On the heels of Sunday’s passive aggressive Tim Cook profile (my take here, Jim’s take here), The Times posted a brief interview they did with Jony Ive that served as background material.

Jony Ive has the heart of a sculptor. He works with a variety of material, immersing himself, learning the various properties, then brings out the design hidden in the material.

Deep in the culture of Apple is this sense and understanding of design, developing and making. Form and the material and process – they are beautifully intertwined – completely connected. Unless we understand a certain material — metal or resin and plastic — understanding the processes that turn it from ore, for example – we can never develop and define form that’s appropriate.

There’s a strong sense of legacy, of values deeply entrenched in the Apple culture.

Steve established a set of values, and he established preoccupations and tones that are completely enduring – and he established those principles with a small team of people. I’ve been ridiculously lucky to be part of it. But Tim was very much part of that team – for that last 15 or 20 years.

Steve Jobs was the driving force that created this culture, but Tim and Jony, Craig and Phil, and the myriad talented folks who work with them, they carry this culture in their DNA, they bring these products to life, carry that legacy forward.