Apple hires superstar designer Marc Newson, to work with personal friend Jony Ive

Posted:
in General Discussion edited October 2014
It was reported on Friday that well-known industrial designer Marc Newson will be joining Apple to work as part of close friend Jony Ive's design team in an as-yet-unannounced capacity.

IveApple SVP of Design Jony Ive (right) discusses design with fellow design superstar and (RED) auction collaborator Marc Newson.


Apple informed Vanity Fair of Newson's hire, saying the renowned designer will remain based in the UK and continue to work on outside projects, but plans on making frequent trips to Cupertino, Calif. to work with Ive's design team. Newson's exact role or title has not been announced.

"Marc is without question one of the most influential designers of this generation," Ive told the publication. "He is extraordinarily talented. We are particularly excited to formalize our collaboration as we enjoy working together so much and have found our partnership so effective."

Ive and Newson have long been friends and the duo recently worked in cooperation with U2's Bono to curate a (RED) charity auction last year that raised some $26 million.

At the time, Newson, along with Ive, spoke to Sotheby's about the tenets of design, a video of which can be found below.



Although his role at Apple remains secret, Newson has designed a number of consumer and bespoke products, including watches and clocks. Among his many projects, which include high-end designs like Jaeger-LeCoulture's Atmos clock, Newson started a Swiss watch company called Ikepod. The watchmaker filed for bankruptcy in 2003 and Newson is no longer affiliated with the firm.

In 2005, Newson was named in Time's 100 most influential people list and his work has been featured by a number of museums including MoMA.

"I'm full of admiration and respect for the extraordinary design work that has been produced by Jony and the team at Apple," Newson said. "My close friendship with Jony has not only given me a unique insight into that process, but the opportunity to work together with him and the people that have been responsible. I am enormously proud to join them."

Newson is Apple's latest high-profile hire and comes on the heels of a Beats acquisition that brought rapper Dr. Dre and music mogul Jimmy Iovine into the fold.

Apple also scooped up former Burberry chief Angela Ahrendts in 2013 to head up retail, while Saint Laurent's Paul Deneve was hired earlier that year to work on "special projects" under CEO Tim Cook.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 126

    Ooooo!  Apple Design Studio!  He could have joined before the iWatch mock ups. :)

    I sincerely hope Ive is not planning to retire and go back to England.  Noooooooo!

  • Reply 2 of 126
    No bleeping way !!! whoa. Very different design aesthetic but what a powerhouse duo.
  • Reply 3 of 126

    Awesome hire! Newson's design abilities are equal to or even above Ive's!!

     

    hy am I feeling Jony might be setting the stage for leaving Apple to pursue something else not related to electronics? 

  • Reply 4 of 126
    nagrommenagromme Posts: 2,834member
    Those are two deadly serious men!

    Good design takes 100 "No"s for every "Yes," and these guys look ready to give you a "No" you won't soon forget.
  • Reply 5 of 126
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by leavingthebigG View Post

     

    Awesome hire! Newson's design abilities are equal to or even above Ive's!!

     

    hy am I feeling Jony might be setting the stage for leaving Apple to pursue something else not related to electronics? 


    I disagree, Ive can do what he wants whenever he wants. I think apple is expanding and has plans for even more expansion. Jony needs help; someone at his level. 2 heads are always better than one.

  • Reply 6 of 126
    williamhwilliamh Posts: 1,032member
    "Under the watch of close friend Jony Ive...." No pun intended, right?
  • Reply 7 of 126
    slurpyslurpy Posts: 5,382member
    Wow, Apple is really intent on hiring the best of the best in every category, that's one hell of a dream team. They're been on a roll with the hiring choices lately.
  • Reply 8 of 126
    sockrolidsockrolid Posts: 2,789member

    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post

     
    Ive


     

    Caption 1: Oy!  Stow.  The bloody.  Camera.  Don't make me come over there!

     

    Caption 2: Marc, this clothing design thing has got me knackered.  I mean, look at me!

     

    Caption 3: Sorry, mate.  No corner office.  The building is round.

  • Reply 9 of 126
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by leavingthebigG View Post

     

    Awesome hire! Newson's design abilities are equal to or even above Ive's!!

     

    hy am I feeling Jony might be setting the stage for leaving Apple to pursue something else not related to electronics? 


    In fact, I felt the same.  two swords cannot stay together. 

  • Reply 10 of 126
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Chandra69 View Post

     

    In fact, I felt the same.  two swords cannot stay together. 




    or better yet, you can't have two captains on one ship.

  • Reply 11 of 126
    calicali Posts: 3,494member
    Awesome hire! Newson's design abilities are equal to or even above Ive's!!

    excuse my lack of knowledge but is this guy really THAT good? I searched and couldn't find much on the guy other than a few cool couches and watches.
  • Reply 12 of 126
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,053member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by leavingthebigG View Post

     

    Awesome hire! Newson's design abilities are equal to or even above Ive's!!

     

    hy am I feeling Jony might be setting the stage for leaving Apple to pursue something else not related to electronics? 


    In electronics, Ive is the king. Where else would he want to go, Samsung? LOL. I bet that Samsung would fire half of design staff in order to have Ive on board, but it will never happen. The last place that Ive would go is an Android/Windows device manufacturer.

  • Reply 13 of 126
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    Well apparently he will be based out of the UK and allowed to work on other projects so I wonder if it's a full time gig.
  • Reply 14 of 126
    gtrgtr Posts: 3,231member
    fallenjt wrote: »
    I bet that Samsung would fire half of design staff in order to have Ive on board...

    Samsung have design staff?
  • Reply 15 of 126
    gtr wrote: »
    Samsung have design staff?
    Of course they do. They named it Apple Design Studio
  • Reply 16 of 126

    Whoa!!! This is huge. Only Apple. The fact that Apple can get the best of the best to work one and two levels under CEO is amazing. I'm very excited for Apple's future products. 

  • Reply 17 of 126
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by CanukStorm View Post

     



    or better yet, you can't have two captains on one ship.


    Sure you can. It used to be Steve Jobs and Jony; talk about two captains of design. I think talented people with very high mutual respect can come at design from different perspectives but end up with the best solution. This broadens their capabilities, keeps the designs fresh...

    I think its awesome! and they have and will work great together.

  • Reply 19 of 126
    calicali Posts: 3,494member
    williamh wrote: »
    "Under the watch of close friend Jony Ive...." No pun intended, right?

    No. It's actually literal. Everyone knows Ive owns the nicest watches and Marc will be working under the watch of close friend Jony Ive.
    jwyatt wrote: »
    Sure you can. It used to be Steve Jobs and Jony; talk about two captains of design. I think talented people with very high mutual respect can come at design from different perspectives but end up with the best solution. This broadens their capabilities, keeps the designs fresh...
    I think its awesome! and they have and will work great together.

    When I read they were close friends, everything made sense.
  • Reply 20 of 126
    Originally Posted by Chandra69 View Post

    In fact, I felt the same.  two swords cannot stay together. 

     

    I have a Daish? that says otherwise.

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