[NewsPoster]

In a move that could be setting the stage for Ive's future successor, Apple on Friday confirmed that it had hired prominent industrial designer Marc Newson, a close friend and occasional collaborator to Sir Jonathan Ive, to join Ive's design team in an unspecified capacity, reports Vanity Fair. Newson, who recently co-designed a number of one-off Product (RED) items for auction with Ive, said he was "enormously proud" to join the team, though he will primarily remain based in the UK.

Ive and Newson have high praise for each other, with Ive calling Newson "without question one of the most influential designers of this generation" and "extraordinarily talented." Newson in turn told the magazine that he was "full of admiration and respect for the extraordinary design work that has been produced by Jony and the team at Apple." He plans to remain based in the UK, but will come to Cupertino "from time to time" to work directly with Ive and his team.

"We are particularly excited to formalize our collaboration," Ive said, "as we enjoy working together so much and have found our partnership so effective." Newson's specific job title hasn't been announced, but the two have worked together on numerous projects, and Newson's friendship with Ive has offered him "a unique insight into that process, [and] the opportunity to work together with him and the people that have been responsible" for many of Apple's recent iconic designs.

The company has been on something of a spree of name-brand hires recently, persuading music moguls Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre to sign up, as well as former Burberry CEO Dame Angela Ahrendts and Saint Laurent's Paul Deneve, as well as Swiss watchmaker executive Jean-Claude Biver, among other industry-known names.

[carloblackmore]

I imagine Jony and Marc will be giddy running around the design studio at Apple playing with all their ideas and splattering liquid aluminium all over the walls

[apostle]

Given the visual disaster that is the iOS 7 interface and the MacPro bearing an uncanny resemblance to an Edison "wax cylinder", it may be that the writing is on the wall. Ive himself bearing an uncanny resemblance to a spent force. Nothing mean or malicious intended. Everyone has their day. And indications clearly suggest that Ive's day has long since passed. Next please...

[Kees]

@apostle. Or maybe you just have poor taste...

I think iOS 7 is a delight to use. My old iPod touch can't be upgraded and iOS 6 feels bloated and old now.
Same with Yosemite beta on my MacBook Air. I didn't care much for the new look the first few days, but now I miss it's clean look a lot every time I use my iMac. I still don't care for the bright blue folders, but other than that, the look is a big step up. And no, they have not turned it into iOS, they've just made it easier to seamlessly switch to the device most suited for the task at hand.