Building Apple's Design Studio

The Genesis of Centralized Application Design at Apple

I removed the year from this plaque for those of us on the Apple Design Team who didn't have team plaques during our tenure with the company. Photo credit: Jason Yuan

As a lead feature designer at Apple from 1999-2005, I helped build Apple's first centralized application design team and culture, defining design patterns for pro, productivity and consumer apps. I made major contributions to .Mac, the iTunes Music Store, iLife apps, OS X, and hardware integration. I worked closely with Steve Jobs to conceive iTunes and pioneer Apple's design language. Through prototypes, research, and guidelines, I brought Apple experiences to life and helped shape the Apple design philosophy still felt today.

1999 - Joins Apple as Sr. Interface Engineer
1999 - Onboarded to the Apple brand by CKS
2000 - Launches iTools online service
2000 - Works on initial HIG for Mac OS X
2000 - Changes roles to Senior Designer
2001 - Works on .Mac service, successor to iTools
2001 - Begins work on iTunes Music Store
2001 - Designs the interface for Apple's first webmail system
2002 - Designs iPod software integration with iTunes
2003 - Works visual language for iLife and iWork app experiences
2003 - Launches iTunes Music Store with Jobs; 99¢/song
2003 - Contributes to Final Cut Pro, Garageband and Logic Pro
2003 - Contributes to OS X Panther (10.3) interface designs
2004 - Launches iTunes Music Store for PC and Internationally
2005 - Departs Apple to found private practice: Darius/Design

5 years @ Apple signed by Steve Jobs

A special invitation from Michael…

Dear readers,

In the spirit of craftsmanship that has always driven our work, I'm excited to share a unique opportunity to be part of a narrative that redefined the digital era. To honor the contributions of our community, I am offering a 20% discount which is good forever for those who join as annual members in the next chapter of this adventure: a book that captures the essence of our design breakthroughs.

Founding members will be acknowledged on the book's donors page in addition to their year membership. Your support is pivotal in bringing this story to print—a story that intertwines technology, design, and the human experience in ways that have forever altered how we interact with the digital world.

Skeuomorphic Design: Lessons from Apple's Golden Era (1999-2005) delves into the transformative years when Apple, under the guidance of Steve Jobs, championed skeuomorphic design to create some of the most iconic and people-friendly digital interfaces. Drawing from firsthand accounts of designers who worked closely with Jobs, this book offers a comprehensive guide to the principles, tools, and techniques that defined skeuomorphic design during this pivotal period. Featuring case studies of landmark Apple products and a detailed look at the design environment fostered by Jobs, this book serves as both a historical document and a practical manual. It aims to inspire and educate designers, historians, and design enthusiasts about the art and craft of creating digital interfaces that mimic real-world experiences.

Your engagement as either an annual member or a founding member will not only help preserve the rich history of design that we have crafted together but will also continue to inspire future generations of creators and innovators.

I look forward to rekindling the magic that we created and sharing it with the world through your eyes and stories.

Warm regards,
Michael Darius
Darius/Design

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