• by Steve Smith  @popeyesm, January 3, 2012

British-born Apple Senior VP of Industrial Design Jonathan Ive is to be knighted by his native land. According to the list of public figures slated to receive the status in 2012, Ive will be named a "Knight Commander." The 44-year-old designer of the iPod and iPhone has been with Apple since 1992, but was born in London. Ive told the BBS: “I was keenly aware that I benefit from a wonderful tradition in the UK of designing and making. To be recognized with this honor is absolutely thrilling and I am both humbled and sincerely grateful.” Ive is among 984 people on the list of honorees -- which includes actress Helena Bonham Carter for her charity work and golfer Rory McIlroy.

Ive has been leading the design team at Apple since 1996 and is responsible for almost all of the striking hardware the company has produced since then, including the recent touchscreen and Mac Air products. He reports directly to CEO Tim Cook. Ive’s native land has honored him repeatedly, including a 2003 Designer of the Year award from the Design Museum in London and title as Royal Designer for Industry by The Royal Society for the Arts.