Apple is undergoing yet another shift within its design ranks, following the departure of Abidur Chowdhury — one of the lead industrial designers behind the iPhone Air and the face of its launch video. Chowdhury’s move to an artificial intelligence startup marks the latest change in a division that has already seen significant turnover in recent years.
According to people familiar with the situation, Chowdhury’s exit drew considerable attention inside Apple because of his growing profile and influential role within the design organization. Although the company declined to comment, his departure comes at a time when Apple’s design group is continuing to evolve in the years following Jony Ive’s exit.
From Behind the Scenes to On-Camera at a Major Apple Event
Chowdhury became widely recognized within Apple’s internal and external circles after he was chosen to present the iPhone Air during the company’s high-profile September event. His appearance in the two-minute segment — an in-depth video highlighting the design philosophy and engineering behind the device — placed him among a small number of designers entrusted with showcasing new flagship products.
Appearing in these videos is considered a major endorsement of a designer’s influence on a product. At the same event, the iPhone 17 Pro was unveiled through a video narrated by Molly Anderson, Apple’s new design chief. Chowdhury’s presence alongside her signaled his rising status and the importance of his work.
Although the iPhone Air was widely praised for its lightweight build and modern aesthetic, sales have not met early expectations. Even so, Apple is expected to move ahead with a second-generation version planned for 2027.
Joining Apple During a Defining Moment
Chowdhury’s journey at Apple began in 2019 — the same year Jony Ive, the company’s long-standing design visionary, left after decades of shaping products from the iMac to the iPhone. His arrival represented the beginning of a new chapter for Apple’s design culture.
Since Ive’s departure, the design group has experienced near-complete transformation. Many veterans have retired or moved on to other companies, including Ive’s own design firm, LoveFrom. The team that exists today is a mix of new hires from across the global design industry, along with younger Apple designers who have stepped into more prominent roles.
Within this new generation, Chowdhury emerged as one of the promising voices helping influence the direction of Apple’s industrial design. His involvement with the iPhone Air placed him at the center of Apple’s push toward sleeker, lighter devices — part of a broader attempt to modernize product identity while incorporating emerging technologies such as AI.
Broader Turmoil Within Apple’s Design and UI Teams
Chowdhury’s departure is not occurring in isolation. Apple’s design organization has been experiencing widespread change, from senior leadership to specialized teams.
Last week, longtime Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams — who had overseen Apple’s design group since Ive’s exit — left the company. His oversight connected design, hardware engineering, and manufacturing, making his role crucial to Apple’s approach to building devices.
At the same time, the user interface design team, led by Alan Dye, has faced its own internal shake-ups. Several notable designers have departed in recent years, reshaping how Apple approaches the software and visual elements of its product ecosystem. UI design remains particularly important as Apple increases its focus on integrating AI-driven features across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
Together, these shifts point to a company recalibrating its creative processes as it enters a new era of design innovation — one that blends hardware craftsmanship with advanced computational capabilities.
Tim Cook Takes Direct Oversight of Design Teams
In July, Apple made an organizational adjustment that underscored the importance of its ongoing design transformation. With Williams’ departure, Apple announced that the design teams — both industrial and interface — would report directly to CEO Tim Cook.
This shift breaks from the previous structure under Ive, where the design group enjoyed significant autonomy and often operated in parallel with Apple’s top executives. Cook’s hands-on oversight reflects how central design will be to Apple’s strategy as it faces intensifying competition in mobile devices, wearables, and artificial intelligence.
For many industry watchers, the move raises important questions about how Apple will preserve its longstanding design identity while embracing modern design requirements and navigating leadership turnover.
