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In a very poignant tribute to the late Steve Jobs, President Obama noted that most of the world would hear news of his death on a device he invented, an accurate testament to how many lives he touched.
It’s true, many of us were surfing the net on our Mac computers, scrolling through our iPhones, or browsing our iPads when the news of Jobs’ passing was announced.
Jobs and the rest of the creative team at Apple took products and brought them into the realm of art. Not only was Apple releasing smarter and faster products, every one was more sexy and sleek than its predecessor.
(CU Independent Illustration/Chelsea Shettler)
What we have in the wake, thanks in part to the attractive face Apple put on the tech industry, is a cultural stronghold by geeks. A counter-culture of quirk and charm, geek-chic has quickly permeated all facets of popular culture.
The geek is the new leading man, as proven in every Judd Apatow film. And the day that Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie married Zooey Deschanel it was solidified that geeks were poised to dominate the world.
Together, Jobs and Apple created a reputation among consumers as the leaders of the pack when it came to innovation and aspiration. It’s only fitting that the word “visionary” has come to be synonymous with the late founder.
In a sense, Jobs is one of the greatest and most influential designers of our generation. On a skeletal level, the business model for Apple is the same as that of any fashion house: What’s in this season, is out next season. It seems the Apple empire left an unquenchable thirst for the next great product.
The age old fashion motto, “thin is in,” found a second home as Apple prided itself on the compactness of their products. Jobs clearly understood the importance of silhouette and sex appeal. With strong lines and an elegant display, every aspect of an Apple product was crafted with an eye for aesthetics down to the most meticulous detail.
Not satisfied with run-of-the-mill, Jobs did what any up-and-coming designer dreams of doing. He took a product beyond a brand, beyond a label, beyond a title. He took it to the level of a status symbol. Apple products are the haute couture of the tech industry; their image blending seamlessly with the geek-chic lifestyle.
A healthy balance between hipster and prepster is the best way to articulate the geek-chic style. Tight check patterns and bow ties for the guys, silk blouses and high waisted skirts for girls. One key element: there aren’t plastic lenses in those thick rim glasses.
The vision Jobs had manifested itself in the coffee shop kids with their soy lattes, subscriptions to The New Yorker on their iPad, and James Blake tunes streaming from iconic white headphones. It has become apparent that Jobs successfully made Apple products a must-have accessory for any outfit, and for any occasion.
What Apple added to this emerging culture, was encouragement of artistic minds. Jobs’ own creative imagination inspired the world to dream. And in a new world of dreamers, a platform was given for those very creatives to thrive, The output of this new generation of creators has been nothing short of avant-garde.
As Apple looks to a future without their beloved founder, many are left reflecting on the gifts Jobs has given them. For our childhood, we thank you for Pixar. For our adulthood, we thank you for Apple. And for everything in between, we thank you for your passion.
Steve Jobs, you will be missed.
Contact CU Independent writer Kyle Warner at Kyle.R.Warner@gmail.com.
