Apple's Jony Ive promoted to Chief Design Officer
Longtime Apple designer Jony Ive has been promoted from SVP of Design to a new position called Chief Design Officer, which will see the star designer relinquish day-to-day oversight of industrial design and user interface operations to take on a wider array of projects.
Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive (center), flanked by head of User Interface Alan Dye (left) and Industrial Design chief Richard Howarth. | Source: The Telegraph
Revealed by The Telegraph on Monday, Ive will retain leadership of all hardware and UI design initiatives under his new roll as Chief Design Officer. His exact duties have yet to be detailed, but it appears the new position involves an expanded focus into construction projects, specifically Apple's Campus 2 and upcoming Apple Stores.
Taking over industrial design duties is Richard Howarth, who was instrumental in bringing iPhone to life from the first prototypes to its production debut in 2007. Alan Dye is to be named Apple's head of User Interface Design, an important post ultimately responsible for creating the methods by which owners interact with their Apple devices. Dye was largely responsible for the Apple Watch user interface, the report said.
Ive said he will still be in charge of both design departments, but should be able to concentrate on Apple's broader design language after being freed from banal administrative and management work. In a statement provided to Re/code, Apple said Ive will work on current design products, new ideas and future initiatives.
In 2013, Ive became Apple's SVP of Design, a catch-all title reflecting dual roles as chief hardware and human interface designer, the latter passed down by ousted iOS chief Scott Forstall.
Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive (center), flanked by head of User Interface Alan Dye (left) and Industrial Design chief Richard Howarth. | Source: The Telegraph
Revealed by The Telegraph on Monday, Ive will retain leadership of all hardware and UI design initiatives under his new roll as Chief Design Officer. His exact duties have yet to be detailed, but it appears the new position involves an expanded focus into construction projects, specifically Apple's Campus 2 and upcoming Apple Stores.
Taking over industrial design duties is Richard Howarth, who was instrumental in bringing iPhone to life from the first prototypes to its production debut in 2007. Alan Dye is to be named Apple's head of User Interface Design, an important post ultimately responsible for creating the methods by which owners interact with their Apple devices. Dye was largely responsible for the Apple Watch user interface, the report said.
Ive said he will still be in charge of both design departments, but should be able to concentrate on Apple's broader design language after being freed from banal administrative and management work. In a statement provided to Re/code, Apple said Ive will work on current design products, new ideas and future initiatives.
In 2013, Ive became Apple's SVP of Design, a catch-all title reflecting dual roles as chief hardware and human interface designer, the latter passed down by ousted iOS chief Scott Forstall.
Comments
Well deserved!
Ugh. He needs to be relieved of UI Design duties. UI is clearly not his forté.
I'm thinking the fatigue finally got to him. He didn't sound like he was handling the stress well in the interviews. Apple Watch can be his final product, now he steps to a reduced role like Bob Mansfield.
Now we just need Jeff Williams promotion to COO. I certainly think he deserves it.
So is this a good thing or bad thing for Apple investors?
All these people are Ive proteges, and I'm sure Ive got to pick his successor, so I'd say there's not much to worry about. It's not like Jony was the only one coming up with things, he just helped bring order to chaos.
Whatever happens, I hope this'll mean Apple gets over its obsession with thin and start making laptops that are more feature-rich and less port-poor. Every time I think of getting a MacBook Air, I end up asking myself if there's that much difference between it an my iPad with a keyboard. I draw a blank.
Yeah, that whole thing about one having OS X and Windows capability and one having iOS just slips the mind, I suppose.
Btw, Avie Tevanian was promoted to Chief Technology Officer but left Apple a year or so after that. I wouldn't be surprised if Ive retired after Campus 2 is complete. But one difference - when Tevanian was put in that role I don't think he had anyone reporting to him. Apparently Richard Howart and Alan Dye still report to Ive.
Now we just need Jeff Williams promotion to COO. I certainly think he deserves it.
Greatest game ever (Mac Missiles):
Ugh. He needs to be relieved of UI Design duties. UI is clearly not his forté.
Clearly. And the pathetic sales of Apple products running his UI is "clear" evidence of this right? Oh wait, sales have actually exploded, so the only thing that is "clear" is that your meaningless opinion is just that- a useless, meaningless opinion. Try not to pretend it's anything else, with words like "clearly".
DOOOOOOOOOMED
Whatever happens, I hope this'll mean Apple gets over its obsession with thin and start making laptops that are more feature-rich and less port-poor. Every time I think of getting a MacBook Air, I end up asking myself if there's that much difference between it an my iPad with a keyboard. I draw a blank.
To fill in the blank: Mac OS X (if you've only used an iPad, trust me: OS X is a different animal, and great for different things; with a cursor-based UI instead of raising your arm awkwardly to touch).
And I have bad news: the need to combine "portability" with "lots of cords all at once" is only going to diminish in future. Those days are not returning. On the bright side: as we move towards our wireless future, hubs and docks--and different laptop models for different needs--will still be available for the outlier situations.
Actually, the OS X v. iOS thing tilts me heavily toward that iPad. The apps are far cheaper and there seems to be a greater variety of them.
What doesn't work on iOS are complex apps like the Adobe CC ones I use. Touch just can't handle a complex UI. But those are also a no-go on a laptop. Not enough screen space.
In part, it's me. For writing, an iPad plus keyboard is as good as a laptop. For doing layout and editorial work, a desktop is a must. Between the two, there's nothing I need to do that requires a laptop. I've not used my old MacBook in several months.
I used to alternate buying a desktop and a laptop, with the latter doing service as a backup if my desktop died. But with how stripped down Apple's laptops have become in that pursuit of thinnest, they're no longer a substitute for a desktop. Not enough ports. No ability to upgrade the RAM or storage.
Well said. I never understand people who think reality will shift if they add 'clearly' or 'anyone can see' to their post.
According to an all employee memo from Tim Cook he will be focusing on "new ideas and future initiatives". Like Apple car perhaps?