Apple's Jony Ive and designer Marc Newson
Apple has hired world-renowned designer Marc Newson ahead of its predicted iWatch launch later today.
Marc Newson, a prominent designer with lots of experience designing watches, has joined the Apple team, potentially to work on Apple’s first wearable.
Apparently Newson has been working on designs with Apple recently, supporting the idea that Apple is preparing to branch out into new product areas in the imminent future.
The report suggests Apple and Newson have been working on designs for the past year, not just in recent months. That could mean he has had a hand in the iWatch design.
According to one source, we should hear from or about Newson around the iWatch and iPhone 6 event later tonight, which starts at 6pm BST.
He said he is “enormously proud” to be joining the Apple team.
Newson is good friends with Jonathan Ive, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Design. Ive described Newson as “extraordinarily talented”, which is pretty high praise from the iOS 7 lead.
Although Newson has designed a variety of products ranging from furniture to clothing, the designer does have a number of timepieces to his name.
"Marc is without question one of the most influential designers of this generation. He is extraordinarily talented", said Ive. “We are particularly excited to formalise our collaboration as we enjoy working together so much and have found our partnership so effective."
Although Newson is going to work on special Apple projects, he will still work on independent projects through his UK design studio.
"I'm full of admiration and respect for the extraordinary design work that has been produced by Jony and the team at Apple,” said Newson. "My close friendship with Jony has not only given me a unique insight into that process, but the opportunity to work together with him and the people that have been responsible. I am enormously proud to join them."
Apple has added several big name employees in the past few months, the majority of which are related to the wearable or fashion space – including Burberry Chief Executive Angela Ahrendts, Paul Deneve CEO of Yves Saint Laurent and Nike Design Director Ben Shaffer.
Read more: iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5S – What to expect
Via: Vanity Fair