Jonathan Ive ...

[Michael Grove]

THE man behind Apple

Jonathan Ive designs tomorrow. He has transformed computing, phones and

music with his iMac, iBook, iPad, iPhone and iPod. Apple's secrecy and his

modesty means he has never given an in-depth interview - until NOW.

John Arlidge - Sunday Times Magazine

Only one country has made the modern world twice. BRITAIN. 

We industrialised first and paved the way for the mass production of

everything from cogs to togs. Two centuries later, two rather shy blokes

from London have defined the 21st century as the technology century.

Sir Tim Berners-Lee from East Sheen invented the world wide web,

then a chap from Chingford put it in our hands, our pockets and our ears.

We’ve been taking it — him — with us ever since.

We use Jonathan Ive’s products to help us to eat, drink and sleep, to work,

travel, relax, read, listen and watch, to shop, chat, date and have sex. Many

of us spend more time with his screens than with our families. Some of us

like his screens more than our families.

For years, Ive's natural shyness, coupled with the secrecy bordering on paranoia

of his employer, Apple, has meant we have known little about the man who

shapes the future, with such innovations as the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone and

the iPad. but last month, he invited me to Cupertino in Silicon Valley where

Apple is based, for his first in-depth interview since he became head of design

almost 20 years ago.

For a man whose products are all called i Something, it's surprising that "I"

is one word Ive scarcely uses. He talks constantly about his team or Jobs, using

"we". This is not "aw-shucks" falls modesty or darkish US corporate-speak.

"I don't like being singled out for attention. Designing, engineering and making

these products requires large teams" he says.

The simple truth is, Ive hates fuss and relishes simplicity. You can see that

from his products. They may be revolutionary, hi-tech magic boxes, but

they look so elegantly simple that you know what they are for and how to

use them the moment you first pick them up.

Prior to joining Apple, Jonathan co-founded his own design studio in London, Tangerine, with Martin Darbyshire. It is here where Ive commercialised his design skills, creating products ranging from hair combs and power tools to television and ceramics.  One of Tangerine's large clients was Apple, and it is here where Jonathan began his career with Apple, when he moved to California in 1992 to work with them full-time.

"WHEN you think about technology and what it has enabled us to do so far, we're not even close to any kind of limit. It's still so, so new"

                                                                 Jonathan Ive 

[Michael Grove]

THIS REPORT is the latest research report in a sustained effort

throughout 2014 by the Pew Research Center Internet Project to

mark the 25th anniversary of the creation of the World Wide Web

by Sir Tim Berners-Lee (The Web at 25).

[Michael Grove]

[Michael Grove]

  Strange to remember however, that when I first arranged a meeting

  at Apple UK HQ then in Hemel Hempstead, to discuss the IDEA

  of Interactive Multimedia Communications, following the BBC

  demonstration of the world's first PAL Interactive Video System, 

  at the World Trade Centre in London, that they apologised for not

  having a meeting room available for discussions, so would I mind

  using the canteen !!!

  Needless to say this was in hindsight the very beginning of my

  long-term relationship with Apple and their enthusiastic support

  for ALL THINGS MULTIMEDIA  which subsequently led to the

  establishment of a European-wide network of Interactive Multimedia

  Bureaux, that encompassed the integration and utilisation of every

  aspect of Large Format Desk Top Printing and publishing. I even

  supplied a custom designed system to Oxford University Press, for

  the purpose of creating a digital archive of every piece of hand drawn

  multi-colour artwork ever created by OUP.