Jonathan Ive: 'Those Three Black Splits Are Co-Molded In'

Jonathan Ive discusses the design of the iPhone 4 with Core77, noting that its manufacturing tolerances are phenomenal.

"A big part of the experience of a physical object has to do with the materials," said Jonathan Ive, Apple's Senior Vice President of Design, during a brief chat with Core77. "[At Apple] we experiment with and explore materials, processing them, learning about the inherent properties of the material--and the process of transforming it from raw material to finished product; for example, understanding exactly how the processes of machining it or grinding it affect it. That understanding, that preoccupation with the materials and processes, is [very] essential to the way we work."

"Those three black splits are co-molded in, and then the band goes through more processes," Ive points out. "So it's assembled first, the band, and then the final machining and grinding are performed, so the tolerances are extraordinary.... Whatever people's feelings are about the actual design of the product is of course subjective. But objectively I can say that the manufacturing tolerances are phenomenal. And we determined this, we designed it from the very beginning to meet those goals."


Hit the link below to read more of Ive's thoughts on design and his advice for students.

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