Apple designer Jonathan Ive receives knighthood

Iconic designer Jonathan Ive, who created some of Apple's most instantly recognisable products, such as the iPod and iPhone has received a knighthood in the New Years Honours list.

The 44 year old man was born in Chingford, North London and studied design at the University of Northumbria. He joined Apple in 1992 and has been based in California since that date. He was close to Apple founder Steve Jobs, who passed away earlier this year.

He received a KBE from the Queen for ‘services to design and enterprise'.

He made his mark with the design of the early iMacs which were released in various colours, at the bequest of Jobs. After this he had a hand in the design of the iPod, iPhone and iPad as well as the successful range of Macbook Air computers.

He said “I am keenly aware that I benefit from a wonderful tradition in the UK of designing and making. To be recognized with this honour is absolutely thrilling and I am both humbled and sincerely grateful.”

He added “”I discovered at an early age that all I've ever wanted to do is design. I feel enormously fortunate that I continue to be able to design and make products with a truly remarkable group of people here at Apple.”

Ive had a special place in Apple, and worked directly with Jobs, reporting to him, and him alone. Jobs said in the Walter Isaacson biography of Steve Jobs “He's not just a designer. That's why he works directly for me. He has more operational power than anyone else at Apple except me. There's no one who can tell him what to do, or to butt out. That's the way I set it up.”

Kitguru says: The KBE will be added to his CBE which he was awarded in 2006.

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