Jony Ive joins OpenAI. A look back at the iconic products that defined his design legacy

In a move that bridges the worlds of iconic industrial design and cutting-edge artificial intelligence, Sir Jony Ive has officially joined Sam Altman’s OpenAI following the acquisition of his design firm LoveFrom. Renowned for shaping the modern era of consumer technology through his legendary work at Apple, Ive is now set to spearhead a new frontier: designing next-generation AI hardware.

But before we get a glimpse into his new work, let’s have a quick history lesson on what iconic devices has Jony designed.

iMac (1998)

Jony Ive’s first major hit at Apple was the colorful iMac G3. Breaking away from the beige, boxy PCs of the 1990s, the iMac featured a translucent plastic shell in vibrant colors like Bondi Blue. It was an all-in-one computer with the monitor and CPU integrated, designed to make computers less intimidating and more friendly to the average consumer. Its simplicity and visual appeal helped rejuvenate Apple’s brand image.

iPod (2001)

With the iPod, Ive pioneered minimalism in consumer electronics. The iconic white body, polished metal back, and simple scroll wheel interface made it a cultural icon. It was the perfect example of form meeting function. Ive’s design made the iPod instantly recognizable and incredibly easy to use, helping it dominate the MP3 player market and redefining portable music.

iPhone (2007)

Possibly the most transformative product in tech history, the original iPhone was a radical departure from phones of the time. Ive designed a sleek, buttonless front with just one home button and a multi-touch glass screen. Its minimalist aesthetic hid complex technology beneath a seamless user interface. The iPhone became the blueprint for nearly all smartphones that followed.

MacBook Air (2008)

Unveiled dramatically by Steve Jobs pulling it out of a manila envelope, the MacBook Air set a new standard for laptops. Ive’s wedge-shaped, ultra-thin design was not just stylish but highly functional. It focused on portability without compromising too much power, influencing the future of notebooks and ultrabooks industry-wide.

iPad (2010)

Ive’s iPad design further pushed the limits of minimalist design. A sleek, touch-dominated slab with clean edges and intuitive UI, the iPad blended media consumption, productivity, and portability in one device. It also marked Apple’s deepening integration of hardware and software into a seamless experience.

iOS 7 (2013)

As Apple’s head of both hardware and software design, Ive led a major redesign of Apple’s mobile OS. iOS 7 moved away from skeuomorphic textures and shadows toward a flat, clean, and vibrant design language. It was controversial at launch but set the tone for modern mobile UI trends with a focus on clarity and depth through layers, blur, and motion.

Apple Watch (2015)

Merging fashion and technology, the Apple Watch was Jony Ive’s vision of a wearable device that didn’t look like a gadget. It featured a square face with rounded edges, customizable straps, and a “Digital Crown” for navigation. Ive wanted it to feel like a personal object—less tech, more lifestyle. It helped Apple define the modern smartwatch category.

Apple Park (2017)

Ive co-designed Apple’s futuristic headquarters, Apple Park, with architecture firm Foster + Partners. The vast circular building features curved glass panels, natural materials, and extensive landscaping. It reflected Apple’s design ethos of simplicity, openness, and environmental consciousness on an architectural scale.

It will be interesting to see what he does with OpenAI. The hardware from AI centric companies have been underwhelming so far. Both RabitR1 and HumaneAI Pin were panned by users and critics alike for the considering lapses in execution.