Cook, Ive & Schiller: Head, Heart & Voice of Apple

[Rogifan]

http://more-real.com/blog/2012/10/31/the-all-new-apple-the-head-the-heart-and-the-voice

Thought this blog post from Don Norman was on point. I think Cook's re-org is brilliant. It makes total sense to move Siri and Maps under Eddy Cue, and to align software under one chief. And giving Ive control of all design means we'll hopefully get some consistency between hardware and software. Other companies are stepping up in this area big time. They know how important design is and how much it's done for Apple. Apple can't afford to be complacent here. And now with Mansfield staying on to work on special projects who knows what we'll see in terms of chip design and battery technology.

The way I see it, Cook, Ive and Schiller are the top dogs at Apple now. And I think Cook is comfortable with that because he knows neither of them are angling for his job (like Forstall might have been). Cook's engineered a org structure that make sense for Apple going forward.

 

[smoledman]

http://more-real.com/blog/2012/10/31/the-all-new-apple-the-head-the-heart-and-the-voice

Thought this blog post from Don Norman was on point. I think Cook's re-org is brilliant. It makes total sense to move Siri and Maps under Eddy Cue, and to align software under one chief. And giving Ive control of all design means we'll hopefully get some consistency between hardware and software. Other companies are stepping up in this area big time. They know how important design is and how much it's done for Apple. Apple can't afford to be complacent here. And now with Mansfield staying on to work on special projects who knows what we'll see in terms of chip design and battery technology.

The way I see it, Cook, Ive and Schiller are the top dogs at Apple now. And I think Cook is comfortable with that because he knows neither of them are angling for his job (like Forstall might have been). Cook's engineered a org structure that make sense for Apple going forward.

Ive is an industrial design genius. Not sure what he knows about software. This is less a genius move then one of desperation because Cook needed to get rid of Forstall. Right now Joe Belfiore is the king of Mobile OS GUI design.

 

[ixodes]

I'll reserve my opinions about each individual, offering my take on this move. I'm highly encouraged and will remain so until problems arise.

If things go as well as I believe is possible, the only problems will be filling orders. A great problem to sustain. In two decades, this is absolutely the most encouraging news I've heard.

All the elements are in place, if the plan is sound & the execution fast & consistent, Apple will reign supreme.

 

[Wheeler]

Ive is an industrial design genius. Not sure what he knows about software. This is less a genius move then one of desperation because Cook needed to get rid of Forstall. Right now Joe Belfiore is the king of Mobile OS GUI design.

Very valid point, it will be interesting to see his influence on the soft design over the next few years. Not many were complaining about OSX or iOS design before, minus sceuomorphism. I doubt we will see radical change, just less leather. Though I am sure he has been compiling thoughts on the software design for some time so who knows...

 

[smoledman]

Very valid point, it will be interesting to see his influence on the soft design over the next few years. Not many were complaining about OSX or iOS design before, minus sceuomorphism. I doubt we will see radical change, just less leather. Though I am sure he has been compiling thoughts on the software design for some time so who knows...

Looking where Microsoft is going with Windows Phone, if that ever turns out to be a massive hit Apple will never be able to adjust iOS to catch up. Essentially iPhones will continue to get by on inertia but not real innovation.

 

[Rogifan]

Very valid point, it will be interesting to see his influence on the soft design over the next few years. Not many were complaining about OSX or iOS design before, minus sceuomorphism. I doubt we will see radical change, just less leather. Though I am sure he has been compiling thoughts on the software design for some time so who knows...

Steve was a big proponent of this "skeumorphic" design language. From what I've read of his management style my guess is he insisted hardware be focused on hardware only and vice versa for software.

I actually think its a good idea to have desig under one umbrella. Designer Yves Behar mentioned something similar recently. He said it was a mistake to design software and hardware independent of each other. I looked up a number of Apple 's UI/UX employees on LinkedIn and most of them have art degrees/design background, not software engineering. In fact several i looked up had degrees in industrial design.

What I'm curious about is how many of these UI/UX guys were/are really in support of "skeumorphic" design language or if they went along with it because it was mandated from the top (Jobs/Forstall). "Skeumorphism" has little love in the design community and I highly doubt it's something being taught/pushed in design schools.

 

[Arran]

I'm not so sure. The creative tension betweeen Ive and Forstall might have been a really good thing. Ugly to watch, for sure, but ultimately beneficial to Apple's product line.

Great ideas are often born from strife. I'm not sure Cook gets this.

 

[Rogifan]

This blog posting from imore has an interesting take, basically that Cook is using the same 4 quadrant that Jobs did when he came back to Apple, except instead of products the 4 quadrants are made up of functions - software, services, design and technology - and there is a leader for each. I think it makes sense, but time will tell if it works in the long run.