Apple designer Ive to be knighted

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LONDON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Apple Inc.'s head designer Jonathan Ive, a Briton, is being awarded a rare perk. He is to be knighted, he has confirmed.

Ive said he was "both humbled and sincerely grateful," to be knighted and that the honor was "absolutely thrilling," the British Broadcasting Corp. reported Saturday.

The Los Angeles Times quoted Ive as saying, "I am keenly aware that I benefit from a wonderful tradition in the U.K. of designing and making. I discovered at an early age that all I've ever wanted to do is design."

Ive's design skills helped shape Apple's iPod, iPhone and iPad, all of which became blockbuster products that turned Apple into the world's biggest corporation.

Ive said pulling things apart and putting them back together was what he did since early childhood. By age 14, he knew making "stuff" would be his life's pursuit.

He became interested in drawing and attended Northumbria Polytechnic, which is now Northumbria University, the BBC said.

At Apple, his career floundered until co-founder Steve Jobs returned to the company in 1995. After that, it flourished. He is described as the "spiritual partner" of the late Jobs, who died in October after a long battle with cancer.