Jony Ive Designs Seal For King Charles III’s Space Sustainability Venture
By Mikelle Leow, 29 Jun 2023
Image via Sustainable Markets Initiative
Things have surprisingly been looking up for Sir Jony Ive ever since he left his post as Apple’s longtime design chief. By “up,” think bigger and higher than you can go, like space.
Together with his independent creative studio LoveFrom, Ive has designed the official seal for King Charles III’s Astra Carta initiative, which calls for accountability by private space-related businesses “to care for the infinite wonders of the universe.”
Image via Sustainable Markets Initiative
Astra Carta’s emblem is the latest from Ive and LoveFrom’s continuing work with the royal, which includes the seal for Terra Carta, the environmental innovation program Charles launched back when he was heir to the throne, and, later, His Majesty’s coronation logo.
The monarch unveiled the new design at Buckingham Palace this week, where he welcomed astronauts, environmentalists, scientists, and business leaders, with Ive in attendance, to share his framework for space sustainability. Astra Carta holds caring for the cosmos at about the same regard as how the King’s Terra Carta prioritizes Earth, focusing on ways to reduce emissions and trash in space.
Reflecting the initiative’s otherworldly aspirations, Astra Carta’s seal encapsulates elements from astronomical charts, constellation maps, and astrophotography, and is woven with “sacred geometry.”
As a lovely touch, it’s also animated, because stars and planets revolve at all times.
Click to play
Video via Sustainable Markets Initiative
“We were fascinated by the celestial rhythms that were illuminated during this design process, and how they are profoundly connected to the patterns of life on Earth,” Ive explains.
“This feels a crucial time to do more to protect the natural world in the broadest sense, and we are deeply honored to have been able to contribute to this important and pioneering project,” the renowned designer continues.
Looking deeper, you’ll see that Earth is at the heart of the symbol, and it’s parallel to the Sun and the Moon, the latter of which is at an annular eclipse. In the far distance, you’ll find Mercury, Mars, and the dance of Venus.
The intricate piece also depicts constellations from the Northern and Southern hemispheres, like Polaris, Ursa Major, Cepheus, Leo, Orion, Monoceros, Crux, and Centaurus.
Despite the futuristic themes, the seal retains the same classical feel of King Charles’ nature-inspired Terra Carta and coronation designs, with a notable difference being that it’s steeped in an “infinite blackness” with shimmering space dust. St. Edward’s Crown and Ive’s LoveFrom Serif typeface remain as mainstays.
Image via Sustainable Markets Initiative
“Inspired by His Majesty’s vision, the Astra Carta is a collective call to action that seeks to unite the public and private sectors and other stakeholders in a shared commitment to the responsible and sustainable use of outer space,” says Jennifer Jordan Saifi, CEO of Sustainable Markets Initiative, which oversees Terra Carta.
“The Astra Carta harnesses the power of collective will, curiosity, scientific discovery, sustainability, and ethical stewardship to guide us in this new frontier of possibilities. This means placing sustainability at the center of all that we do across the space value chain.”
[via AppleInsider and Fast Company, video and images via Sustainable Markets Initiative]