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Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products

Authors: Leander Kahney, Leander Kahney

Overview

This book explores the life and career of Jony Ive, Apple’s chief design officer, revealing the creative genius behind Apple’s most iconic products. The story goes beyond mere biography, however, instead examining the unique blend of personality, design philosophy, and corporate culture that shaped Ive’s work, as well as the remarkable partnership he forged with Steve Jobs.
I tell the story of how a dyslexic art school student from a London suburb became one of the world’s most influential designers, tracing Jony Ive’s journey from his childhood fascination with taking things apart and putting them back together, through his rigorous design education at Newcastle Polytechnic, to his rise through the ranks at Apple. The book dives into the evolution of his design philosophy, emphasizing simplicity, human-centered design, and an almost fanatical attention to detail.
The story is not just about Jony, however. I also examine the collaborative culture of his design studio, the IDg, Apple’s “Iron Curtain,” as I call it. From early design sketches and hand-built prototypes to the final products, the iterative process, involving constant experimentation, prototyping and refinement, is explored in depth. A recurring theme is the tension between Jony’s relentless pursuit of design perfection and the practical realities of manufacturing, particularly the cost and engineering challenges of bringing his innovative designs to life.
The importance of the partnership between Jony and Steve Jobs cannot be overstated; it was the driving force behind Apple’s creative renaissance. Jony’s influence at Apple is not limited to product design and industrial design. It extends across the company, from hardware to software and even to Apple’s supply chain. This book is intended for a wide audience, from design professionals and technology enthusiasts to anyone interested in the creative process and the inner workings of Apple, one of the world’s most innovative and design-centric companies.

Book Outline

1. School Days

From his early childhood, Jony exhibited an innate curiosity for how objects are designed and made. Even his dyslexia played a part in shaping his unique left-brained approach to design. Encouraged by his father, an educator who himself championed design in British schools, Jony’s fascination with taking objects apart and putting them back together blossomed into a lifelong pursuit of understanding form, function, and the human element in design.

Key concept: “Its hydraulics were so well put together, that it folded out almost with a sigh. I could see the incipient talent that was coming out of Jonathan.” - Ralph Tabberer. This quote, about a folding OHP designed by Jony in high school, perfectly captures the essence of Jony’s design philosophy: A deep understanding of how things are made, how they work, and how design can elevate function into an effortless, almost magical experience.

2. A British Design Education

Jony’s formal design education at Newcastle Polytechnic significantly broadened his horizons. He received rigorous training in a wide range of materials and technologies while also exposed to various design disciplines. This environment not only enhanced his technical skills but also fostered a collaborative approach, contributing to his holistic view of design that considered not only form and function but also human interaction and emotion.

Key concept: “There is a notion in Britain of a T-shaped designer: one with depth of discipline in a single area but also a breadth of empathy for other areas of design.” - Professor Alex Milton. This captures Jony’s well-rounded design education that combined depth in a single area, product design, with exposure to other design disciplines, fostering collaboration and a wider design perspective.

3. Life in London

Jony’s early career in London, before Apple, honed his practical design skills and exposed him to the realities of the design industry. His work at Roberts Weaver Group allowed him to design products for a wide range of clients, but also revealed his distaste for design by committee and the compromises often imposed by client demands.

Key concept: Jony’s design for the TX2 pen: incorporating a ball-and-clip mechanism that served no purpose other than to give the pen’s owner something to fiddle with. Jony was already showcasing his deep understanding of human interaction and emotional design, his almost preternatural ability to tap into the “fiddle factor”.

4. Early Days at Apple

Joining Apple was a turning point in Jony’s career. He was impressed by the design thinking he encountered in California, and especially by Brunner’s vision for human-centered design. His initial projects demonstrated his meticulous approach to detail and ability to solve complex design challenges.

Key concept: “I can’t have people working in cubicle hell. They won’t do it.” - Robert Brunner. Jony’s hiring at Apple was orchestrated by Robert Brunner, who created Apple’s first internal design studio. Brunner’s vision for a self-contained, autonomous design studio within Apple, separate from the engineering-driven culture that prevailed there at the time, proved to be essential to Jony’s future success at Apple.

