Apple’s set to lose yet another top executive as Alan Dye, the company’s head of user-interface design, departs for Meta Platforms, according to a new report Wednesday. While some view this as a coup for Meta, others seem tickled pink to see Dye head for the exit.
This major news instantly inspired Liquid Glass-fueled snark over whether Dye’s departure is really such a big loss for the iPhone giant.
Apple design chief behind controversial Liquid Glass joins Meta
Dye is the latest high-level exec to leave Apple, as the company faces increasing competition for talent in both design and AI. Aside from Meta, Apple employees have jumped ship to Jony Ive’s new outfit LoveFrom in recent years.
The move represents a victory for Meta as it pushes deeper into AI-equipped consumer devices and hardware manufacturing, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. However, industry observers — and loads of sarcastic comments on social media — cast doubt on that analysis.
“I think this is the best personnel news at Apple in decades,” wrote John Gruber at Daring Fireball. “Dye’s decade-long stint running Apple’s software design team has been, on the whole, terrible — and rather than getting better, the problems have been getting worse.”
Alan Dye’s accomplishments at Apple
Dye, a design chief for Apple since 2015, will assume the role of chief design officer at Meta on December 31, leading a newly created design studio focused on hardware, software and AI integration across the company’s interfaces.
“We’re entering a new era where AI glasses and other devices will change how we connect with technology and each other,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Threads, “With this new studio, we’re focused on making every interaction thoughtful, intuitive, and built to serve people.”
At Apple, Dye oversaw some of the company’s most significant design work in recent years, including the Vision Pro headset interface and comprehensive redesigns of Apple’s operating systems.
Dye’s portfolio also included design leadership for flagship products like the Apple Watch, iPhone and the company’s suite of apps. Most recently, his team contributed to developing Apple’s upcoming smart home devices.
Criticism of Liquid Glass and more
But despite Dye’s accomplishments, jokes bubbled up on social media Wednesday about perceived missteps, like hard-to-read Liquid Glass design elements.
“Alan Dye’s legacy,” wrote jeb on X, showing a half-readable Steve Jobs quote in front of the famous rainbow stage at Apple Park.
Alan Dye’s legacy pic.twitter.com/e316oZmTsr
— jeb (@Namelongnumbers) December 3, 2025
“After Liquid Glass, hard to tell whether this is a win for Meta or Apple,” quipped one wag on X.
“Oh no, not this guy,” was Basic Apple Guy’s sarcastic take.
Oh no, not this guy… https://t.co/jJWDNixdLd pic.twitter.com/29wMwYSQ95
— Basic Apple Guy (@BasicAppleGuy) December 3, 2025
Apple’s design team transition
Dye is being replaced by Stephen Lemay, a longtime Apple designer who has contributed to every major Apple interface since 1999. Apple CEO Tim Cook praised Lemay in a statement, noting he “has always set an extraordinarily high bar for excellence and embodies Apple’s culture of collaboration and creativity.”
The transition extends a troubling pattern for Apple’s design organization, which has struggled with talent retention since the 2019 departure of legendary design chief Jony Ive. Dye had assumed greater responsibilities following Ive’s exit, becoming instrumental in defining the look and feel of Apple’s latest products and software.
Part of broader executive departures
After Liquid Glass, hard to tell whether this is a win for Meta or Apple.
— 𝚓 𝚊 𝚍 𝚎 (@OldManJade) December 3, 2025
Dye’s exit compounds Apple’s recent leadership losses. Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams retired last month after decades with the company, while AI chief John Giannandrea announced his departure this week after years attempting to accelerate Apple’s artificial intelligence efforts. Former hardware chief Dan Riccio also retired last fall.
The exodus may continue, with several remaining executives approaching typical retirement ages. Reports indicate that silicon chief Johny Srouji and environmental initiatives head Lisa Jackson considering possible moves.
Meta’s hardware ambitions
Dye will report to Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, who oversees Reality Labs, the division developing wearable devices including smart glasses and virtual reality headsets. His primary focus will involve integrating artificial intelligence features into Meta’s consumer device lineup.
Billy Sorrentino, a senior director on Apple’s design team since 2016, will join Dye at Meta. Meta’s existing design leadership, including Josh To, Jason Rubin and Peter Bristol, will report to Dye in the new structure.
Despite the departures, Cook emphasized Apple’s continued design strength.
“Design is fundamental to who we are at Apple, and today, we have an extraordinary design team working on the most innovative product lineup in our history,” Cook said.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
