At the end of last month, Apple’s iconic designer Jony Ive announced his departure from the company, bringing an end to his journey of 27 years at the company. The move was a shock to almost everyone, as Ive has been involved in many of Apple’s popular products for years.
Following the announcement, there have been multiple reports of Ive slowly moving away from his job at Cupertino. Bloomberg reported last week that Ive was cutting down on his responsibilities as early as 2015, coming into the Apple HQ as little as twice a week. And now, a new report from WSJ is shedding some light on the reason behind Ive’s departure.
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According to the WSJ, Ive was apparently “dispirited” by CEO Tim Cook. Sources told the publication that Cook showed “little interest in the product development” process, frustrating Ive. Cook was more focused on the operations side of things, and showed little interest in the design process of products. Ive even had different plans for the Apple Watch, and he wanted to position it as a fashion accessory rather than an accessory for the iPhone. That lead to him clashing with Apple executives, and he was increasingly frustrated with the Apple board being filled with directions with no background in Apple’s business or culture.
WSJ also noted that the Apple design team “craved” to be around him, but Ive slowly cutting down his responsibilities and showing up less was “disappointing” for Apple designers.
Apple will, obviously, continue to work with Ive through his new independent design firm LoveFrom. The company is reportedly going to be paying “millions of dollars” every year to work with Ive’s LoveFrom, and Ive will likely continue to play a huge role in Apple’s future products.
BrianEricFord
<p>All of this seems like an awful lot of ink to say that Ive was burnt out.</p>
skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#438933">In reply to BrianEricFord:</a></em></blockquote><p>I have no idea if the reports are true but if they are, they don't really support the idea of being burnt out. I don't think starting a new company in which you are doing essentially the same sort of work you were doing before is what a burned out person would do particularly if money is not an issue. It sounds more like being dissatisfied with your current job and deciding to change it.</p>
BrianEricFord
<blockquote><em><a href="#438961">In reply to skane2600:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>He’s not doing essentially the same thing at his new company unless you think his new company is going to be focused on designing computer products, answering to someone other than himself and a business partner.</p><p><br></p><p>That’s not the impression I get about his new venture at all. I think he’s going to be designing niche products based on his whims where the primary consideration will be pushing the boundaries of industrial design and aesthetics (and perhaps his increasing interest in architecture). It’s basically the complete opposite of what he was tasked with at Apple.</p>
skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#438966">In reply to BrianEricFord:</a></em></blockquote><p>We don't know yet what exactly he intends to do but a desire to not have to answer to your old boss is more a sign of dissatisfaction than burn out. And I don't believe that designing non-computer products (if in fact that's what he ends up doing) is substantially different than what he's been doing at Apple. It's all design.</p>
BrianEricFord
<blockquote><em><a href="#438942">In reply to oscar1:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>You’ve been wrong before and you’re wrong again.</p>
BrianEricFord
<blockquote><em><a href="#438965">In reply to locust infested orchard inc:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I do think you’re right about what it’s supposed to say but 1) millions a year could be a pittance and 2) I bet it’s mostly untrue.</p>