5. Jobs Returns to Apple

The return of Steve Jobs changed everything at Apple. Recognizing Jony’s design talent, Jobs empowered the design team and instilled a new design-driven philosophy at the company. This shift in focus set the stage for the string of innovative products that would define the Apple brand in the years to come.

Key concept: Jobs’s 2x2 Product Matrix: “Consumer,” “Professional,” “Portable,” and “Desktop.” Jony’s future at Apple was uncertain upon Steve Jobs’s return to the company as interim CEO. Jobs famously slashed Apple’s bloated product line, focusing his turnaround strategy on a simple 2×2 product grid: four core products aimed at both professional and consumer markets. This radical simplification was the beginning of a design-led revolution at Apple.

6. A String of Hits

The iMac was not only a commercial success, but also a design triumph. Its translucent, colorful design was instantly iconic, challenging the prevailing beige-box aesthetic of the time. The iMac established Jony’s reputation as a leading designer and marked the beginning of a creative resurgence at Apple.

Key concept: “It’s very easy to be different, but very difficult to be better.” - Jony Ive. This, about the iPod, perfectly encapsulates Jony’s design philosophy as he applied it to the iMac. The iMac was a huge success, validating Jobs’s faith in Jony’s design vision, and demonstrating Jony’s knack for balancing design aesthetics with technical innovation and manufacturability.

7. The Design Studio Behind the Iron Curtain

The physical design of the studio and the team’s operational processes became as important as the products themselves. This chapter discusses the collaborative and highly iterative nature of the design process, from brainstorming to prototyping and model making. The move from a small studio across from Apple’s headquarters on Infinite Loop to a new purpose-built studio inside the headquarters signaled the growing status of Jony and his team. Inside the new studio, secrecy and security were paramount, earning the space the nickname, “The Iron Curtain.”

Key concept: The Iron Curtain: A nickname Jony’s team adopted for themselves to describe the secrecy around the design studio. This high-security culture ensured no leaks about the design team’s works in progress.

8. Design of the iPod

The development of the iPod was another turning point. Jony’s focus on the user experience and the emotional connection with the product led to a design that was not only functional but also delightful. The iPod’s minimalist design and its innovative scroll wheel set the standard for future generations of music players and portable devices.

Key concept: “In your pocket.” - Stan Ng. This became the mantra for the iPod design, driving the compact size and shaping the iconic design.

9. Manufacturing, Materials and Other Matters

The iMac G4’s distinctive design, with its floating flat screen, was a technological marvel. Jony’s team pushed the boundaries of engineering to create a product that was both beautiful and functional, reflecting his deep understanding of materials and manufacturing processes.

Key concept: “We should let each element be true to itself.” - Steve Jobs, about the iMac G4. Jony applied this same design approach to manufacturing, pioneering friction stir welding and new materials and processes that continue to influence Apple’s manufacturing to this day.

10. The iPhone

The development of the iPhone was a high-stakes endeavor. Jony’s obsession with the screen and user interface, coupled with Steve Jobs’s relentless pursuit of perfection, resulted in a groundbreaking device that redefined the mobile phone industry.

Key concept: The “infinity pool”: Jony’s vision for the iPhone screen: edge-to-edge glass, unmarred by buttons, dials, or physical controls – pure visual experience. This was his North Star in developing what became the defining design feature of the iPhone.

11. The iPad

The iPad, initially met with some skepticism, quickly proved its worth, becoming the most successful consumer product launch in history. The iPad redefined the tablet category and, like the iPod and iPhone before it, demonstrated the power of combining innovative design with intuitive software and robust hardware.

Key concept: “It felt like a new object.” - Chris Stringer, about the iPad. This perfectly captures Jony’s intention of breaking with the past and designing an entirely new product category and a completely unique and original user experience.

12. Unibody Everywhere

The unibody manufacturing process revolutionized how Apple’s laptops and later, phones and tablets, are made. This innovation demonstrated Jony’s increasing influence at Apple, as he pushed the company to adopt radical new manufacturing technologies that prioritized design, quality, and seamless integration of hardware and software.

Key concept: Unibody: A single piece of aluminum, machined down to create the external shell and internal frame for the laptop. The unibody process not only simplified manufacturing and improved product strength and durability, but it also paved the way for even thinner and lighter products.

