to benefit from Jony’s talents by working directly with him on exclusive projects, and through the ongoing work of the brilliant and passionate design team, he has built. After so many years working closely together, I’m happy that our relationship continues to evolve and I look forward to working with Jony long into the future.”