Apple – 1992-2019 (including as Chief Designer Officer – 2015-2019)
“Has there been a more influential designer in the IT industry than Britain’s own Sir Jony Ive?” former Westcoast Director Alex Tatham remarked as we asked him to justify why he’d put Steve Jobs’ right-hand man in his top five.
Chingford-born Ive is credited with playing a seminal role in the designs of the iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad and MacBook, among other products.
Jobs saw Ive as his “spiritual partner” at Apple, describing him as a “wickedly intelligent person”. Having joined in 1992, Ive left Apple in 2019 to start his own design firm, LoveFrom.
Leadership style
In a rare interview with the New York Times in 2014, Ive talked about the importance of working in small teams, and of blending manufacturing with design.
Jobs reportedly said Ive had “more operational power than anyone else at Apple except me”. “There’s no one who can tell him what to do, or to butt out,” he added.
Low points
Ive reportedly became “dispirited” by the lack of interest in design by Jobs’ successor, Tim Cook, precipitating his departure in 2019.
Killer quote
“It’s very easy to be different, but very difficult to be better.” (taken from Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products by Leander Kahney
What our panellists said about Ive
Alex Tatham, formerly Executive Director, Westcoast
“Has there been a more influential designer in the IT industry than Britain’s own Sir Jony Ive? So many iconic products have come from Apple – that have changed the way the world communicates, listens and collaborates. Not only the iconic products but the software they run and even the stores and office headquarters that sell them – his influence and genius we can be thankful for every day. The products we use are beautiful because of him and his influence has affected not just Apple but all Apple’s competitors too. Even if you aren’t an Apple user – you can appreciate iconic design – and no-one has done more for aesthetics in our wonderful IT industry than Sir Jony Ive.”
Kieran O’Connor, Sales Director, Total Computers
“When talking about Apple, most people immediately think of Steve Jobs as the key to its success. While that’s undeniably true, Jony Ive was just as important. His iconic and revolutionary product designs and philosophy were major reasons customers embraced Apple so passionately. Although he has long since left the company, his ethos continues to influence the entire Apple product range to this day.”
How did IT Channel Oxygen compile The Century’s Greatest Vendor Leaders? See here