13. Apple’s MVP

Following Steve Jobs’s death, Jony assumed even greater responsibility at Apple, taking charge of both hardware and software design. This reflected Jobs’s deep trust in Jony’s design vision and his belief that design should permeate every aspect of Apple’s products. Jony’s challenge now is to keep Apple innovative in the post-Jobs era while maintaining the company’s relentless focus on design excellence.

Key concept: “He has 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. That’s the way I set it up.

Essential Questions

1. How did Jony Ive’s upbringing and education shape his approach to design?

Jony Ive’s design philosophy hinges on a deep understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and user experience. From a young age, he displayed a natural curiosity about how objects were made, a trait further developed at Newcastle Polytechnic. This hands-on, iterative approach became integral to his work at Apple, influencing everything from the iPod’s click wheel to the unibody MacBook. His pursuit of perfection, although sometimes challenging for manufacturing, ultimately led to groundbreaking products that redefined their respective categories. The integration of this approach at Apple had a profound impact on the company’s success, establishing it as a leader in both design and technology.

2. What was the significance of the partnership between Jony Ive and Steve Jobs?

Jony’s relationship with Steve Jobs was crucial to his success at Apple. Jobs, upon returning to Apple, recognized Jony’s talent and empowered the design team, giving them greater influence over the company’s product development. This partnership, though sometimes fraught with tension, fostered a culture of innovation where design dictated engineering rather than the other way around. Jobs’s trust in Jony, and his willingness to take risks on unconventional design choices, allowed for the creation of products that were not only beautiful but also deeply intuitive and user-friendly. This established a design language that continues to influence Apple’s products today.

3. How did the culture and working process of Jony Ive’s design studio contribute to Apple’s success?

The culture of Jony’s design team, the IDg, is characterized by intense collaboration, secrecy, and a relentless pursuit of perfection. The IDg operated as a tightly knit unit, fostering a culture of brutal honesty and vigorous debate during brainstorming sessions. Jony’s leadership style, inspired by both his father and Jobs, encouraged individual talent while maintaining focus on a shared design vision. Their extreme secrecy about their work, which earned their studio the nickname “The Iron Curtain,” allowed them to create groundbreaking products without fear of leaks or outside influence. This contributed to Apple’s success by fostering a unique and highly effective design process.

4. How has Jony Ive’s design aesthetic evolved throughout his career?

Jony Ive’s design aesthetic has evolved from playful, colorful designs to a more refined, minimalist style emphasizing functionality and user experience. His early work, such as the colorful iMacs, brought a much-needed sense of fun and approachability to personal computers. Later, he embraced clean lines, simple forms, and a focus on seamlessly integrating hardware and software, as seen in the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. This evolution reflects not only his own maturation as a designer, but also the changing nature of technology itself, as products became smaller, more personal, and integrated into our daily lives.

5. What is Jony Ive’s lasting legacy on design and technology?

Jony Ive’s legacy extends beyond specific products; he has fundamentally changed our relationship with technology. By prioritizing user experience, emotional design, and a seamless integration of hardware and software, Jony has created products that are not only functional but also objects of desire. His design philosophy has had a profound impact on the consumer electronics industry and beyond, influencing everything from how products look and feel to how we interact with technology in our daily lives. His legacy is one of creating products that are not just tools, but extensions of ourselves.

1. How did Jony Ive’s upbringing and education shape his approach to design?

Jony Ive’s design philosophy hinges on a deep understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and user experience. From a young age, he displayed a natural curiosity about how objects were made, a trait further developed at Newcastle Polytechnic. This hands-on, iterative approach became integral to his work at Apple, influencing everything from the iPod’s click wheel to the unibody MacBook. His pursuit of perfection, although sometimes challenging for manufacturing, ultimately led to groundbreaking products that redefined their respective categories. The integration of this approach at Apple had a profound impact on the company’s success, establishing it as a leader in both design and technology.

2. What was the significance of the partnership between Jony Ive and Steve Jobs?

Jony’s relationship with Steve Jobs was crucial to his success at Apple. Jobs, upon returning to Apple, recognized Jony’s talent and empowered the design team, giving them greater influence over the company’s product development. This partnership, though sometimes fraught with tension, fostered a culture of innovation where design dictated engineering rather than the other way around. Jobs’s trust in Jony, and his willingness to take risks on unconventional design choices, allowed for the creation of products that were not only beautiful but also deeply intuitive and user-friendly. This established a design language that continues to influence Apple’s products today.

