Eugene Whang, a previous hardware designer for Apple who devoted 22 years to the corporation prior to teaming up with Jony Ive at LoveFrom, has shared his perspectives on the creation of the AirPods Max in a recent discussion with Highsnobiety.
Whang reflects on the comprehensive design journey that the Apple crew undertook for the AirPods Max, emphasizing the various elements they needed to take into account, including the wide variety of head and ear shapes. The design team examined the headphones as three separate products: the headband, the case, and the ear cushions. Whang highlighted that the cushions posed a specific challenge due to the numerous variations in human anatomy, resulting in the team investigating “hundreds and hundreds of variations” throughout the five years of development.
A noteworthy design decision was Apple’s choice to omit branding from the AirPods Max. Whang clarified that the company intended to steer clear of “branding your head,” concentrating instead on the product’s aesthetic and functional attributes.
Whang’s path to Apple commenced when he pursued mentorship from a designer within the team. Assuming that Jony Ive would be preoccupied, he reached out to a different designer he discovered in the Apple directory, showcasing his proactive mindset regarding career growth.
During his time at Apple, Whang played a role in the design of several iconic products, including the iPod nano, iPhone, and the original AirPods. He underscored Jony Ive’s influence in safeguarding the design team from the demands of the business side of the organization, permitting them to concentrate on creativity and innovation. Whang commented on the evolution of Apple during his tenure, transforming from a rebellious entity into a leading player in technology and the global economy, with Ive protecting the design team from outside pressures.
After departing from Apple, Whang became part of LoveFrom, a design firm co-founded by Ive and Marc Newson. However, he left a few years later due to personal circumstances and a reassessment of his priorities.
The complete interview with Whang offers additional insights and features images of other Apple products he helped design, along with sketches of an undisclosed piece of hardware. For those keen on discovering more, the full interview is available on Highsnobiety’s website.