Jony Ive talks design challenges of the Apple Watch

By Joseph Keller
published

Apple design head Jony Ive has given some insight into how Apple approached the design of the Apple Watch. Ive spoke about designing the Watch at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art this week. He said that the project was more challenging than the iPhone, in part due to the societal views on watches, according to the Wall Street Journal:

"Even though Apple Watch does so many things, there are cultural, historical implications and expectations," Ive said. "That's why it's been such a difficult and humbling program."

Ive also emphasized that the wrist is a great place for quick interactions like looking at messages, but that the Apple Watch wouldn't be suited for bigger tasks like reading a long document or email.

What are your expectations of the Apple Watch when it launches early next year? Leave your thoughts with us in the comments.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Joseph Keller
Joseph Keller

Joseph Keller is the former Editor in Chief of iMore. An Apple user for almost 20 years, he spends his time learning the ins and outs of iOS and macOS, always finding ways of getting the most out of his iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.

9 Comments
  • I believe the Apple Watch will be a color version of what the Pebble Watch currently is. It will have a excellent build quality, beautiful display and integrate seamlessly with the iPhone. I currently own a Pebble and honestly feel naked without it. The few times I've forgot to put it on I catch myself looking at my wrist everytime my iPhone vibrates. It's truly great teammate to my iPhone. I expect no difference from the Apple Watch. My only vice with the Apple Watch will be the constant charging of it. If Apple and other smart watch makers truly want to innovate start with the power source. Whoever can revolutionize that industry will definitely win the war of the smart watch! Great article! :-)
  • It needs to be a finished polished project. I don't have time for my watch to be buggy. The battery life is also a concern but if I can get through a FULL day I won't be too bothered by it. The price is higher than I had hoped so it's not something I'll probably get right away. It will probably be something more along the lines of a birthday present later in the year.
  • Designing a brand new product is extremely difficult. But once you have a product making it better is a lot easier. For example the second iPhone is a lot better than the first. Or the second iPad was so much better that it even runs ios8 and was sold until last year while the first iPad is completely gone. (I never saw one in person) so in my opinion the second watch will be a lot much better especially since apple will find out what exactly customers want. I will probably not buy the first generation. But I will definitely check it out once it comes out and make my final decision. Sent from the iMore App
  • Looks like no one cares. Sent from the iMore App
  • I personally think the watch looks beautiful, has some sexy lines like my iPhone, and wanna give Sir Johnny a high five for the hard work. I'm getting a gen 1 watch and will upgrade as often as possible. My WiThings pulse is nice but I need more tech and this seems to be exactly what I need.
  • I will almost certainly get an Apple watch but the unknown upgrade cycle is going to really bother me. If after a one year it's already thinner with better battery life (which is pretty likely), it's going to annoy me. Not because I don't appreciate the progress but because I will think they should've waited one more year before releasing it. The price of early adoption could be high with this product. Sent from the iMore App
  • One thing to keep in mind is Apple has an incredibly high resale value. Personally I'm not a fan of the watch but I think if I was interested in it I'd wait for gen. 2 to be released. Sent from the iMore App
  • I'll wait for Watch 2 .
  • I dunno, it's nice. BIt we still don't know if it'll be good