Apple's chief designer Jony Ive is leaving Apple and will form his independent company by continuing to work with Apple as a client - Ivy will leave his role at the company later this year, as announced by Apple today. 

Sir Jony Ive has served Apple’s chief design officer for more than 20 years, and he was responsible for creating new designs and directing special projects of Apple as integral to the appeal of a personal computer as its power and speed.

In his new company, while he pursues personal projects, Ive will continue to work closely and on a range of projects with Apple. Ive, 52,  studied art and design at Newcastle Polytechnic (now Northumbria University). 

After graduating in 1989, he cofounded Tangerine, a London-based design consultancy that counted Apple among its clients. In 1992 Apple offered Ive a full-time position at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. He accepted, but it was not until Apple cofounder Steve Jobs returned to the troubled company as CEO in 1997 that the real impact of Ive’s design ethos began to be felt.

Ive became Lead Designer of Apple’s design studio in 1996. His first assignment was the iMac, then he continued to work on other designs such as the iPod, iPhone and the iPad. 

Jony Ive and Tim Cook at the September 2018 launch of iPhone XR. Image © Apple

"Jony is a singular figure in the design world and his role in Apple’s revival cannot be overstated"

"Jony is a singular figure in the design world and his role in Apple’s revival cannot be overstated, from 1998’s groundbreaking iMac to the iPhone and the unprecedented ambition of Apple Park, where recently he has been putting so much of his energy and care," said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. 

"Apple will continue to benefit from Jony’s talents by working directly with him on exclusive projects, and through the ongoing work of the brilliant and passionate design team he has built. After so many years working closely together, I’m happy that our relationship continues to evolve and I look forward to working with Jony long into the future."

Design team leaders Evans Hankey, vice president of Industrial Design, and Alan Dye, vice president of Human Interface Design, will report to Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. Both Dye and Hankey have played key leadership roles on Apple’s design team for many years. Williams has led the development of Apple Watch since its inception and will spend more of his time working with the design team in their studio.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Jony Ive also worked on Apple's major projects and flagship stores such as Foster + Partners-designed Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, which is one of the major projects that Ive worked on.

"Today Apple is stronger, more vibrant and more talented than at any point in Apple’s history"

"After nearly 30 years and countless projects, I am most proud of the lasting work we have done to create a design team, process and culture at Apple that is without peer. Today it is stronger, more vibrant and more talented than at any point in Apple’s history," said Ive.

"The team will certainly thrive under the excellent leadership of Evans, Alan and Jeff, who have been among my closest collaborators. I have the utmost confidence in my designer colleagues at Apple, who remain my closest friends, and I look forward to working with them for many years to come."

Apple’s design team, recognized with countless design awards, brings together creatives from around the world representing multiple disciplines, including user interface, industrial design, graphic and font design, haptics and sound design.

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Jony Ive and Tim Cook at the September 2018 launch of iPhone XR. Image courtesy of AFP.

Ive's new company will be called "LoveFrom"

According to an article published by Financial Times, Ive's company will be named as "LoveFrom" and will be working with Apple as his first client. Ive will be joined by famed designer Marc Newson on the new venture. Despite Ive's stepping down from his executive role from the company, the designer will be involved in a range of projects with Apple. 

Top image: Jony Ive © Getty Images

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