After 30 years and several legendary designs at Apple, the firm’s Chief Design Officer Jony Ive has announced his plans to leave to establish his own design company.
Apple will be one of Ive’s design firm’s initial clientele, working closely on a range of projects with Apple.
An official explanation from Ive read, “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,” it explains, “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.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement, “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,” the statement continued to say, “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.”
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At Apple, Ive led a world class design team to work on numerous products including Macs, the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, among many others.
Ive also played a major role in the design of Apple’s spaceship themed campus in Cupertino, California, as well as the look of its classy retail stores.
