Discover the Groundbreaking First Design by Jony Ive for Apple
Explore the fascinating story behind Jony Ive's inaugural design project at Apple, a pioneering device that set the stage for future iconic products.
Jony Ive stands as one of the most influential designers in history, having shaped legendary products such as the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Yet, his journey didn’t begin with these celebrated creations. Here, we dive into the story of the very first Apple device designed by Jony Ive.
This device was a natural evolution of the Newton and was internally known at Apple by the codename Lindy MessagePad. Despite its innovation, Lindy never achieved the widespread acclaim that colorful iMacs, iPhones, or iPads later enjoyed.
According to Linder Cani’s biography of Jony Ive, the designer’s dedication to this project was as intense as with his later works. He introduced a spring-loaded cover that opened with a gentle press and incorporated a stylus that slid out directly from the device’s body.
Ive explained his design choices:
"I insisted on the flip cover because it resembled a notebook—something everyone is familiar with. The stylus positioned at the top mimicked the spiral binding of a notebook, where people usually keep their pen."
Jony felt that the original Newton appeared too alien and aimed to make Lindy more approachable and trustworthy for users.
The project advanced rapidly, moving from initial sketches to a solid foam model within two weeks—a speed unprecedented at Apple at the time. When production began, Ive personally traveled to the factory in Taiwan to oversee every detail of the manufacturing process.
Robert Brunner, former head of Apple’s industrial design department, recalls:
"Jony worked tirelessly, spending an extraordinary amount of time at the factory perfecting his device. The result was flawless: elegant, high-quality, and highly functional."
The MessagePad earned numerous awards and was inducted into the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. However, it faced commercial failure, and upon Steve Jobs’ return to Apple, one of his first decisive actions was to terminate the Newton project.
Nonetheless, this early experience did not hinder Ive from later designing groundbreaking products like the Mac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. His role at Apple has never been more pivotal, with design becoming central to the company’s philosophy.
What do you think of Jony Ive’s first design for Apple?
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