Jony Ive’s first major design since leaving Apple isn't what you’d expect

“I think people think of design as how something looks. But that’s a superficial definition—it’s how something works,” says Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky, who says he called Ive as soon as he saw his resignation announcement from Apple and asked to be one of LoveFrom’s first clients. Chesky, who studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, adds, ... See more

Toward the end of his life, Steve Jobs told Walter Isaacson, “If I had a spiritual partner at Apple, it’s Jony Ive. Jony and I think up most of the products together and then pull others in…he gets the big picture as well as the most infinitesimal details about each product.”

The connection between the design of a product, its essence, and its manufacturing was illustrated for Jobs and Ive when they were traveling in France and went into a kitchen supply store. Ive picked up a knife he admired, but then put it down in disappointment. Jobs did the same. “We both noticed a tiny bit of glue between the handle and the blade... See more

James Turrell took inspiration from astronomy and perceptual psychology. Coco Chanel was most influenced by nuns and religious symbols. David Adjaye drew from Yoruban sculpture, and Steve Jobs from Zen Buddhism and calligraphy. We could continue this list forever, but that’s not the point. The point is to look outside the confines of our industry t... See more