Airbnb confidentially filed for an IPO earlier this year.
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Airbnb is teaming up with legendary former Apple Inc. design chief Jony Ive to develop new products and services.
In a blog post Wednesday, Airbnb co-founder and Chief Executive Brian Chesky said he’s long admired Ive, who helped design the iMac, iPod iPhone and Apple stores, among other things, during his long tenure at the tech giant.
“We share the same belief in the value and importance of creativity and design,” said Chesky, who has a design background himself. “We each believe not only in making objects and interfaces, but in crafting services and experiences.”
Ive left Apple AAPL, -0.54% in 2019, after 27 years. Chesky said Ive’s new company, LoveFrom, will collaborate with Airbnb on a multi-year deal “to design the next generation of Airbnb products and services,” as well as help with hiring for Airbnb’s design team.
“I hope all of this speaks to the seriousness of our design-driven approach,”
Chesky said. “We believe that working together will be an important and powerful creative partnership.”
Airbnb’s business was hammered by coronavirus-related lockdowns earlier this year, laying off about a quarter of its workforce, but booking began to rebound as people started venturing away from home during the summer.
The San Francisco-based company confidentially filed for an initial public offering in August. The IPO is expected before year’s end, and will likely be one of the biggest public debuts of 2020.
