British iPhone designer admits ‘not so optimistic penalties’ of machine nonetheless ‘weigh’ on him

The British designer of the iPhone says the way it has transformed almost every aspect of modern life weighs on his mind.

Sir Jony Ive, 57, admits on Desert Island Discs on Radio 4 today that he and his family face the challenge of over-reliance on the phone.

He says: ‘You need a very particular resolve and discipline not to be drawn in and seduced.

‘But we’ve worked very hard recognising the power of these tools, to use them responsibly and carefully and like everybody I find that difficult.’

He says the ‘not so positive consequences’ of the iPhone were unintended, but adds: ‘That doesn’t matter relative to how I feel responsible. 

‘That weighs and is a contributor to decisions that I’ve made since.’

Father-of-two Sir Jony studied at Newcastle Polytechnic and joined Apple in 1992, staying until 2019.

His designs helped turn it into a trillion-dollar company, with more than two billion iPhones sold since 2007.

Sir Jony Ive, 57, admits on Desert Island Discs on Radio 4 today that he and his family face the challenge of over-reliance on the phone

Sir Jony (L) and Apple CEO Tim Cook inspect the new iPhone XR during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on September 12, 2018

Father-of-two Sir Jony studied at Newcastle Polytechnic and joined Apple in 1992, staying until 2019 (Pictured with the then Prince of Wales in 2022)

He reveals he was with Apple founder Steve Jobs when he died from cancer at 56 in 2011.

He says Mr Jobs had the clarity of vision to turn a sketch into a working product.

‘What I cherished was that it became a time of creating and nothing else really mattered.’

Desert Island Discs is on Radio 4 today at 10am and is available via BBC Sounds.