Chief Apple designer Jony Ive has been appointed chancellor of London's Royal College of Art (RCA), it was announced on Thursday. Ive is set to take up the role in July and will replace British engineer Sir James Dyson, who has been provost of RCA since 2011.

jonyivecars1

"I am thrilled to formalise my relationship with the RCA, given the profound influence the college has had on so many of the artists and designers that I admire," Ive said in a statement.

"Our design team includes many RCA alumni, who embody the fundamental values of the college. I look forward to advising both the college and students, hoping that my experience proves useful in their work."

In his unpaid five-year term as head of the college, Ive will preside over meetings and help to govern RCA, which in 2017 was ranked the world's best institution for art and design for the third year in a row by QS University World Rankings.

"We are delighted to welcome Sir Jony Ive as our new chancellor," said Paul Thompson, RCA's rector. "It is a great honor to be joined by the world's leading designer of his generation, who has produced consistently innovative and commercially successful technology and design."

The designer of the iMac, iPod, and iPhone received an honorary doctorate from the RCA in 2009. Ive also holds honorary doctorates from Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and has received several other accolades from leading British institutions.

Top Rated Comments

djeeyore25 Avatar
110 months ago
Jony Ive: These Mac Pros are four years old! Why has the school updated them to the latest model?
RCA: These ARE the latest model.
Jony Ive: Oh, right. Sorry.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Crosscreek Avatar
110 months ago
I hope he can make art thinner.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Blackstick Avatar
110 months ago
Pretty long commute in to work, even by private jet.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordQ Avatar
110 months ago
As an Industrial Designer, he went from my favourite designer and inspiration to overrated trash.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
5105973 Avatar
110 months ago
I'm not entirely sure if that's a recent photo of him or not. He actually looks younger here, so I'm not sure if this is the most up-to-date photo. It might just be a stock photo MacRumors pulled off the Internet.
Oh that's a shame. If he's still large he does need now more than ever to get fit because when you get to be my/his age the extra weight is a health hazard of greater and more immediate consequence.

My husband and I are trying to get into better shape because we've already had some problems. Him with blood pressure and me with skating on the edge of insulin resistance. I'm not overweight, but I am not toned so I look mushy. As you know from working out, those of us who stop after a youth spent building up solid muscles will look and feel "off" if we let that hard work get out of shape in later years. I know it hasn't happened to you yet but I'm sure you're aware of what lies ahead due to your interest in fitness. I don't need to work out like I used to but I can't afford to let myself become a potato, either. I lost some ground last year due to having to scale back activities drastically after some surgery. After I get caught up with some home repairs and finishing up the last of the remodeling I hope to get back into an age appropriate fitness regimen. By age appropriate, I mean something that won't stress older joints and tendons.

Sorry, I've dragged us all a bit off topic. Well I must say I've admired what Jony I've has done for Apple hardware design. I think he took some concepts too far, but overall, he was very influential abd iconic and deserves credit for that. I wish him well. I do think it is time for a new generation to make their impact now. I would like to see more practicality married to aesthetics than is currently practiced.
[doublepost=1495819292][/doublepost]
That’s unfortunate. I was really hoping it would mean that he’s leaving Apple. I was thinking we might be able to get some half-decent products out of Apple without Johnny Ive making them too thin to be useful long-term. The problem with these thin-and-light designs is that they can’t be repaired or upgraded, making them disposable, which is terrible for the consumer and the environment. The old designs could be repaired, upgraded, and even recycled.
These thinner designs also don't leave enough room for proper cooling. I was reading that is a factor in issues Samsung has had with it's larger phone batteries overheating in too small chassis.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michaelgtrusa Avatar
110 months ago
Well deserved.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

ios 26 1 slide to stop

iOS 26.1 Brings Back 2007 Feature in New Way

Friday October 31, 2025 1:40 pm PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a small but helpful change for iPhones, and it could prevent you from running late to something important. Specifically, when an alarm goes off in the Clock app, there is a new "slide to stop" control on the screen for turning off the alarm. On previous iOS 26 versions, there is simply a large "stop" button, which could be accidentally tapped. The new ...
M5 MacBook Pro

Waiting for New Macs? Apple Just Shared Bad News

Friday October 31, 2025 7:32 am PDT by
Apple has just given a strong indication that it will not be releasing any additional new Macs for the remainder of the year. Apple's CFO Kevan Parekh dropped the hint during the company's earnings call on Thursday:On Mac, keep in mind, we expect to face a very difficult compare against the M4 MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac launches in the year-ago quarter.Parekh essentially gave a heads up ...
Apple Foldable Thumb

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Friday October 31, 2025 8:52 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that have been leaked about Apple's foldable iPhone so far. Ove...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Report: Apple to Launch These New Products in 2026

Sunday November 2, 2025 5:34 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch at least 15 new products in 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman outlined what to expect from Apple in 2026 in the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter. He said the company is heading "into one of its most pivotal years in recent memory," with the rollout of major new Apple Intelligence features, intense regulatory pressure on the App Store,...
Coffee Burgundy and Purple iPhone 18 Pro Mock 1

Leaker Outlines Potential New Colors for iPhone 18 Pro

Friday October 31, 2025 8:28 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could be available in new rich and warm color option, according to a known leaker. The Weibo user known as "Instant Digital" today suggested that next-year's iPhone 18 Pro models will be available in at least one of the following color options: Coffee, purple, and burgundy. The iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Pro were all available in ...
Apple Intelligence General Feature 2

New Version of Siri to 'Lean' on Google Gemini

Sunday November 2, 2025 6:06 am PST by
In his "Power On" newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today provided an update on the status of Apple Intelligence and the plans for it in 2026. Apple is still planning to roll out its revamped version of Siri around March of next year. The release should be accompanied by the release of a new smart home display product with speaker-base and wall-mount options. A new Apple TV and HomePod...
HomePod mini and Apple TV

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Likely Launching Soon

Sunday November 2, 2025 5:49 am PST by
A new Apple TV and HomePod mini could launch as soon as this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today suggested. In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple retail stores are planning an overnight refresh on the evening of November 11, where changes will be made after closing, such as refreshing displays and placing new products for the following day. The timing of the overnight...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

8 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Thursday October 30, 2025 4:42 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
iOS 26

6 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.1

Wednesday October 29, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple is about to drop iOS 26.1, the first major point release since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least six notable changes and improvements to look forward to. We've rounded them up below. Apple has already provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 26.1, which means Apple will likely roll out the update to all compatible...