Biography Johnny Quince - a genius, preferring to remain in the shadows

Remember the first iPod - it was a breakthrough. Why? Then, the market had a lot of mp3-players that came much earlier. What made it special? The answer lies in its incredible simplicity. But Johnny Ive - it's not just the creator of the iPod, and the man who created the Apple brand design and proved to the world that there is little to create a device with a thousand useful features - you need to create a device that can perform all of them with only three button. About how a designer from England made America, and then the whole world, to forget about the spare parts - new book Linder Kani, Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products.

That's what Johnny Ive himself spoke of creating iPod:

The thing is that we tried to focus on the ground and not to add too much detail and buttons, it would be complicated to use, and would have ended in complete failure. The idea was that the abundance of additional features have been virtually invisible

Even for such a seemingly basic buttons like the switching on and off there was no room on the iPod. First, buyers, of course, were not happy, but then this decision was the standard for mp3-players. Linder Kani in her new book

Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products, which goes on sale this week, he called it "genius's trademark minimalism".

In a new book Kani, editor CultofMac.comWho has devoted more than a dozen years of coverage of events related to Apple, will tell a lot of unknown facts about John Aive: his career, his friendship with Jobs and invaluable contribution to Apple products.

Biography is entirely based on interviews Cani took from former managers and designers of the company, as well as, at the very Quince, but none has been taken especially for the book. Apple is notorious that prohibits frank with the press to all its employees, except, perhaps, was just Steve Jobs. In the book there is a passage where the Kani says once Ive agreed to the interview MacWorldDespite the fact that the ubiquitous PR team behind him shook his head.

Like any biography, the book begins with the story of his youth Quince in his native England, about the influence of his father, who was a jeweler and also, in a sense, the designer. Growing up, Ive received design awards, works in design offices, and finally sent overseas to join the Apple team. It seems to us the image of a humble and hard-working person who is not interested in fame and titles, although Ive been erected knighted by the Queen of Great Britain, which praised his work.

Few know that when Ive started working in Cupertino, design studio was of secondary importance, and even has a separate Apple's main building. It was there, Ive created a design concept - "Each product - its history", and has become an indispensable member of the team. Of course, not always fared so well. Once, he almost wrote a letter of resignation, explaining that the company has ceased to develop, but John Rubinsheteyn then able to persuade him to stay.

At that time, the team dedicated to hardware, was one of the most important, but then began to dictate terms to the designers. In the book, a lot of stories about how one of the most important principles in the Quince, his motto is "clean up and simplify", in fact, defined the concept of the whole company.

When Steve Jobs returned to Apple, design studio moved to the campus and become not just a studio and top-secret facility, where it is not even allowed by Scott Forstalla level.

But Jobs spends a lot of time. Kani writes that most of the working day Jobs was in the design studio with Ayvom, they are laid out on prototypes of the table to choose the best, share ideas and discuss current projects.

Jobs has largely relied on instinct and Quince often turned to him for advice, and he in turn knew what ideas are approved by Jobs.

He has always created many prototypes, most of which flew into the trash. When required to choose the color of the product, he is personally convinced that Jobs will offer a lot of shade and helped him to do this.

There are descriptions of their friendship, and something resembling a "tough guys" from high school - just seems a long table at the far end of which Jobs and Ive at dinner cheerfully chatting, not allowing anyone to each other in their company.

Jobs and Ive been real friends. The fact that after surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, he wished to see only two people - John and his wife Lauren - is a direct proof of this. Working together for the iMac, Jobs and Ive once and forever changed the culture of the company, putting design at the forefront.

Most of Kani in the study of personality Quince surprised how much power it has with Apple. He does not wear the title of Director General - that Tim Cook is busy - but it has the most privileged position. He was not involved in the daily affairs of the company, only the creation of new products.

In the words of Steve, John "has more power to Apple, than anyone else. Not counting me. "

It is still the case, two years after his death. It is thanks to Quince appeared stunning innovative devices that we use today, and there will be those who will surprise us in the future.

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Considering the contribution of Quince Apple's work, one can only wonder why no one took up his biography before? This genius really knows how to remain in the shadows of their creations. Hopefully soon the story knight of the world of design, and will be published in Russian. What do you think about John Aive?

(via)