3. How did the culture and working process of Jony Ive’s design studio contribute to Apple’s success?

The culture of Jony’s design team, the IDg, is characterized by intense collaboration, secrecy, and a relentless pursuit of perfection. The IDg operated as a tightly knit unit, fostering a culture of brutal honesty and vigorous debate during brainstorming sessions. Jony’s leadership style, inspired by both his father and Jobs, encouraged individual talent while maintaining focus on a shared design vision. Their extreme secrecy about their work, which earned their studio the nickname “The Iron Curtain,” allowed them to create groundbreaking products without fear of leaks or outside influence. This contributed to Apple’s success by fostering a unique and highly effective design process.

4. How has Jony Ive’s design aesthetic evolved throughout his career?

Jony Ive’s design aesthetic has evolved from playful, colorful designs to a more refined, minimalist style emphasizing functionality and user experience. His early work, such as the colorful iMacs, brought a much-needed sense of fun and approachability to personal computers. Later, he embraced clean lines, simple forms, and a focus on seamlessly integrating hardware and software, as seen in the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. This evolution reflects not only his own maturation as a designer, but also the changing nature of technology itself, as products became smaller, more personal, and integrated into our daily lives.

5. What is Jony Ive’s lasting legacy on design and technology?

Jony Ive’s legacy extends beyond specific products; he has fundamentally changed our relationship with technology. By prioritizing user experience, emotional design, and a seamless integration of hardware and software, Jony has created products that are not only functional but also objects of desire. His design philosophy has had a profound impact on the consumer electronics industry and beyond, influencing everything from how products look and feel to how we interact with technology in our daily lives. His legacy is one of creating products that are not just tools, but extensions of ourselves.

Key Takeaways

1. Human-centered design is paramount.

Jony Ive always emphasized the importance of putting the user at the center of the design process. He believed technology should be intuitive, approachable, and seamlessly integrated into people’s lives. This human-centered design approach is evident in many of Apple’s products, from the iPod’s simple click wheel to the iPhone’s intuitive touch interface. By prioritizing the user experience, Jony Ive has created products that are not only functional, but also emotionally engaging and delightful to use.

Practical Application:

In the context of AI development, this translates to focusing not just on algorithmic performance, but also on how the AI integrates seamlessly into the user’s workflow. For instance, a complex AI-powered image editing tool should have a simple, intuitive interface that allows users of all skill levels to leverage its power effectively. Likewise, an AI assistant should learn individual preferences and provide personalized experiences.

2. A meticulous approach to detail and craft is essential.

Jony Ive’s meticulous approach to design is evident in his relentless pursuit of perfection and his obsessive attention to detail. He often created hundreds of prototypes, constantly refining his designs until every element was perfectly considered. This painstaking process, though often challenging for his team, ensured that the final products were not only beautiful but also flawlessly engineered and a joy to use. His approach reflects his early training, where making was emphasized as much as thinking.

Practical Application:

When developing AI products, this means involving designers from the very beginning to ensure the technology is not only powerful but also aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly. Prototyping and iterative testing are also critical for refining designs and ensuring the final product meets both user needs and technical requirements. Just like Jony made hundreds of models for even a single Apple product, AI developers should embrace a highly iterative design process.

3. Challenging convention can lead to breakthroughs.

Throughout his career, Jony Ive constantly challenged conventional thinking and pushed the boundaries of design and technology. His innovative use of materials, like the translucent plastic of the original iMac and the aluminum of the MacBook, combined with a relentless drive to simplify and improve existing products, has led to groundbreaking products that redefined their categories. He questioned the status quo and pushed the limits of what was possible, even when faced with resistance from engineers or skepticism from the market.

Practical Application:

For AI engineers, this translates to constantly questioning the status quo and pushing the limits of what’s possible, even when faced with skepticism from others. The development of multi-touch for the iPhone is a prime example, and so is Jony’s insistence on using new and unconventional materials like titanium and aluminum even though it posed big challenges to his team. AI is a constantly evolving field, and those who embrace experimentation and challenge conventional thinking are more likely to drive progress.

