Apple's head of UI design leaves for Meta

Apple's head of UI design and long-time executive Alan Dye has left Apple to join Meta, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.

Dye has been the head of Apple's UI design team since 2015, having overseen numerous major launches. For example, in 2015 the OS versions across Apple's major platforms were iOS 9 and macOS 9; we've seen ten iterations of each platform since.

According to the report, Dye will now be head of design for hardware, software and AI integration at Meta's freshly created design studio.

Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed the news to Bloomberg, and said that his replacement will be long-time Apple designer Stephen Lemay.

"Steve Lemay has played a key role in the design of 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,” Cook said in a statement.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the creation of a "new creative studio in Reality Labs" which will be led by Alan Dye.

"The new studio will bring together design, fashion, and technology to define the next generation of our products and experiences," he wrote.

Zuckerberg also said Apple designer Billy Sorrentino will also be coming to Meta and joining Dye's team.

Dye leaves Apple at a particularly sensitive time. The company is rumored to be working on a foldable iPhone, the first such product for Apple, which will surely require a significant revamp of the iOS user interface.

Dye's departure follows several other high-profile executive exits from Apple. The company COO Jeff WIlliams retired in November, and Apple's AI chief John Giannandrea announced his departure last week.