Apple today announced that Jony Ive, Chief Design Officer (CDO) of Apple company is leaving the company. Ive plans to start its own independent design firm, LoveFrom, and will work as one of its primary customers with Apple. The Cupertino company says in a statement issued by Apple that I ve will “continue working closely with Apple on a range of projects.”
See what Tim Cook, CEO of Apple had to say this about Jony Ive:
“Jony is a singular figure in the design world and his role in Apple’s revival cannot be overstated, from 1998’s groundbreaking iMac to the iPhone and the unprecedented ambition of Apple Park, where recently he has been putting so much of his energy and care,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “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. 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.”
Apple has divided the role of Chief Design Officer. Design team leaders Evans Hankey was promoted to Industrial Design Vice President, and Alan Dye was promoted to Human Interface Design Vice President. Both of them will report to the Chief Operating Officer of Apple, Jeff Williams.
Ive joined Apple in 1992 and since 1996 has led the design team. Since 2012, Ive has been leading the hardware and software, design teams. Apple seems to have planned his departure, though. It promoted Ive as Chief Design Officer back in December 2015, a more executive, non-creative role. At the end of 2015, after a two-year break, he regained management of the design teams.
I ve’s new independent design firm, LoveForm, is currently headquartered in California. In addition to Apple, the company will work with other companies.
