Apple’s Liquid Glass Design Chief Heads To Meta To Lead New Interface Division

Apple’s long-standing human interface chief, Alan Dye, is moving to Meta, marking one of the most significant design-side departures in recent years. Dye, who led the creation of Apple’s Liquid Glass UI across iPhone, iPad, Watch, and VisionOS, will reportedly take charge of a new design studio inside Meta focused on hardware, software, and AI-driven interfaces. The shift comes as Apple undergoes a broader leadership transition, with multiple senior figures stepping down or preparing to retire.

Meta Brings in Apple’s Design Veteran

A Bloomberg report says Dye will join Meta as Chief Design Officer on December 31. His new division will steer the look and feel of Meta’s consumer products—including wearables, smart glasses, and immersive devices—while shaping how AI integrates directly into their interfaces.

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Dye first arrived at Apple in 2015 and stepped into the top role after the exit of Jony Ive. He oversaw key interface decisions across Apple’s operating systems and is most credited for the recent Liquid Glass visual language — a blend of depth, gloss, subtle transparency and shifting lighting designed to make UI elements feel tactile and alive.

At Meta, Dye will reportedly report directly to CTO Andrew Bosworth, who oversees Reality Labs, the hub for Meta’s smart glasses, AR/VR platforms and AI hardware.

Apple Names Stephen Lemay as Successor

Apple confirmed Dye’s replacement internally. Long-time designer Stephen Lemay, who has worked on nearly every major Apple interface since 1999, is stepping up to lead Human Interface Design.

In a statement to Bloomberg, CEO Tim Cook called Lemay a key figure in Apple’s design legacy and someone who “embodies Apple’s culture of collaboration and creativity.”

For Apple, this appears to be a carefully prepared hand-off rather than a sudden disruption.

Leadership Shifts at a Sensitive Time

Dye’s exit joins a list of high-profile transitions at Cupertino:

- John Giannandrea, SVP of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, retires in 2026

- COO Jeff Williams previously announced retirement

- CFO Luca Maestri stepped down

- Reports suggest Apple is planning ahead for CEO Tim Cook’s successor

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While none of these changes point to instability, they signal a generational shift as Apple moves deeper into AI-centric design, more personalised system intelligence, and a panoramic hardware lineup that now spans Vision Pro, silicon, and future foldables.

Why the Move Matters

For Meta, Dye’s arrival is bold. It suggests the company wants to elevate industrial and interface design to Apple-like standards as it races to build full-scale, consumer-grade AI products.

For Apple, it’s another reminder that its strongest talent continues to be highly sought after, especially in the era where design and AI must coexist seamlessly.

The coming years will show whether Dye helps Meta push beyond experimental prototypes and into devices polished enough to stand on the same stage as Apple’s.