This is all about reducing pressure on Ive and setting in stage a succession plan should Apple ever need one. Ive is as valuable and irreplaceable to the company now as Jobs was during his time. There was no back-up in place. And now there is.
Marc is Creative Director for Quantas Airlines and has similar consulting positions with numerous companies. He is not joining Apple full-time, will not be based in Cupertino and is older than Ive. Jony isn't going anywhere.
Marc is Creative Director for Quantas Airlines and has similar consulting positions with numerous companies. He is not joining Apple full-time, will not be based in Cupertino and is older than Ive. Jony isn't going anywhere.
The Vanity Fair article made it quite clear that he was now an Apple employee. My impression is this chap will be pushing Apple into interesting new areas and influencing their design direction. Ive has his plate full as head of design for products and iOS and OSX. I doubt Jony has the time to make thousands of mockups any more.
The timing of this hire suggests to me that Newson was involved in the design of the iWatch. Consider, if he were involved, then you need to acknowledge this; you wouldn't leave his name absent from the credits. And if the idea was to contract his assistance toward an eventual full-time position, you need to make that public in order to give him proper credit at the iWatch unveiling. Otherwise you'd risk backlash from the pundits suggesting Apple needed to go outside to get the talent needed for the iWatch design; that Jony Ive wasn't up to the task. By making it official the message becomes, Apple is expanding its design team by hiring one of the world's top industrial designers to work with Jony. Apple controls the message.
Consider, if he were not involved, announcing his hiring just prior to the iWatch announcement potentially dilutes Jony Ive's contribution to the design. If the iWatch were all Jony Ive and his existing team, then you'd wait until after the iWatch reveal, where Ive would get full credit without distracting from that credit with the news of this new significant hire, then announce that you are adding to the team to expand its capabilities for future design work.
So I strongly believe Newson worked on the iWatch design under contract with Apple. the project allowed both parties to get a feel for how they could work together and at some point along the way they determined there is a great fit here, and came together on an arrangement to bring him aboard and announce it concurrent with the iWatch reveal (timed just prior to the reveal to allow the announcement its own news cycle for a few days so that it wouldn't distract or take too much focus off the iWatch review news cycle that's about to begin).
Agree 100%. I'm kind of surprised Apple is allowing him to be based out of the UK and work on other projects. I guess this is another sign of Tim Cook relaxing certain policies at Apple.
If Newson worked on any upcoming Apple wearables, I'm sure they will be beautiful based solely on those above photos. However, I'm wondering if Ive didn't want him to come on board to be his 'no' guy. Steve Jobs probably said 'no' a lot more to Jony than we can fathom. Maybe Jony feels that for upcoming products of great magnitude, he needs someone that he values as a designer to say 'no'. This will continue to keep him pushing for the best possible design, rather than resting what he thinks is the best he can do.
I've always wondered how often people said "no" to Steve's ideas but we just never heard about it. We have a few anecdotes like when Apple was working on what would be called iMac and were throwing around names for the product. Phil Schiller came up with MacMan and Steve actually liked it, thinking it paid homage to Sony. Luckily the ad consultants prevailed and we got iMac.
Here is a nice documentary/interview with Newson from BBC. It's in multiple parts, the link is to the first -
Lots of good detail on his designs and a look at how he works.
One thing that concerns me a little, is his ability or lack thereof to function in a highly structured, corporate environment. I don't think he can. So maybe its better that he remains based in UK. Something went wrong in his relationship with Ikepod, with both parties casting aspersions on the other. He was labeled as "difficult" by the Ikepod partners. That label could be nothing more than sour grapes, but there it is. Conversely, his relationship with Jaeger-LeCoultre is strong and both parties are happy with the product. The Atmos clock he designed is really good.
Worth watching again, and you can really see how these 2 compliment and communicate on a very special level with each other.
