It's no surprise to hear that Apple continually wins design awards around the world. Until now they've usually gone uncollected, but last night Jony Ive shipped out his entire senior design team to London to pick up two gongs—and perhaps signal that his influence is more important than ever.


Apple was named the best brand and the best design studio of the last 50 years at London's Design & Art Direction (D&AD) awards. While Ive normally ignores such events, he showed up in Battersea Park, London, to collect the awards—along with all 16 of his senior design team. According to the Evening Standard it's the first time the designers have ever attended an awards ceremony.

The move no doubt hints that Ive is perhaps the most important figure at Apple. While Tim Cook may officially be at the helm, it's well-known that Jony was extremely close to Steve Jobs. Indeed, speaking to biographer Walter Isaacson Jobs noted that "there's no one who can tell [Jony] what to do. That's the way I set it up." Clearly, that's the way it's staying. [Evening Standard via Verge]