iPhone Air designer leaves Apple amid talent exodus

When the ultra-slim iPhone Air debuted this year, industrial designer Abidur Chowdhury was front and center, proudly detailing the device's aesthetic in the launch video. Just months after the highly anticipated product hit the market, Chowdhury left Apple, trading his six-year tenure in industrial design for an artificial intelligence startup.

This swift exit inevitably raises eyebrows, especially when paired with the device’s retail reception. While the iPhone Air's incredibly thin design was widely praised by critics and industrial designers, reports suggest sales figures have been underwhelming. Did the lead designer flee following a cool response from consumers?

The designer leaving Apple is unrelated to the iPhone Air's sales performance

Well, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman clarifies, the answer to this question is “no.” Chowdhury's departure, which reportedly caused a ripple internally due to his rising profile, was entirely unrelated to the phone's debut or its commercial success. The fact remains that his work on the iPhone Air's design was “praised,” Gurman says, paving the way for a rumored second-generation model in the future.

Instead of a reaction to failure, Chowdhury's move reflects a growing trend: top tech talent pivoting toward the field of AI.

Chowdhury’s departure is the latest in a relentless stream of change at Apple's design headquarters. Since the 2019 exit of design chief Jony Ive, the creative group has seen a near-complete turnover, with many veterans retiring or starting new ventures, including some joining Ive’s own firm.

This ongoing brain drain means that the future look and feel of Apple’s products now rests firmly on a new generation of designers. The team recently transitioned to reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook, following the retirement of long-time Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams. Chowdhury is simply the newest high-profile name to leave the team.