The designer of the Apple iPod and iPhone calls for physical buttons to return to car interiors

The original designer of the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad during his 22-year tenure as Apple design chief - Sir Jony Ive - has claimed that new car buyers will increase the demand for physical buttons to return in automotive entertainment systems.

Speaking at a panel session at a conference in the US - alongside Apple CEO Tim Cook and Laurene Powell Jobs (widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs) - Ive said there are merits to the design of multi-touch screens, but car buyers will demand for physical controls to return.

"I do think there are fabulous affordances with interfaces like, for example, multi-touch [the technology allowing for pinching and zooming on phone screens]. But we do remain physical beings. I think, potentially, the pendulum may swing a little to have interfaces and products that will take more time and are more engaged physically", Ive said.

In 2019, Ive stepped away from Apple to start design firm LoveFrom with fellow former Apple Watch designer Marc Newson. A number of other ex-Apple user interface designers also joined them. In 2021, LoveFrom announced a creative partnership with Exor - the holding company of the Agnelli family who controls Ferrari.

At the time, Ferrari Chairman John Elkann said LoveFrom would contribute to creative projects with the Italian car maker.

Source: Drive