4. Collaboration across disciplines is key.

Jony Ive’s collaborative working style, both within his design team and across other departments at Apple, demonstrates the power of working together to achieve shared goals. The success of many of Apple’s products can be attributed to the synergy between Jony’s industrial design group and the engineering, software, and marketing teams. This collaborative approach ensures a holistic vision for each product, where design, functionality, and user experience are seamlessly integrated.

Practical Application:

AI development often involves integrating complex systems and technologies, and a collaborative workflow can ensure that the final product is seamlessly integrated and user-friendly. Effective communication and cooperation between design, engineering, and software teams is essential for balancing the user experience with the technical capabilities of the AI. This means everyone has to be able to communicate their ideas clearly and be willing to listen to feedback and suggestions from others.

1. Human-centered design is paramount.

Jony Ive always emphasized the importance of putting the user at the center of the design process. He believed technology should be intuitive, approachable, and seamlessly integrated into people’s lives. This human-centered design approach is evident in many of Apple’s products, from the iPod’s simple click wheel to the iPhone’s intuitive touch interface. By prioritizing the user experience, Jony Ive has created products that are not only functional, but also emotionally engaging and delightful to use.

Practical Application:

In the context of AI development, this translates to focusing not just on algorithmic performance, but also on how the AI integrates seamlessly into the user’s workflow. For instance, a complex AI-powered image editing tool should have a simple, intuitive interface that allows users of all skill levels to leverage its power effectively. Likewise, an AI assistant should learn individual preferences and provide personalized experiences.

2. A meticulous approach to detail and craft is essential.

Jony Ive’s meticulous approach to design is evident in his relentless pursuit of perfection and his obsessive attention to detail. He often created hundreds of prototypes, constantly refining his designs until every element was perfectly considered. This painstaking process, though often challenging for his team, ensured that the final products were not only beautiful but also flawlessly engineered and a joy to use. His approach reflects his early training, where making was emphasized as much as thinking.

Practical Application:

When developing AI products, this means involving designers from the very beginning to ensure the technology is not only powerful but also aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly. Prototyping and iterative testing are also critical for refining designs and ensuring the final product meets both user needs and technical requirements. Just like Jony made hundreds of models for even a single Apple product, AI developers should embrace a highly iterative design process.

3. Challenging convention can lead to breakthroughs.

Throughout his career, Jony Ive constantly challenged conventional thinking and pushed the boundaries of design and technology. His innovative use of materials, like the translucent plastic of the original iMac and the aluminum of the MacBook, combined with a relentless drive to simplify and improve existing products, has led to groundbreaking products that redefined their categories. He questioned the status quo and pushed the limits of what was possible, even when faced with resistance from engineers or skepticism from the market.

Practical Application:

For AI engineers, this translates to constantly questioning the status quo and pushing the limits of what’s possible, even when faced with skepticism from others. The development of multi-touch for the iPhone is a prime example, and so is Jony’s insistence on using new and unconventional materials like titanium and aluminum even though it posed big challenges to his team. AI is a constantly evolving field, and those who embrace experimentation and challenge conventional thinking are more likely to drive progress.

4. Collaboration across disciplines is key.

Jony Ive’s collaborative working style, both within his design team and across other departments at Apple, demonstrates the power of working together to achieve shared goals. The success of many of Apple’s products can be attributed to the synergy between Jony’s industrial design group and the engineering, software, and marketing teams. This collaborative approach ensures a holistic vision for each product, where design, functionality, and user experience are seamlessly integrated.

Practical Application:

AI development often involves integrating complex systems and technologies, and a collaborative workflow can ensure that the final product is seamlessly integrated and user-friendly. Effective communication and cooperation between design, engineering, and software teams is essential for balancing the user experience with the technical capabilities of the AI. This means everyone has to be able to communicate their ideas clearly and be willing to listen to feedback and suggestions from others.

Memorable Quotes

Chapter 1: School Days. 11

Its hydraulics were so well put together, that it folded out almost with a sigh. I could see the incipient talent that was coming out of Jonathan.

Chapter 2: A British Design Education. 23

There is a notion in Britain of a T-shaped designer: one with depth of discipline in a single area but also a breadth of empathy for other areas of design.

