Cupertino-based technology giant Apple has announced that its chief design officer, Jony Ive, is leaving the company. Post the announcement, the company’s stock dropped by 1%.
It is worth mentioning that Ive is considered to be one among the most important people at Apple and he was responsible for the look and feel as well as the industrial design of all major products by the company. He even looks after the design of the iPhone and Mac. Ive has been working at Apple for more than 20 years.
We should add that Ive will be starting his own design business called LoveFrom. According to a report in Financial Times, he will be accompanied in this venture by his friend and designer Marc Newson. Apple has confirmed that the company will be a client of Ive’s business.
Speaking to Financial Times, Ive said, “While I will not be an employee, I will still be very involved — I hope for many, many years to come. This just seems like a natural and gentle time to make this change.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook also spoke about Ive leaving the company. In a statement, he said, “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.”
Nobody would be succeeding Ive immediately at Apple. The company has confirmed that Evans Hanky, vice president of Industrial Design, and Alan Dye, vice president of Human Interface Design, would be assuming the additional design responsibilities.
Apple has also said that both the designers would now report to Jeff Williams, the company’s chief operating officer. On the other hand, Ive reported directly to CEO Tim Cook.
Apple Park, the company’s $5 billion campus in Cupertino, California was one among the things Ive primarily focussed on during the last few years. Apple officially opened its new headquarters last month, for which, it also hosted a concert on the campus.
Speaking further to Financial Times, Ive said, “There were some significant projects that I feel like I’ve completed. For example, Apple Park — this was a project that started in 2004 . . . A couple of weeks ago we had our official opening of the Park. That was a really significant project, that was unlike many of our others because it was for us.”
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