Apple Releases 'Designed by Apple in California' Book, Paying Tribute to 20 Years of Company History

By Christian Pilares
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
The iPhone is just one of the products featured in Apple's new book. Maurizio Pesce/ Wikipedia

Apple just released a book that pays tribute to the last twenty years of the company's history and products. Designed By Apple In California has a lot in common with Apple's gadgets; it took more than eight years to finish it, it is bound in stark white linen, printed on special paper, and it has an exorbitant price tag.

A Typical Apple Product

The book is about the last 20 years of the company's industrial design. Most of those years is under the helm of Steve Jobs, and people can just imagine the late CEO approving of the book. The book has 450 pages and it is made up of photographs shot by Andrew Zuckerman in the signature minimalist style of Apple. The book is filled with photos of iPhones, and Apple Watches, and Macbooks. But it also shows how some of these products are made.

There are photos of the tools used in creating the products and prototypes. It shows the journey of a product from being a concept, to a prototype, and finally to a working product that is ready for the consumers.

Jony Ive says that the book is more than just a documentation of Apple's design process. He says that it is an objective presentation of their work and of who they are.

But what makes the book a typical Apple product more than anything else is the price. The large version sells for $300, while the smaller one can be bought for $200. That's a bit pricey for a coffee-table book of pictures of gadget parts.

But aside from the price, the book has the typical Apple attention to detail. The bound pages are actually edged with silver, giving it an elegant look. The printing too is something else and the images are very clear and seem to jump out of the pages.

The photos by Zuckerman were very clear and has that minimalist style that has always been the mark of Apple since its resurgence. Some of the most eye-catching shots were the ones of the gadgets that were broken down to their components. There were pictures of the older Apple products like the colorful iMacs of the 90s. Towards the latter part of the book, the gadgets become more modern.

The book is going to be a bestseller for sure. With millions of Apple fans all over the world waiting to get their hands on their own copy even as they complain about the price.

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories