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Sir Jony Ive Leaves Apple to Start His Own Design Firm

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Jony Ive and Tim Cook at the September 2018 launch of iPhone XR (via Apple)

Sir Jony Ive is leaving Apple later this year to form his own design firm.

But while you can take the man out of Cupertino, you can’t take Cupertino out of the man: Apple will be among Ive’s primary clients, according to a news release.

“Jony is a singular figure in the design world and his role in Apple’s revival cannot be overstated,” CEO Tim Cook said in a statement, citing the Brit’s work on 1998’s “groundbreaking” iMac, the popular iPhone, and Apple Park corporate HQ.

Born and raised in London, Ive studied design at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle. He formally joined Apple in 1992.

Lack of early commercial success prompted Ive to nearly quit on multiple occasions. Steve Jobs’ impending return and the promise of a revitalized company, however, convinced him to stay.

Ive became Apple’s senior vice president of industrial design in 1997—his first assignment to develop the all-in-one iMac, which paved the way for other iDevices (pod, phone, and pad).

In 2013, he was named Senior Vice President of Design, and two years later was promoted to chief design officer (CDO).

“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,” Ive said. “Today it is stronger, more vibrant, and more talented than at any point in Apple’s history.”

In his wake, Ive leaves no immediate successor. Instead, design team leaders Evans Hankey (vice president of Industrial Design) and Alan Dye (vice president of Human Interface Design) will report to Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, who led the development of Apple Watch.

“The team will certainly thrive under the excellent leadership of Evans, Alan and, Jeff, who have been among my closest collaborators,” Ive continued. “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.”

Ive’s new creative business, called LoveFrom, will launch fully in 2020. Details are scant, but the Financial Times reported that longtime friend and fellow Apple designer Marc Newson will join the firm.

“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,” Cook said. “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.”

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