Famed Apple Designer Jony Ive Leaves Company After Nearly 30 Years

Sir Jony Ive, who has been with Apple for nearly three decades, is officially saying goodbye to the company. Ive landed at Apple in 1992, took over the reigns as head of the company’s design efforts back in 1996, and has been instrumental in Apple’s iconic designs like the original iPod, the iPhone and the Apple Watch (and everything in between). No new Apple design is complete without Ive narrating a slickly produced video showcasing how devices like the iPhone and Mac Pro are crafted and assembled in his cool, brooding English accent. You can see an example of his famous (and often parodied) voiceovers in the video below.

“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 Apple CEO Tim Cook.

“After nearly 30 years and countless projects, I am most proud of the lasting work we have done to create a design team, process and culture at Apple that is without peer,” added Ive. “Today it is stronger, more vibrant and more talented than at any point in Apple’s history,” said Ive.”

Although Ive is officially departing Apple, he will continue to work with the company on future design projects. Ive has created a new creative business called LoveFrom, and Apple will be its very first client of course. LoveFrom will be based in California according to Ive, who gave an exclusive interview with FT. He will be joined in this new venture by long-time design partner Marc Newson.

Ive has left a lasting mark on Apple design in the 30 years that he has been with the company, but he leaves future products in good hands with Evans Hankey, VP of Industrial Design, and Alan Dye, VP of Human Interface Design. Both will report directly to Apple COO Jeff Williams.

After the passing of Apple co-founder, CEO and visionary Steve Jobs, running sentiment whenever Apple had a misstep may have been “this would never happen if Jobs were around.” In the post-Ive Apple, we have to wonder if the common refrain instead will be “Ive would have never let that product leave the design studio”.