- Steve Jobs entrusted Jony Ive with designing a revolutionary computer to revive Apple.
- In 1997, Apple faced severe financial struggles and desperately needed a breakthrough product.
- The vibrant iMac design became a game-changer, selling 800,000 units in 1999.
When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, he turned to designer Jony Ive in a last-ditch effort to rescue the company. During their first encounter, Jobs gave Ive an urgent task—design a network computer with internet capabilities, just days before Apple was on the verge of collapse. Ive shared this experience on BBC’s Desert Island Discs podcast.
At the time, Apple’s financial situation was dire, and it took a $150 million investment from Microsoft to regain stability. With the company’s future hanging by a thread, Jobs handed Ive what seemed like an insurmountable challenge. This project was the world’s first glimpse of Ive’s transformative approach to tech design.
“From the very first day we met, we started working on what would become the iMac,” Ive recalled.
Back then, personal computers had yet to become an everyday necessity, and many found them intimidating. Jobs and Ive focused on creating a user-friendly design, a principle that became Apple’s defining edge over competitors.
Ive meticulously crafted every aspect of the iMac to make it more appealing to consumers. The distinctive handle, for example, wasn’t just aesthetic—it was designed to create familiarity and accessibility for users who were new to computers.
“It instantly references your hand, making the object feel approachable and intuitive,” Ive explained.
The iMac’s bold, translucent colors and striking design sparked more conversations than technical specifications like gigahertz and hard drive sizes. The candy-colored computers became an instant sensation, selling 800,000 units within the first five months of their 1999 launch.
“It felt alive—it wasn’t static or rigid,” Ive said.
Apple introduced the iMac with the playful tagline: “Collect all five.”
Over the years, the iMac has undergone several redesigns. By the mid-2000s, Apple transitioned from its colorful aesthetic to sleek grays and whites, but in 2021, it reintroduced vibrant colors to its desktop lineup.
Following the iMac’s success, Ive went on to design some of Apple’s most iconic products, deepening his friendship with Jobs. He played a pivotal role in shaping the iPhone, iPad, and other groundbreaking devices, eventually becoming Apple’s Chief Design Officer. After 27 years at the company, Ive announced his departure in 2019.