I was going to skip this video, so thanks for the prompt. It's amazing how they approach the same goal of simplicity from two slightly different but complementary positions, like you say. Definitely have to see this to know how big a deal this is for Apple, and for us ultimately. Even if it just rattles the trees of the droids, like Mac-sochist so well characterizes above, it's a huge step for the value of "design is how it works." They also are saying "design is how it can be made," by the way, a line of thinking I find very revealing.
I've always wondered how often people said "no" to Steve's ideas but we just never heard about it. We have a few anecdotes like when Apple was working on what would be called iMac and were throwing around names for the product. Phil Schiller came up with MacMan and Steve actually liked it, thinking it paid homage to Sony. Luckily the ad consultants prevailed and we got iMac.
Phil came up with the iPod's iconic click wheel.
Collaboration + diversity is more important than a single rockstar "product guy" who owns all the best ideas, despite the "worry" from outsiders who have no clue how Apple's creative process works, and consequently equate the death of Steve to the death of greatness at Apple.
Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but I get a very 1960's space age vibe from the countdown page on Apple's website (I think the colors and font is a big part).
Given Newson's penchant for '60s space age design, I can't help but wonder if that's a sign he's played a big part in the products to be announced on Tuesday.
I was going to skip this video, so thanks for the prompt. It's amazing how they approach the same goal of simplicity from two slightly different but complementary positions, like you say. Definitely have to see this to know how big a deal this is for Apple, and for us ultimately. Even if it just rattles the trees of the droids, like Mac-sochist so well characterizes above, it's a huge step for the value of "design is how it works." They also are saying "design is how it can be made," by the way, a line of thinking I find very revealing.
Oh yes, this is a huge deal!
Apple really does now have the 2 leading industrial designers in the world... that are already good friends... and have previously proven that they can work and create together in harmony to create awesome products. That alone is immense if you've ever been in a design studio and have had to deal with artist egos before(!!!) Now add what I believe as well to be the "secret iWatch project"... and I can only imagine... actually... no I can't... what they've come up with for an elegant solution(s).
Observance from the interview: both of these guys are just crazy deep in design philosophy, processes, etc. and understand what they're talking about, and with each other so very well... that they were at times having a difficult time trying to whittle down their answers so that any one else could possibly understand them. They did a really great job... but you can see a glimpse I think of how they collaborate: a smile here, a raised eyebrow there, or a simple line on paper to communicate a curve (Jony said that). How minimalist and "tuned in" to each other is THAT?!!!
I think there's no (more) doubt that Jony was in deep sorrow at the passing of SJ more than most people realized. He may even some day say he made some "mistakes" after the loss. But damn doesn't that just make him even more cool? He's human... and he needs someone on his level to collaborate with to truly get down to the essence of his designs and ideas. That's the continuous drive and search for perfection that he and SJ had in common and bonded over. Even cooler if he recognized it himself that he needed that bond again with someone he deeply respected, and asked Tim Cook to make it happen with Marc... and without so much as a blink, TC replied with, "Done. When do ya want him to start being on the payroll".
Some people already think I'm a freak... so I'm not afraid to say that just gives a grown man goose bumps if it's anywhere close to what happened!
Agree 100%. I'm kind of surprised Apple is allowing him to be based out of the UK and work on other projects. I guess this is another sign of Tim Cook relaxing certain policies at Apple.
They'll just have a secure connection established between the sites and he'll be able to send CAD information over to Apple to have mockups fabricated. Efficient! Nothing gets lost in the mail.
Another non-American. We Americans have lost our creative edge.
Which is the significance of Apple, the first American company to bring good design in consumer products to the masses. Now it can be thought of as a magnet for good or great designers from all over the world, including whatever number we have home-grown.
The main reason I'm interested in Apple at all is because of this huge shift in American industrial competence. When I was growing up in the Midwest in the 50s, the first thing we wanted to drive was British sports cars, sedans and Volkswagen bugs, later buses. No way would we be caught in American fatso cars that steered like boats. Until now, America has never made sustainable (!) consumer products that would sell in Europe or Japan, except as campy pimpmobiles.
