Apple's design chief, architect of Liquid Glass, exits for Meta after 10 years

Apple's Design Helm Sees Major Shake-up as Key Figure Departs for Meta

Cupertino, CA – The landscape of design at Apple, a company renowned for its meticulous user experience, is undergoing a significant transformation. Alan Dye, the architect behind the visionary Liquid Glass interface and a successor to the legendary Jony Ive's design vision, is departing Apple after a decade of dedicated service. He is set to embark on a new chapter at Meta, signaling a potential shift in the design philosophies of both tech giants.

A Decade of Interface Innovation

Dye, who steered Apple's Human Interface Design division since 2015, took the reins at a pivotal moment. This was precisely when Jony Ive transitioned to the role of Chief Design Officer, entrusting Dye with the critical responsibility of the UI team. His tenure at Apple, which began in 2006, saw him evolve from a creative director in marketing to a pivotal member of Ive's team, significantly shaping the aesthetics and functionality of iOS 7 and its subsequent iterations, including iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and the groundbreaking visionOS. His most recent contributions include the intuitive interface for the Vision Pro and the ambitious overhaul of Liquid Glass, concepts that have pushed the boundaries of digital interaction.

A New Era Dawns with a Seasoned Hand

Apple, ever proactive in its talent management, has already identified a worthy successor. Stephen Lemay, a designer with an impressive track record spanning over 25 years and an integral part of Apple's interface design since 1999, will step into Dye's shoes. Tim Cook, in a statement to Bloomberg, lauded Lemay's commitment to quality and his embodiment of Apple's collaborative and creative ethos. "Stephen Lemay has been instrumental in crafting every major Apple interface since 1999," Cook remarked. "He has consistently set an extraordinarily high bar for quality and epitomizes Apple’s culture of collaboration and creativity. Design is fundamental to who we are at Apple, and we have an extraordinary team of designers today working on our most innovative product pipeline ever."

Meta's Strategic Gain, Apple's Reshuffle

Dye's departure, effective December 31st, marks a significant acquisition for Meta. He will assume the role of Director of Design, spearheading a new design studio focused on hardware, interfaces, and the seamless integration of artificial intelligence across Meta's product ecosystem, from virtual reality headsets to smart glasses. Notably, Billy Sorrentino, one of Dye's deputies at Apple, will reportedly join him at Meta, underscoring the strategic nature of this move. This influx of talent arrives at a time when Apple is experiencing a notable exodus of key leadership personnel. The recent announcement of John Giannandrea's departure, the Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, scheduled for spring 2026, adds to a series of high-profile exits, including Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams and Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri. The company has also seen the departure of Jony Ive himself, alongside a significant contingent of designers who have moved on to Ive's LoveFrom venture or joined OpenAI to collaborate on new hardware products under the io brand.