Jony Ive: Legend Departs From Apple

After more than two decades at the helm, responsible for designing some of the world’s most iconic technology products, Jony Ive has announced he will step down as Apple’s chief design officer.

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One could argue Ive’s vision transformed the fate of a once-faded Silicon Valley firm, single-handedly helping Apple become the world’s most valuable brand. This week, we look back on his remarkable career, and ask what’s next for the Cupertino firm…

GOODBYE FROM IVE

When Jony Ive was first introduced to Steve Jobs, he expected to be fired on the spot. At the time, Jobs had made his return to the company and was cutting Apple’s lineup to reduce costs and focus on its core offering. Jobs was responsible for laying off thousands of employees in 1997 in arguably one of Apple’s darkest periods.

Ive, who had only recently been put in charge of design at the company, met Jobs at Apple’s design studio. “He came over to the studio, essentially to fire me,” Ive said in “Becoming Steve Jobs”. In fact, Ive had a resignation letter ready to hand in - but Jobs’ intentions were the opposite. The pair formed a close relationship and worked together to design some of Apple’s most iconic products, taking the company from the brink of bankruptcy to the world’s first trillion-dollar brand. Cast your mind back to candy-colored iMacs, and more recently the iPhone, the iPad, and the Apple Watch. Of course, it took thousands to develop the cutting-edge devices we all know and love today, but Ive’s genius eye that helped Apple edge its competitors on design and aesthetics, positioning itself as a premium brand for everyday consumers.