Steve Jobs' most controversial design

Steve Jobs is often remembered as a visionary who was ahead of his time. Sophisticated design taste, meticulous attention to detail and always creating products that seamlessly combine form and function are what made Jobs and Apple famous. His contributions to product design are still considered standard in the tech world.

However, not all of the late Apple CEO's initiatives are loved by everyone. The skeuomorphic design language on the MacOS operating system has been criticized and caused a lot of controversy on Apple product lines. What's even more surprising is that the inspiration for this design comes from the seat covers in Steve Jobs's jet.

Apple internally argued over just one design

A style of design that simulates reality as much as possible, skeuomorphism uses images that are easily related to real objects.

For example, the clock icon will look like a real-life watch, the computer icon will have the shape of a regular computer. Steve Jobs believes that this approach will help make the interface simpler and as easy to use as possible.

Macintosh computers in the 1980s used skeuomorphism to depict real-world objects such as PCs, trash cans, folders, printers, and other icons.

When launching the iPhone in 2007, the company continued to use simulation design to bring familiarity to users. Skeuomorphism became the main design style on Apple's operating system in 2012, but was criticized.

Simulation design also became a major debate topic within Apple at that time.

iOS senior vice president Scott Forstal supported the design direction, while legendary industrial designer Jony Ive and other executives criticized it.

Internal sources also said that it was Steve Jobs who encouraged this approach.

"The iCal's design that simulates stitching on leather fabric was inspired by his Gulfstream jet," a former user interface design employee told Fast Company.

But there are many internal emails exchanged between Apple employees saying that this style is "so shameful, so terrible".

Obsessed with airplane interiors, Steve Jobs applied it to iOS

By 2012, Forstal was fired. Jony Ive and others have taken over the design of iOS. Ultimately, Apple replaced skeuomorphic elements with flat and toned down design in iOS 7 in 2013 - nearly two years after Jobs passed away.

"When we sat down and developed iOS together, we realized people were comfortable with touching glass. They didn't need physical buttons and understood the benefits of touch screens.

So not having to reference the real world gives a freedom to the design. We're trying to create a less specific interface, moving iOS design out of the old rut,' Ive told USA Today in 2013.

But why is Steve Jobs so obsessed with the design of his jet?

After leaving Apple in 1985, Jobs returned in 1997 when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. Therefore, he was assigned an impossible task: saving the life of an entire corporation. Within 3 years, Jobs created the biggest turnaround in history and paved the way for Apple to become the biggest and most popular brand of all time.

Although his initial salary was only $1/year, the board of directors generously rewarded Jobs for reviving the corporation. Apple CEO requested a brand new private jet. As a matter of course, his wish was happily fulfilled by the board members.

The plane that Steve Jobs was given was a Gulfstream V worth $45 million. It was manufactured by Gulfstream Aerospace from 1997-2002.

According to Luxury Launches , the Apple co-founder is crazy about airplanes and spent more than a year just customizing the interior. He even asked for help from Apple's chief design director, Jony Ive, who is famous for his legendary designs for the corporation.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 19 April 2024