Apple's Jony Ive nearly gave up on industrial design in college

Posted:
in General Discussion edited February 2014
More than 20 years ago, renowned designer Tom Karen helped to shape Apple's future when he took on the task of talking a teenaged Jonathan Ive out of giving up on a future in industrial design.

Tom Karen
Tom Karen and some of his more famous designs, including the Bond Bug, Raleigh Chopper, Bush TR130 radio, and Aircruiser II concept jetliner.


Ive's father met Karen when the two served as judges for a student design competition. Concerned about his son's future, the elder Ive asked Karen to intervene when it appeared that Jonathan was reconsidering his choice of career, Karen recalled for the Telegraph.

"He got in touch with me a bit later and said, my son Jonathan's at university in Newcastle and is thinking about giving up his industrial design course," Karen said. "Maybe you could revive his interest?"

Karen invited the Ives to the offices of Ogle Design, the firm at which Karen served as managing director and chief designer. Under Karen, Ogle was responsible for the design of iconic 1970s British products like the Raleigh Chopper bicycle and Bond Bug three-wheeled microcar.

The tour had the desired effet, rekindling the younger Ive's interest in design. "The outcome was that Jonathan stuck to industrial design and made a huge success of it," Karen added.

Ive went on to co-found design consultancy Tangerine and was brought on as a consultant at Apple in 1992, later joining the company full-time. He was promoted to Senior Vice President of Industrial Design upon Steve Jobs's return in 1997 and is now considered of the best designers in the world, earning a knighthood in 2012 for his work.
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Comments

  • Reply 2 of 45
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,801member
    I think this just goes to show anyone who is thinking about giving up to never give up. Doesn't matter how hard it may seem, don't ever give up and you'll eventually be rewarded. Things may seem impossible to learn at times but if you push through, you'll likely end up where you want to be. It's just that sometimes people have to work grades than others to get there and I know that can be frustrating to those that do have to work harder.

    I myself are glad he stayed. As much as we all think of Steve at Apple as the genius, I think Jony Ive is just as much of a genius as anyone and still continues to be to this day. When he leaves Apple, this will be nearly as big of a loss as losing Steve IMO.
  • Reply 3 of 45
    kibitzerkibitzer Posts: 1,114member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by macxpress View Post



    I myself are glad he stayed.

    Apparently you yourself constitute a plurality! <img class=" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />

  • Reply 4 of 45
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,801member
    kibitzer wrote: »
    Apparently you yourself constitute a plurality! :lol:

    Sorry, didn't know the grammar police was here. :)
  • Reply 5 of 45

    You can work  hard at something but if you don't have the innate ability and talent you're not going to reach the peak of that field no mater how hard you try. I love football but I know I will never be in the NFL. Jony Ive has the natural talent and ability.

  • Reply 6 of 45

    I hope that he never gives up.  The world of design would seem so sterile without him.

  • Reply 7 of 45
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,801member
    ralphmouth wrote: »
    You can work  hard at something but if you don't have the innate ability and talent you're not going to reach the peak of that field no mater how hard you try. I love football but I know I will never be in the NFL. Jony Ive has the natural talent and ability.

    You don't always have to be at the peak to succeed. It depends on what you want to do. You'll never be given the chance if you give up on yourself.
  • Reply 8 of 45
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by macxpress View Post





    Sorry, didn't know the grammar police was here. image

     

    The grammar police were here. <img class=" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />

  • Reply 9 of 45
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,092member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by macxpress View Post



    I myself are glad he stayed. As much as we all think of Steve at Apple as the genius, I think Jony Ive is just as much of a genius as anyone and still continues to be to this day. When he leaves Apple, this will be nearly as big of a loss as losing Steve IMO.



    Jony has a great team of people working with him.  Like Steve did, I only hope that Jony's legacy also includes having someone that follows his footsteps in design and beliefs.

  • Reply 10 of 45
    kibitzerkibitzer Posts: 1,114member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ddawson100 View Post

     

     

    The grammar police were here. <img class=" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />


    They was? :D

  • Reply 12 of 45
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    duplicate post....damn you stupid Safari crashes
  • Reply 13 of 45
    hill60hill60 Posts: 6,992member

    That Ives guy should have given up, all that boring, simplistic and pure stuff a real designer would have come up with things like this real design work:-

     

     

    /s

  • Reply 14 of 45
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member

    I have a dream I ain't given' up on eider.

  • Reply 15 of 45
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,801member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sflocal View Post

     



    Jony has a great time of people working with him.  Like Steve did, I only hope that Jony's legacy also includes having someone that follows his footsteps in design and beliefs.


     

    I hope so too. Jony has played just as much of a part of Apple's success as anyone. He just never gets recognized for it, although I think he likes it that way.

  • Reply 16 of 45
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,092member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ddawson100 View Post

     

     

    The grammar police were here. <img class=" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />




    The grammar police are here?? :\

  • Reply 17 of 45

    Jony Ivy = condescending, pretentious creep

  • Reply 18 of 45
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    Know him personally do you?
  • Reply 19 of 45
    comleycomley Posts: 139member
    macxpress wrote: »
    Sorry, didn't know the grammar police was here. :)
    Well I'm dyslexic I'm screwed
  • Reply 20 of 45
    zabazaba Posts: 226member
    Jony Ivy = condescending, pretentious creep
    For a minute there I thought you were talking about Jony Ive. Who is this Ivy bloke you think is a creep? Do we know him?
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