Author’s Note. 9

Content to stand aside as Steve Jobs sold the public on their collaborations—including the iconic iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad—Ive’s way of thinking and designing has led to immense breakthroughs.

Chapter 5: Jobs Returns to Apple. 105

The thing is, it’s very easy to be different, but very difficult to be better.

Chapter 8: Design of the iPod. 177

“In your pocket” became the mantra for the product.

Chapter 1: School Days. 11

Its hydraulics were so well put together, that it folded out almost with a sigh. I could see the incipient talent that was coming out of Jonathan.

Chapter 2: A British Design Education. 23

There is a notion in Britain of a T-shaped designer: one with depth of discipline in a single area but also a breadth of empathy for other areas of design.

Author’s Note. 9

Content to stand aside as Steve Jobs sold the public on their collaborations—including the iconic iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad—Ive’s way of thinking and designing has led to immense breakthroughs.

Chapter 5: Jobs Returns to Apple. 105

The thing is, it’s very easy to be different, but very difficult to be better.

Chapter 8: Design of the iPod. 177

“In your pocket” became the mantra for the product.

Comparative Analysis

While my book, “Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products”, focuses specifically on Jony Ive’s life and career, offering an in-depth analysis of his design philosophy and its impact on Apple, it shares common ground with other books on Apple, design, and innovation. For example, Walter Isaacson’s “Steve Jobs” provides a broader overview of Apple’s history, including valuable insights into the Jobs-Ive partnership, which my book explores in greater detail from the design perspective. Similarly, Luke Dormehl’s “The Apple Revolution” offers a comprehensive look at Apple’s impact on technology and culture, while my book focuses more specifically on the design innovations that drove this revolution. In contrast to more general business or technology books about Apple, my book delves into the specifics of Jony Ive’s design process, offering a unique perspective on the creative journey behind Apple’s most iconic products. It also gives an inside look into Apple’s secretive design studio, the IDg, which is rarely discussed elsewhere.

Reflection

This book provides a unique perspective on the life and work of Jony Ive, highlighting the key role of design in Apple’s success. While the book clearly celebrates Ive’s design genius and contributions, it’s important to consider some skeptical angles. The narrative, primarily drawn from interviews with colleagues and friends, might present a somewhat idealized portrayal of Ive and the Apple design process. The book’s focus on Ive’s role may also downplay the contributions of other designers and engineers at Apple. Moreover, the narrative tends to accept Ive’s design decisions as objectively superior, without exploring potential alternative solutions or design philosophies. Despite these potential biases, the book’s strength lies in its in-depth exploration of Ive’s design philosophy and process, its inside look at the secretive IDg studio and in its compelling account of the Jobs-Ive partnership. Overall, the book offers a valuable contribution to understanding the role of design in shaping Apple’s success, even if it may not be entirely objective.

Flashcards

Who is the main subject of the book, “Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products”?

Jony Ive

What is the publisher of the book?

Portfolio / Penguin

What two key concepts of design philosophy were apparent in the design of the Power Mac G5, as described by Jony Ive?

reduce and simplify

What learning disability does Jony Ive have?

dyslexia

Where did Jony Ive study product design?

Newcastle Polytechnic (now Northumbria University)

Where did Jony Ive do his first two semester-long work placements while at university?

Roberts Weaver Group

In what year did Jony Ive graduate?

1989

What was the name of the design company Jony Ive worked at after university, before joining Apple?

Tangerine

Who was the head of Industrial Design at Apple when Jony Ive joined the company?

Robert Brunner

In what year did Jony Ive join Apple?

1992

Who is the main subject of the book, “Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products”?

Jony Ive

What is the publisher of the book?

Portfolio / Penguin

What two key concepts of design philosophy were apparent in the design of the Power Mac G5, as described by Jony Ive?

reduce and simplify

What learning disability does Jony Ive have?

dyslexia

Where did Jony Ive study product design?

Newcastle Polytechnic (now Northumbria University)

Where did Jony Ive do his first two semester-long work placements while at university?

Roberts Weaver Group

In what year did Jony Ive graduate?

1989

What was the name of the design company Jony Ive worked at after university, before joining Apple?

Tangerine

Who was the head of Industrial Design at Apple when Jony Ive joined the company?

Robert Brunner

In what year did Jony Ive join Apple?

1992