I’m pleased that I can finally share a project I’ve been working on for the last year with illustrator Guy Shield and former principal engineer of iPhone software, Ken Kocienda. I’ve wanted to work with Guy for nearly a decade, and this felt like the perfect project. Creative Selection is a book told from a uniquely first-person perspective. While we had to settle for black and white, the images still serve their purpose—transporting you to important moments throughout Ken’s time at Apple, from the birth of Safari to the iPhone, and beyond.
And the reviews are pretty good, too:
“I’ve literally been waiting a decade for this book. Ken Kocienda takes you inside Apple in way only a true insider, a veteran software developer, could. Creative Selection is the answer to the prayer uttered by anyone who wants to truly understand how Apple works. I couldn’t put it down.”
Adam Lashinsky
New York Times bestselling author of Inside Apple
“I’d be interested in the behind-the-scenes story of any Apple product. But if there is one I’m most interested in, it’s the iPhone. Kocienda delivers just that, and it truly is extraordinary. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in how Apple actually creates its products.”
John Gruber
Daring Fireball
“Ken Kocienda played pivotal roles in the creation of both Safari and the original iPhone. One of the hardest problems―and biggest risks―of the first iPhone was the development of a multi-touch keyboard. I placed this formidable responsibility squarely in Ken’s hands, and the success of the keyboard emerged from his insights, collaboration, and dogged pursuit of excellence. He now offers readers, in his own words, a window into his experiences and insights from the trenches.”
Scott Forstall
Original iPhone Software Team Leader and SVP iOS, Apple
“Creative Selection is simply the best book I've read so far about Apple.”
Rene Ritchie
Vector with Rene Ritchie, episode 157
A few samples from the book:
