An industry bombshell has dropped as Alan Dye ditches Apple for Meta’s design studio. Dye has been Apple’s chief of user interface design since 2015 and spent nearly 20 years helping build the company’s design legacy. He will officially join Meta on December 31st to lead a newly created creative studio.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the hiring on Threads, revealing plans for a studio within Reality Labs that combines design, fashion, and technology. Apple confirmed Dye’s departure, with CEO Tim Cook naming veteran designer Stephen Lemay as his replacement. This represents a watershed moment in tech industry talent dynamics.
The new studio will focus on elevating design standards across Meta’s product ecosystem. Zuckerberg emphasized that the team will include talented individuals with exceptional skills across multiple disciplines. The objective is to create iconic products that seamlessly integrate hardware and software while delivering thoughtful user experiences.
Zuckerberg outlined his vision for an era where AI glasses and other innovative devices will transform connectivity. He stressed that the new studio will focus on ensuring that every interaction is meaningfully designed. Dye will report directly to Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, underscoring the strategic importance of this appointment. This industry bombshell demonstrates Meta’s aggressive strategy to compete on design excellence.