Apple has lost one of the rising stars of its design team. Abidur Chowdhury, an industrial designer who played a major role in developing the iPhone Air, has left Apple to join an artificial intelligence startup, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. His departure is drawing attention inside the company.
Chowdhury wasn’t just working behind the scenes. Apple chose him to talk about the design process and features of the iPhone Air during the September launch event. Being featured in such videos is considered a big deal at Apple and usually signals that the person is highly trusted and influential. For those unaware, Chowdhury joined Apple in 2019, around the time legendary design chief Jony Ive left the company.
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Inside Apple, Chowdhury is said to have been a key contributor to the iPhone Air’s development. The phone’s design has been widely appreciated, even though its sales have been weaker than expected. A follow-up version of the iPhone Air is reportedly planned for 2027.
His departure is part of a bigger shift in Apple’s design organisation. Many long-time designers have either retired or moved on to other companies, including Jony Ive’s firm, LoveFrom.
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There has also been a change at the top. Jeff Williams, Apple’s long-time chief operating officer who had been overseeing the design group, left the company recently. Apple has said that, after his exit, the design teams now report directly to CEO Tim Cook, underlining how important design remains to Apple’s future.
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