Meta hires Apple design chief to lead new creative studio
What's the story
Alan Dye, Apple's top design executive and head of its user interface team since 2015, is leaving the tech giant to join Meta. The move comes as part of Meta's strategy to expand into consumer devices such as smart glasses and virtual reality headsets. Dye, who will join Meta on December 31, will be focusing on enhancing AI capabilities in these products and will report directly to Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth.
Succession plan
Steve Lemay to replace Dye at Apple
With Dye's departure, Apple has announced that Steve Lemay will take over his role. Lemay is a veteran designer who has been instrumental in creating every major Apple interface since 1999. "He has always set an extraordinarily high bar for excellence and embodies Apple's culture of collaboration and creativity," said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a statement confirming the personnel changes.
Studio launch
Meta's new creative studio under Dye's leadership
Shortly after the news of Dye's exit from Apple, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a new creative studio within Reality Labs. The studio will be led by Dye and will include former Apple designer Billy Sorrentino, along with current Meta design leaders such as Joshua To. The aim of this new setup is to combine design, fashion, and technology for future products and experiences.
Design philosophy
Zuckerberg's vision for the new studio
Zuckerberg envisions the new studio as a place where "intelligence is treated as a new design material." He hopes to gather a talented team with skills in craft, creative vision, systems thinking, and deep experience building iconic products that bridge hardware and software. This move comes after Meta also hired researchers from OpenAI earlier this year.