In a significant shake-up at Apple, the company’s design genius, Jony Ive, has taken on a new role: Chief Design Officer. This move elevates him above his previous status as Senior Vice President (SVP) and installs Richard Howarth as the new head of Industrial Design, while Alan Dye takes over as head of User Interface.
More Time to Focus on Design
In an interview with the Telegraph, Ive explained that his new role will give him more time to focus on actual design work. He noted that he’s shedding some administrative and management duties to his two new lieutenants, Howarth and Dye, who will take care of day-to-day managerial responsibilities. This change should allow Ive to concentrate on both UI and ID design, as well as have direct control over retail store design around the world.
A Comfortable Move for Jony Ive
Ive has often been described as someone who prefers to focus on the craft of design rather than administrative tasks. In a book detailing his life and work at Apple, Leander Kahney noted that Ive has sometimes been uncomfortable with the administrative side of business. This change should allow him to return to his true passion – creating innovative designs.
What’s Next for Jony Ive
In his new role, Ive will have more freedom to travel and spend time at various Apple locations beyond the secretive Cupertino lab where products are refined. One such destination is Campus 2, the site of ongoing construction on Apple’s ambitious new headquarters. Ive has been deeply involved in this project, which has been described as a "spaceship" by the press.
The Impact on Apple’s Design Language
Both the Telegraph’s interview and an internal memo to employees secured by 9to5Mac indicate that this change will expand Ive’s control over Apple’s design language. With Dye and Howarth taking over day-to-day responsibilities, Ive will have more time to focus on creating innovative designs. This should lead to an expansion of Apple’s unique industrial design language in all facets of the company.
A Statement from Apple
Apple provided a statement regarding the role change: "We are thrilled to announce that Jony Ive has been promoted to the newly created position of Chief Design Officer at Apple. In this new role, he will focus entirely on current design projects, new ideas and future initiatives. Jony’s day-to-day managerial responsibilities will be handed off to his longtime collaborators Richard Howarth, VP of Industrial Design, and Alan Dye, VP of User Interface Design."
What This Means for Apple
This change should have significant implications for Apple’s design language and overall product development. With Ive having more time to focus on actual design work, we can expect to see even more innovative and unique designs from the company in the future.
New Roles for Richard Howarth and Alan Dye
Richard Howarth will take over as head of Industrial Design, while Alan Dye becomes head of User Interface Design. Both have worked closely with Ive in the past and have been instrumental in creating some of Apple’s most iconic products.
About Jony Ive
Jony Ive is a British designer who has been credited with developing Apple’s innovative and unique industrial design language over the past couple of decades. He joined Apple in 1992 and became Senior Vice President (SVP) in 2001. Under his leadership, Apple introduced some of its most iconic products, including the iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
Richard Howarth
Richard Howarth has worked with Ive for over two decades and was a key member of the teams behind the design of each new iPhone and Mac in that time. He will now take on the role of head of Industrial Design at Apple.
Alan Dye
Alan Dye originally worked in marketing and communications at Apple but moved to Ive’s team to help with user interface design. He was instrumental in creating the user interface for the Apple Watch and has been profiled in that role by various publications.
Conclusion
Jony Ive’s new role as Chief Design Officer will likely have a significant impact on Apple’s design language and overall product development. With more time to focus on actual design work, we can expect to see even more innovative and unique designs from the company in the future.
