Veteran Apple designer
Jony Ive, the one who designed the first iPhone, opened up about his experience working alongside the company’s co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs, describing their collaboration as “the most joyful and extraordinary 15 years of my life.” In a recent episode of the “Life in Seven Songs” podcast, Ive shared insights into his relationship with the Jobs and their creative partnership.
Ive, who was responsible for the iconic designs of products like the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook, joined Apple in 1992 but didn’t meet Jobs until 1997. The designer recalled an instant connection when they first met. “It’s a feeling I think that we both had, which was just this remarkable click,” Ive said.
Their partnership began when Jobs appointed Ive as Apple’s senior vice president of industrial design in 1997. Ive described their daily routine, saying, “We worked together for nearly 15 years. We had lunch together most days and spent our afternoons in the sanctuary of the design studio.”
Ives on Steve Jobs: “The most curious human I have ever met”Ive praised Jobs’ unique approach to innovation and learning. “He was without doubt the most curious human I have ever met,” Ive stated. He emphasised Jobs’ willingness to explore new ideas, noting that “for Steve, wanting to learn was far more important than wanting to be right.”
The designer also highlighted Jobs’ commitment to simplicity and quality in product design. “He truly believed that by making something great for people, something empowering, beautiful and culturally significant, we express our gratitude and our love for humanity,” Ive explained.
“I think about Steve every day,” Ive’s after the passing of Jobs
After Jobs’ death in 2011, Ive delivered a eulogy at a celebration of Jobs’ life on the Apple campus. In the years since, Ive has continued to reflect on their friendship and collaboration. “I think about Steve every day,” he said.
Ive left Apple in 2019 to start his own design firm, LoveFrom. He attributes the name of his new venture to “Steve’s singular and powerful motivation.”
Looking back on their time together, Ive expressed deep gratitude for their partnership. “There’s not a day that I’m not aware of him or aware of the loss,” he said. “There’s not a day where I’m not grateful for the time, you know, that we got together and for what I learned and what we discovered.”
