lipflip – Meta has hired Alan Dye, Apple’s Vice President of Human Interface Design, according to Bloomberg. Dye shaped the look and feel of Apple products after Jony Ive left in 2019. He will now join Meta as the head of a new studio focused on hardware, software, and AI design. Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, will oversee Dye’s work. Mark Zuckerberg announced the studio on Threads and highlighted its mission to blend design, fashion, and technology. He said the team aims to use intelligence as a design material to create new product experiences.
The studio will include former Apple designer Billy Sorrentino. It will also feature Meta interface design lead Joshua To and an industrial design team led by Pete Bristol. Jason Rubin will guide the metaverse design and art teams. Meta hopes this expanded group will accelerate its push into consumer hardware. Recent gains with Quest headsets and Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses show strong momentum. The company plans further versions of the Ray-Ban Display and the Neural Band accessory. Dye’s leadership will likely shape the direction of these future products.
The team will collaborate across research, engineering, and product groups to refine prototypes, streamline workflows, and strengthen Meta’s long-term design strategy. Their shared goal is to deliver devices that feel intuitive, elegant, and seamlessly integrated into daily life.
Apple Names New Design Leader as Competition Intensifies
Apple will replace Dye with Stephen Lemay, a senior designer who has worked on every major Apple interface since 1999. Rarely shares individual contributions, but Dye influenced several major platforms and design shifts. His work includes visionOS and the Liquid Glass design language. His exit adds to a trend of key designers leaving Apple for rival companies. Evans Hankey departed in 2022 and now collaborates with Jony Ive on a hardware device for OpenAI.
Dye’s move to Meta arrives at a competitive moment. The Vision Pro gives Apple a high-end entry in mixed reality. Apple is also rumored to be building its own smart glasses. These products would compete more directly with Meta’s expanding hardware lineup. Meta’s new studio could help the company strengthen its position before Apple enters the space more fully.
Dye’s transfer signals a shift in the design landscape across major tech companies. His expertise may influence how Meta approaches human-centered AI and new device categories. The impact of his move will become clearer as both companies advance their next generation of wearable and immersive technologies.