Jony Ive 談及所設計的第一部手機及 Steve Jobs 對其影響

於近日在三藩市舉行的 Vanity Fair 峰會上聚集了各界的精英人士，而 Apple 的總設計師 Jony Ive 也出席此次的會議。作為科技最前端的領軍人物，Ive 在探討會上除了大談設計之外，更展示了十幾年前由其設計的第一部手機，獨特且怪異的造型令人出乎意料；同時也不忘談及到 Apple 之父 Steve Jobs 對其的影響以及從他身上學到的東西。留意以下部分內容的同時，也可  Business Insider 查看完整內容。

Why did you go back to rounded edges on the iPhone?

Jony: Years ago we made prototypes with bigger screens. They were interesting features having a bigger screen, but the end result was a lousy product because they were clunky like a lot of competitors’ phones are still. Years ago we realized this is going to be important that we have larger screens but we need to do a lot of things to make it a compelling product.

When did it happen that you could send out something so complex like the iPhone without instructions?

Jony: That’s what we try to do. I think for a lot of us, a large display that you can directly touch, seemed obvious and natural. It wasn’t the case 9 years ago when we were first working on it. If it was inevitable and obvious we would’ve done it years ago.

What was the first Apple product you used before joining Apple?

Jony: In art school. The computers colleges had were terrible. I assumed the problems were with me. When you eat something that’s bad, you assume the food is bad. But when you use a bad product, you assume it’s you. In art school I used the Mac. There were some shocking things. For the first time in my life, I had a very clear sense of the people who had gotten together to design and make that product. I realized there are stuff that we do that attest to our values. From that point, I developed a real interest about these group of guys in California that made a computer that you could change the noises. I was absolutely intrigued by that. I wanted to find out who did this.

Talk about designing the watch.

Jony: Always been interested in watches. At first watches were designed before pockets were invented, so they were hung around necks. Then the pocketwatch happened. There were watches worn on fingers in the 17th century. For reasons of function, for reasons of utility, it ended up on the wrist. And you’ll notice it stayed there for over 100 years. It has now an historical gravitas. It’s a really great place to be able to glance quickly at information. When we started working on it, it seemed like a natural place for technology to end up.

Lessons working with Steve Jobs?

Jony: Focus. Steve was the most focused person I’ve met in my life. It’s terrifying that when you really truly focus, it seems a bit illegal. You can achieve so much. Steve would say “How many things have you said no to?” And I would have these sacrificial things…and he knew that I wasn’t interested in doing those things anyway. What focus means is saying no with every bone in your body to something you know is a good idea but you say no because you’re focused on something else.

I remember talking to Steve Jobs and asked why he was perceived as harsh. And I said couldn’t we be more moderate? And he said why? And I said because I care about the team. And he said: “No Jony, you’re just really vain. You just want people to like you. I’m surprised at you, because I thought you really held the work up as the most important and not how you are perceived by people.” People misunderstand Steve because he was so focused.