I also think Apple's rise by aesthetics is provoking a reaction of insecurity, like we see with the tea party types, who are in a way cousins to the Android Apple-hater types, like Mac-sochist says above.
Here is a nice documentary/interview with Newson from BBC. It's in multiple parts, the link is to the first - http://youtu.be/uoS71sBKESI
Lots of good detail on his designs and a look at how he works.
One thing that concerns me a little, is his ability or lack thereof to function in a highly structured, corporate environment. I don't think he can. So maybe its better that he remains based in UK. Something went wrong in his relationship with Ikepod, with both parties casting aspersions on the other. He was labeled as "difficult" by the Ikepod partners. That label could be nothing more than sour grapes, but there it is. Conversely, his relationship with Jaeger-LeCoultre is strong and both parties are happy with the product. The Atmos clock he designed is really good.
That BBC program is a really good look at Mark Newson. Gives me hope for Apple's space program. But seriously, he's a genius, as is Jony Ive. What a great move for Apple.
Another non-American. We Americans have lost our creative edge. See: The Tea Party, returning us to the 1860s.... 1600s really.
You went and made this political. Bad 'Zilla!
Federal government overreach is also a very bad thing, as in "ignoring the Constitution"-level bad. The economic collapse and the unprecedentedly large TARP bailouts were the impetus that drove the establishment of the Tea Party movement. If such a thing were to happen again soon, there may very well be an insurrection in America. I think Washington knows this.
Phil came up with the iPod's iconic click wheel.
Collaboration + diversity is more important than a single rockstar "product guy" who owns all the best ideas, despite the "worry" from outsiders who have no clue how Apple's creative process works, and consequently equate the death of Steve to the death of greatness at Apple.
Agree 100%. I don't think Steve was without his bad ideas too. It's just we never hear about them.
Comments
Marc is Creative Director for Quantas Airlines and has similar consulting positions with numerous companies. He is not joining Apple full-time, will not be based in Cupertino and is older than Ive. Jony isn't going anywhere.
The Vanity Fair article made it quite clear that he was now an Apple employee. My impression is this chap will be pushing Apple into interesting new areas and influencing their design direction. Ive has his plate full as head of design for products and iOS and OSX. I doubt Jony has the time to make thousands of mockups any more.
And Scott Forstall while you're at it. Or was he scheduled to save Apple fifteen years from now? /s
Agree 100%. I'm kind of surprised Apple is allowing him to be based out of the UK and work on other projects. I guess this is another sign of Tim Cook relaxing certain policies at Apple.
I've always wondered how often people said "no" to Steve's ideas but we just never heard about it. We have a few anecdotes like when Apple was working on what would be called iMac and were throwing around names for the product. Phil Schiller came up with MacMan and Steve actually liked it, thinking it paid homage to Sony. Luckily the ad consultants prevailed and we got iMac.
or better yet, you can't have two captains on one ship.
But he's not the captain.
That's Cook.
Here is a nice documentary/interview with Newson from BBC. It's in multiple parts, the link is to the first -
Lots of good detail on his designs and a look at how he works.
One thing that concerns me a little, is his ability or lack thereof to function in a highly structured, corporate environment. I don't think he can. So maybe its better that he remains based in UK. Something went wrong in his relationship with Ikepod, with both parties casting aspersions on the other. He was labeled as "difficult" by the Ikepod partners. That label could be nothing more than sour grapes, but there it is. Conversely, his relationship with Jaeger-LeCoultre is strong and both parties are happy with the product. The Atmos clock he designed is really good.
I was going to skip this video, so thanks for the prompt. It's amazing how they approach the same goal of simplicity from two slightly different but complementary positions, like you say. Definitely have to see this to know how big a deal this is for Apple, and for us ultimately. Even if it just rattles the trees of the droids, like Mac-sochist so well characterizes above, it's a huge step for the value of "design is how it works." They also are saying "design is how it can be made," by the way, a line of thinking I find very revealing.
