The world's most famous designer has been at the centre

世上最著名的設計師已待在

of Apple's innovations for more than 20 years.

蘋果的創新核心超過 20 年。

His candy coloured iMacs helped to rescue Apple from the brink

他的糖果繽紛色彩 iMacs 系列

of bankruptcy in the late 1990s.

在 1990 年代使蘋果從破產邊緣起死回生。

Then, the iPod and the iPhone changed our relationship

接著， iPod 和 iPhone 改變了

with technology.

我們與科技的關係。

So, the clear goal was how we can

目標很明確，就是要如何

make the product accessible, not intimidating;

使產品更平易近人，而不是讓人懼怕；

how we can make it just so simple to use?

我們要怎麼讓產品好上手？

But now, Jony is changing his relationship with Apple.

但現在， Jony 正在改變與蘋果的關係。

Just don't call it a break-up.

但別說這是分手就是了。

When I spoke to Jony this week, he

這週我找 Jony 談時，

told me that he would be starting

他告訴我，他正在開啟

a new venture of his own called LoveFrom,

一場屬於他自己的冒險叫做 LoveFrom，

with Apple as his first client.

而蘋果會是他第一個客戶。

Jony told me he hopes to stay very

Jony 和我說，他希望依然能

involved in Apple's product development

參與蘋果產品的開發，

for many, many years to come.

在接下來的好幾年希望都能維持這種關係。

Still, his departure later this year

但依然，年底他的離去

will mark the end of an era for Apple.

會為他的蘋果時代劃上句號。

To create something that's genuinely new,

要創造一個真正的新產品，

you have to start again, and I think with great intent,

你需要再重新開始，我認為這需要用強大的意志，

you disconnect from the past.

來斷開和過去的連繫。

Jony was Steve Jobs's closest ally

Jony 過去曾是賈伯斯關係最密切的盟友

in dreaming up everything, from breakthrough

一同天馬行空發想新玩意兒，

new products to its new headquarters at Apple Park.

從創造新產品，到在蘋果園區建立新總部。

The incredible run of hits that they produced together

他們共同開發出的一件件熱賣商品

is unmatched in Silicon Valley and beyond,

是矽谷和其他公司所無法匹敵的，

turning Apple at one point into the world's

使蘋果一度成為世上

most profitable and valuable company.

最賺錢也最有價值的公司。

But despite the continued success

但即使在賈柏斯的逝世後 iPhone 仍持續成功熱銷，

of the iPhone after Jobs's death and the popularity

穿帶式裝置

of wearable devices, such as Apple Watch and AirPods

像是 Apple Watch 和 AirPods 也越來越受歡迎，

in the last couple of years, Apple

在近幾年，蘋果

is no longer the world's most valuable company.

已不再是世上最有價值的公司了。

Today, it is Microsoft, not Apple,

目前，最有價值的公司是微軟而不是蘋果，

that is valued at more than a trillion dollars,

微軟現在的市值高過蘋果一兆多美元，

as investors fret about a sudden drop in iPhone sales

這是因為投資人擔憂 iPhone 銷量的暴跌

and the impact of the US-China trade war.

和中美貿易戰的影響所致。

Jony insists that none of that is why he is leaving right now.

Jony 否認這些是他選擇現在離開蘋果的原因。

Instead, I got a sense from him that, even

他反而讓我覺得

with all the resources at his disposal inside Apple,

即使需放棄蘋果的資源，

he wanted to make his mark outside the tech industry.

他也要在科技業之外也闖出名號。

That expansion had already begun with his work

其版圖的延伸已隨著他的布局展開

on Apple Park, where his tight knit design

在蘋果園區裡，他組織縝密的設計團隊

team has a new studio designed to foster

有一個新的工作室要用來建構

greater collaboration.

更堅強的合作關係。

But it is perhaps telling that despite an expanded design

但這似乎也表示，

role for Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating

即使首席執行長 Jeff Williams 在設計方面的角色已更為吃重，

officer, and an experienced team of designers under him,

再加上旗下的資深設計團隊，

nobody else at Apple will be taking Jony's title

仍然沒有人能繼承

of chief design officer.

Jony 首席設計長的頭銜。

At Apple, it seems, Jony Ive is irreplaceable,

在蘋果，似乎 Jony Ive 是無可取代的，

even when he no longer works there.

即使他離職後也是如此。