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Apple's Jony Ive Talks Apple Watch at SFMOMA Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony

Friday October 31, 2014 7:37 am PDT by Kelly Hodgkins
Apple design chief Jony Ive on Thursday was honored by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in an event that celebrated Ive's 2014 Bay Area Treasure Award. The award, bestowed by the Modern Art Council (MAC), recognizes creative individuals who have influenced visual culture.

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"Ive is our generation’s most innovative and influential figure in the field of industrial design—no other design mind has done more to transform the way we visualize and share information," said SFMOMA Director Neal Benezra. "SFMOMA was the first museum on the West Coast to establish a department of architecture and design, and we’re thrilled to celebrate Ive’s revolutionary achievements."
Speaking during the award ceremony, Ive commented on the Apple Watch and the challenge of designing Apple's first smartwatch product in a series of comments reported by The Wall Street Journal.
"Even though Apple Watch does so many things, there are cultural, historical implications and expectations," Ive said. "That’s why it’s been such a difficult and humbling program."
Ive also emphasized the dilemma of developing a product that would mean different things to different people. Adding to the complexity of the design is the device itself, which is used only casually by its owners.
"As soon as something is worn, we have expectations of choice," said Ive. Only "in prison," he joked, do people all wear the same thing."
Ive's strict focus on his design work was also revealed in the interview when he admitted he didn't know the details of Apple's most recent financial results.
“I honestly don’t know the numbers,” said Ive. “But I know they are high.”
The Bay Area Treasure Award is one of several awards given to Ive in recent years. The Apple designer was the recipient of a National Design Award for the iPhone in 2007 and a team-issued 2012 Design and Art Direction award. He also was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in a ceremony held in 2012.

[ 82 comments ]


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griz
61 months ago
Is it just me or is the giant Jony head a little 1984ish?
Rating: 36 Votes
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winston1236
61 months ago

Is anyone else like really excited for this watch?! It's really unique and I'm looking forward to it.


Not really, I think its bulky and kind of ugly. Being force tethered to a phone is the final deal killer for me.
Rating: 29 Votes
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Roessnakhan
61 months ago

I think you're stretching a bit in terms of it's looks and it's obvious you don't know what you're talking about. The Apple Watch doesn't need the aid of the iPhone to work the standard functions. You can go the whole day using it and leaving your iPhone at home.


Without the phone pretty much all you got is a ($350 at least) iPod nano with fitness tracking.
Rating: 16 Votes
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joshwenke
61 months ago
Is anyone else like really excited for this watch?! It's really unique and I'm looking forward to it.
Rating: 15 Votes
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Patriot24
61 months ago

I think you're stretching a bit in terms of it's looks and it's obvious you don't know what you're talking about. The Apple Watch doesn't need the aid of the iPhone to work the standard functions. You can go the whole day using it and leaving your iPhone at home.


I wouldn't say he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Yes, you can wear the watch without the phone near, but it significantly neuters the experience. Without a standalone cellular radio, most of the functions become moot. I for one do not see a problem with this approach in a first generation device, but I think the argument has some validity.

Everyone has different use cases. It doesn't make them wrong.
Rating: 13 Votes
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budselectjr
61 months ago
Ive sounds like the biggest douche when he talks.
Rating: 12 Votes
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xDKP
61 months ago

Not really, I think its bulky and kind of ugly. Being force tethered to a phone is the final deal killer for me.


Kind of feel the same way. The lack of gps even ruined the true sports experience as well
Rating: 11 Votes
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diipii
61 months ago
The excrescence Ive is right at the very top of my list of world class useless "bankers" (Brits will know) who are in sore need of a good slap.
Rating: 9 Votes
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MH01
61 months ago

I think you're stretching a bit in terms of it's looks and it's obvious you don't know what you're talking about. The Apple Watch doesn't need the aid of the iPhone to work the standard functions. You can go the whole day using it and leaving your iPhone at home.


I can also buy an iPhone and use it without the sim.

The apple watch needs an iPhone for full functionality , stop pretending otherwise !

The poster knows better than you that an iPhone is necessary if you intend to use it for more than a watch and a few basic functions!
Rating: 7 Votes
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X38
61 months ago

I agree. I think they're really going to hit a home run.

There is a lot yet to unfold. It is going to be an interesting ride.


I see three very serious problems for any smart watch:

1) Since the advent of ubiquitous cell phones, many people have given up wearing watches because they no longer need them and don't particularly care for having something strapped to their wrist. These kind of folks are inherently a disproportionate share of the market for any smart mobile device by definition.

2) Its unique benefits require wearing it continuously to be meaningful, especially during periods of elevated physical activity. But it is also an expensive piece of jewelry designed to be worn in a manner highly susceptible to wear and damage. How many people are really going to want to wear their expensive toy all the time while engaged in their favorite physical activities?

3) Like other smart screen mobile devices, it's primary benefits also require extended viewing. However, holding a device mounted on one's wrist in a viewable orientation quickly becomes uncomfortable. People are not going to be using this thing for email and web browsing, at least not without a lot of pain or taking it off their wrist all the time. Nor will it be useful for listening to either given that there is no practical means of routing earphones to it as can be done with a device carried in one's pockets or belt holder.

Home run? No chance. If they get really lucky, maybe they will at least not strike out and get a single. But there is no way that this is 'the next big thing'. Most likely scenario is that the Apple Watch will become the device that convinces the world to give up on the 'wearable' fad.
Rating: 7 Votes

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