I've always wondered how often people said "no" to Steve's ideas but we just never heard about it. We have a few anecdotes like when Apple was working on what would be called iMac and were throwing around names for the product. Phil Schiller came up with MacMan and Steve actually liked it, thinking it paid homage to Sony. Luckily the ad consultants prevailed and we got iMac.
Phil came up with the iPod's iconic click wheel.
Collaboration + diversity is more important than a single rockstar "product guy" who owns all the best ideas, despite the "worry" from outsiders who have no clue how Apple's creative process works, and consequently equate the death of Steve to the death of greatness at Apple.
Given Newson's penchant for '60s space age design, I can't help but wonder if that's a sign he's played a big part in the products to be announced on Tuesday.
Another non-American. We Americans have lost our creative edge.
Oh yes, this is a huge deal!
Apple really does now have the 2 leading industrial designers in the world... that are already good friends... and have previously proven that they can work and create together in harmony to create awesome products. That alone is immense if you've ever been in a design studio and have had to deal with artist egos before(!!!) Now add what I believe as well to be the "secret iWatch project"... and I can only imagine... actually... no I can't... what they've come up with for an elegant solution(s).
Observance from the interview: both of these guys are just crazy deep in design philosophy, processes, etc. and understand what they're talking about, and with each other so very well... that they were at times having a difficult time trying to whittle down their answers so that any one else could possibly understand them. They did a really great job... but you can see a glimpse I think of how they collaborate: a smile here, a raised eyebrow there, or a simple line on paper to communicate a curve (Jony said that). How minimalist and "tuned in" to each other is THAT?!!!
I think there's no (more) doubt that Jony was in deep sorrow at the passing of SJ more than most people realized. He may even some day say he made some "mistakes" after the loss. But damn doesn't that just make him even more cool? He's human... and he needs someone on his level to collaborate with to truly get down to the essence of his designs and ideas. That's the continuous drive and search for perfection that he and SJ had in common and bonded over. Even cooler if he recognized it himself that he needed that bond again with someone he deeply respected, and asked Tim Cook to make it happen with Marc... and without so much as a blink, TC replied with, "Done. When do ya want him to start being on the payroll".
Some people already think I'm a freak... so I'm not afraid to say that just gives a grown man goose bumps if it's anywhere close to what happened!
They'll just have a secure connection established between the sites and he'll be able to send CAD information over to Apple to have mockups fabricated. Efficient! Nothing gets lost in the mail.
Which is the significance of Apple, the first American company to bring good design in consumer products to the masses. Now it can be thought of as a magnet for good or great designers from all over the world, including whatever number we have home-grown.
The main reason I'm interested in Apple at all is because of this huge shift in American industrial competence. When I was growing up in the Midwest in the 50s, the first thing we wanted to drive was British sports cars, sedans and Volkswagen bugs, later buses. No way would we be caught in American fatso cars that steered like boats. Until now, America has never made sustainable (!) consumer products that would sell in Europe or Japan, except as campy pimpmobiles.
I also think Apple's rise by aesthetics is provoking a reaction of insecurity, like we see with the tea party types, who are in a way cousins to the Android Apple-hater types, like Mac-sochist says above.
That BBC program is a really good look at Mark Newson. Gives me hope for Apple's space program. But seriously, he's a genius, as is Jony Ive. What a great move for Apple.
You went and made this political. Bad 'Zilla!
Federal government overreach is also a very bad thing, as in "ignoring the Constitution"-level bad. The economic collapse and the unprecedentedly large TARP bailouts were the impetus that drove the establishment of the Tea Party movement. If such a thing were to happen again soon, there may very well be an insurrection in America. I think Washington knows this.
iPod hi-fi? iPod socks?