In late 2011, Queen Elizabeth II knighted Apple’s then-chief design officer Jonathan Ive. Now, when Charles III is going to be crowned on May 6th, Ive’s design studio has unveiled a special emblem for the coronation festivities.
Jony Ive had worked at Apple for 27 years, creating, among other things, Bondi Blue, a shade of blue, that was used for the back of the legendary iMac introduced in 1998 — a turning point in Apple’s history. The forms of iPhone and MacBook Pro owe to Ive, too. In 2019, he left the company to start his own business with LoveForm, a team of creative people working in different directions.
The coronation emblem designed by Ive and LoveForm will officially be presented during the festivities in May, including the coronation service at Westminster Abbey and a coronation concert at Windsor Palace as well as national holidays, public meetings, and street parties. It will also be featured on merchandise and displayed in digital media.
The logo celebrates “the King’s love for nature”, according to the British Royal Family. The design combines the floral symbols of the four nations of the United Kingdom: the rose for England, the thistle for Scotland, the narcissus for Wales, and the trefoil for Northern Ireland. The flowers together form St. Edward’s Crown which is the principal piece in the Royal Regalia traditionally used for the coronation of British monarchs. Furthermore, the emblem is designed in red, white, and blue, the colors of the Union Jack, which additionally represent the UK’s national symbolism.
Commenting on the emblem, Ive said it is an honor for him and his team to contribute to the coronation of Charles III. Inspired by the King’s activity to support environmental projects, the design conveys “the happy optimism of spring” and celebrates the beginning of a new era for the UK.
The coronation emblem is not the only work that was created or coordinated by Ive for the Royal Family recently. In 2021, he developed a special seal for Terra Carta, a substantive finance charter, launched by Charles, that asks its signatories to follow some principles to become more sustainable and make investments in environmental projects. Just like the coronation emblem, the Terra Carta seal features an intricate floral design and circular lettering in a serif font.
