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Star Wars 7: iPad Designer Jony Ive Influenced Kylo Ren's Lightsaber Design

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It was one of the major talking points of the first ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens' trailer and the conversation about THAT lightsaber continues to rumble on.

The latest nugget of info about the controversial cross hilt lightsaber wielded by Kylo Ren in the trailer is that Apple designer Jony Ive gave JJ Abrams some pointers on its design, specifically its unfinished blade.

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The revelation comes courtesy of a New Yorker profile which states: “Ive once sat next to J. J. Abrams at a boozy dinner party in New York, and made what Abrams recalled as “very specific” suggestions about the design of lightsabres [sic].”

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The British designer responsible for the iPod, iPad, and iPhone adds that although he didn’t suggest the cross-blade design, he did suggest the raw, untamed nature of its blade.

“I thought it would be interesting if it were less precise, and just a little bit more spitty.” A redesigned weapon could be “more analog and more primitive, and I think, in that way, somehow more ominous.”

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Above: Sir Jony Ive

It’s a bit ironic that a designer who has been applauded for his smooth, clean designs would suggest such a rough unkempt appearance for a lightsaber, but it’s clear that the Force moves in mysterious ways.

Apple’s Senior VP of Design has been described as Steve Jobs’ “spiritual partner” having helped the tech giant usher in many key products and innovations during his time at the Cupertino firm.

He was Knighted in 2012 for “services to design and enterprise”, but it seems this British KBE has more in common with the Sith that the Jedi Knights.

In case you needed reminding, ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ is coming to cinemas on 18 December. Watch the first trailer below.

Image credit: Lucasfilm/REX