Jony Ive, the British-American designer who achieved legendary status through his world-changing creations as Apple's design chief, has been on quite a journey since leaving the company in 2019. While he may be best known for his work at Apple, Ive has been busy exploring new avenues and applying his pared-back, detail-obsessive design approach to a range of different projects, particularly items for luxury brands. In this article, I'll take a closer look at some of the most intriguing projects Ive has been involved with post-Apple, and explore the impact they've had on the world of design and beyond.
Christie's Rostrum
One of Ive's most recent projects is a rostrum for luxury auction house Christie's. Replacing a Thomas Chippendale design used since 1776, the new rostrum is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and design. Made from 200-year-old oak by UK furniture maker Benchmark, the rostrum features a silent touch mechanism that deploys stairs up to the podium. While it may seem like a simple design choice, Ive's attention to detail and focus on creating a satisfying physical experience for the user is a testament to his design philosophy.
Ferrari Luce Interior
Another recent project is the interior design of Ferrari's first electric car, which is set to be fully unveiled in May. Ive and his partner, Marc Newson, focused on creating satisfying physical controls, challenging the notion that electric cars must be dominated by large touchscreens. Examples include aluminium toggles on the central dashboard and an overhead 'launch' pull-switch that activates an acceleration boost. This project showcases Ive's ability to blend form and function, creating a design that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
Balmuda Sailing Lantern
Ive's love for sailing is evident in his design of the Balmuda Sailing Lantern. Prompted by his struggles to find the right portable LED light for his own sailing yacht, Ive worked with Japanese manufacturer Balmuda on this nautical lantern. The lantern recalls a traditional lighthouse's lamp, using a combination of red and white LEDs to mimic the warm glow of a live flame. Ive's attention to detail and focus on creating a satisfying physical experience for the user is a testament to his design philosophy.
LoveFrom, Moncler
Ive has also turned his hand to fashion with an outerwear collection for Moncler. The design enables the wearer to create different layer combinations via a magnetic button, adding a field jacket, parka or poncho to the base jacket. Made from a specially made material on extra-large looms, each garment is made from a single piece of fabric folded together. This project showcases Ive's ability to blend form and function, creating a design that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
Linn Sondek LP12 Turntable
Ive's studio also updated the Linn Sondek LP12 turntable for its 50th anniversary. Making a series of subtle interventions, Ive described the changes as 'respectful and gentle'. The primary switch was made circular and flat, and some of the edges were rounded, while tweaks were also made to the dust cover, hinges and badge. This project showcases Ive's ability to blend form and function, creating a design that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
William Stout Architectural Books Brand Identity
Ive's studio demonstrated its graphic design credentials with this rebrand for the William Stout Architectural Books in San Francisco. The work included the creation of a custom typeface based on the font used for the legendary bookstore's original sign. This project showcases Ive's ability to blend form and function, creating a design that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
King Charles III's Coronation Emblem
Another LoveFrom logo was created as the official emblem of King Charles III's coronation. The design depicted a crown formed of the national flowers of the United Kingdom's four nations – an English rose, a Scottish thistle, a Welsh daffodil and a Northern Irish shamrock. This project showcases Ive's ability to blend form and function, creating a design that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
Comic Relief Red Nose
Arguably the world's most recognizable fundraising product, the Comic Relief red nose was given an Ive revamp for 2023. The flat-pack design was made from 95 per cent plant-based materials including paper, corn-based bioplastic polyester and bagasse, a packaging material made from sugarcane pulp. This project showcases Ive's ability to blend form and function, creating a design that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
(RED) Diamond Ring
A very different kind of charity design actually developed by Ive and Newson shortly before the pair left Apple, this ring was made entirely from a single enormous diamond with a record number of facets. Created for AIDS charity (RED) using lab-grown diamonds, the ring was sold to an anonymous buyer at auction for $256,250. This project showcases Ive's ability to blend form and function, creating a design that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
In conclusion, Jony Ive's post-Apple projects showcase his ability to blend form and function, creating designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. From luxury auction houses to electric cars, Ive's work continues to push the boundaries of design and innovation, and his impact on the world of design and beyond is undeniable.
