The last remaining link between Apple and iconic designer Sir Jony Ive has reportedly been severed after contract failure
Apple has reportedly severed ties with its legendary former chief designer Sir Jony Ive, who spent years working side-by-side with the late Steve Jobs.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Apple ended its advisory deal with Sir Jony, despite promising to work with him “long into the future.”
The newspaper reported that Sir Jony’s contract (reportedly worth about $100 million) with Apple had been renewed and the parties agreed not to renew it – officially ending the designer’s three-year relationship with Apple.
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Some media reports indicate that Apple’s clause prohibiting Ive from taking on work that the company found competitive may have been a major factor in the decision.
According to sources close to The New York Times, other factors contributing to Apple executives’ concerns about Sir Jony’s salary and the influx of Apple designers leaving to join LoveFrom.
Apple reportedly declined to comment on the report.
Sir Jony’s contribution to Apple’s revival cannot be overstated, CEO Tim Cook said three years ago, and the British designer was also described by Apple’s Steve Jobs as his spiritual partner at the company.
Indeed, Steve Jobs considered Sir Jony to be one of his closest friends, once stating that the chief designer and executive “has more operational power than anyone else at Apple except me.”
Sir Jony designed the company’s groundbreaking products, from the 1998 iMac G3 to the 1st generation iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad.
He also contributed to the early development of iOS, and in his later years at Apple, he was also responsible for the design of Apple’s new headquarters, as well as the Apple Watch, which was introduced in 2015.
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Sir Jony left Apple at the end of 2019 after announcing his decision to step down and start his own design company called ‘LoveForm’.
Apple would be one of the first customers and Sir Jony retained an advisory role at Apple.
Sir Jony expanded LoveForm’s customer base, including Exor, the owner of Ferrari. He is said to have styled Ferrari’s new electric car.
In October 2020, rental company Airbnb revealed it would be redesigning the next generation of its products and services, with the help of Sir Jony Ive.
