With the sudden departure of many of Apple’s old guard in their design team I can’t help but wonder if they were the losers in a power struggle. The departures are so close together that it can’t be coincidence. AppleInsider had a nice recap of the design team history. But most of what really happens is not spoken of outside those four walls.
This sudden departure of Apple’s designers follows two huge missteps by Apple design in recent years. The Mac Pro cylinder and the MacBook Keyboard. Not to mention endless criticism by Apple fans for Apple’s design ethos on all things thin and light. The absence of ports on the MacBook, the tiny Apple TV remote, no USB-A ports or card reader on the MacBook Pro, or no headphone jack on the iPhone.
I can’t help but wonder if there is a connection. At this level, these guys aren’t motivated by money. They are looking for a sense of fulfillment in knowing that what they do is valued. If the design ethos is changing at Apple, these guys could find themselves on the outside looking in.
Working in a large corporation is a little bit like Game of Thrones. People tend to assimilate into various factions of competing ideas. When these “wars” are settled, there are often casualties in the form of departures. There has been no indication that this has taken place at Apple. I’m simply interpreting the events in light of what I’ve witnessed in my 25 years of corporate spectating.
At this high level within a large glamorous company like Apple, some things mean more than money. Rico Zorkendorfer made the following statement regarding his departure.
"We have incredible new designers — a new generation," he said. "What we've been able to do the last few decades will continue. The talent is there."
Could there be a new point of view for design at Apple that rejects the hard-core minimalism? I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.
I can’t help but wonder if there is a connection. At this level, these guys aren’t motivated by money. They are looking for a sense of fulfillment in knowing that what they do is valued. If the design ethos is changing at Apple, these guys could find themselves on the outside looking in.
Working in a large corporation is a little bit like Game of Thrones. People tend to assimilate into various factions of competing ideas. When these “wars” are settled, there are often casualties in the form of departures. There has been no indication that this has taken place at Apple. I’m simply interpreting the events in light of what I’ve witnessed in my 25 years of corporate spectating.
At this high level within a large glamorous company like Apple, some things mean more than money. Rico Zorkendorfer made the following statement regarding his departure.
"We have incredible new designers — a new generation," he said. "What we've been able to do the last few decades will continue. The talent is there."
Could there be a new point of view for design at Apple that rejects the hard-core minimalism? I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.
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