In a stunning development, Alan Dye is leaving Apple to join Meta in a newly created leadership position. Dye, who has spent nearly 20 years at Apple and led the user interface design team since 2015, represents one of the most significant talent moves in recent tech history. His departure was confirmed by Apple, with CEO Tim Cook announcing Stephen Lemay as his successor.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the acquisition of Dye’s talents through a post on Threads. According to Zuckerberg, Dye will lead a brand-new creative studio within Reality Labs that brings together expertise in design, fashion, and technology. This strategic hire underscores Meta’s ambitions to compete on design quality as it develops next-generation products.
The new studio represents Meta’s commitment to making design a core competency rather than a secondary consideration. Zuckerberg explained that the team will include talented individuals with skills spanning craft, creative vision, and systems thinking. The focus will be on creating products that seamlessly integrate hardware and software while delivering exceptional user experiences.
Dye’s role will be particularly crucial as Meta develops AI glasses and other emerging technologies. Zuckerberg emphasized that these devices will redefine how people connect with technology and each other. By placing a designer of Dye’s stature at the helm of this new studio, Meta is making a clear statement about its priorities. Dye officially joins the company on December 31st, bringing decades of experience creating iconic products to Meta’s product development efforts.