TLDRs;
- Alan Dye departs Apple to lead Meta’s design and AI projects.
- Steve Lemay takes over as Apple’s head of UI design.
- Dye’s exit continues Apple’s recent executive reshuffle in design.
- Meta strengthens its hardware, software, and AI integration capabilities.
Apple is entering a new chapter in its design leadership as Alan Dye, the company’s longtime head of user interface design, announces he will leave to join Meta as the tech giant’s new chief design officer on December 31, 2025. Dye has led Apple’s UI division since 2015, overseeing the visual and interactive experiences of some of the company’s most iconic devices.
At Meta, Dye will take on a broad portfolio, including hardware, software, and AI integration. He will report directly to CTO Andrew Bosworth, signaling the company’s push to unify design across its ambitious hardware and AI product strategies.
His arrival marks a major coup for Meta, which is increasingly focusing on products that combine physical devices with AI-driven software.
Longtime Apple designer departs for Meta
Dye’s departure comes amid a wider wave of executive transitions at Apple. In recent months, the company has seen the exit of AI chief John Giannandrea and the retirement of former COO Jeff Williams.
Bloomberg has also reported that Johnny Srouji, who oversees Apple’s chip division, is evaluating his next steps, hinting at potential further changes in the company’s leadership landscape.
Steve Lemay steps into UI leadership
Apple has named Steve Lemay as Dye’s successor. Lemay has been a key figure in Apple’s design organization for over two decades, contributing to major interfaces since 1999.
His deep institutional knowledge and experience promise continuity in the company’s UI design, ensuring that daily design operations remain stable despite the leadership change.
Apple faces wider executive transitions
The departure of Dye underscores a broader trend in the tech industry, where top design leaders are increasingly moving between major companies.
For Apple, this transition is a critical moment to reinforce its design vision while retaining talent that has historically shaped the company’s user experience standards.
Lemay’s promotion demonstrates Apple’s commitment to internal continuity and long-term interface design strategy.
Meta expands design leadership in AI
Meta is positioning itself to capitalize on Dye’s expertise in design and AI integration. By bringing in a veteran of Apple’s UI philosophy, Meta aims to strengthen the cohesion between hardware and software experiences in its future products.
Dye’s role will likely influence not only device aesthetics but also AI-driven functionality across Meta’s platforms, highlighting the growing intersection between design and artificial intelligence in the tech industry.
Industry analysts suggest that Dye’s move reflects the competitive environment for top design talent, as well as the rising importance of AI in product development. Apple, meanwhile, appears to be relying on experienced insiders like Lemay to maintain its design excellence while navigating this period of leadership change.


