Abidur Chowdhury, the industrial designer who recently gained prominence within Apple’s design team, has departed from the company only months after showcasing the iPhone Air. His transition to an artificial intelligence startup has reportedly triggered discussions within Apple, particularly due to his rising influence in the tightly-knit industrial design group. According to a Bloomberg report, Chowdhury’s departure has created internal waves, reflecting his growing profile within the design team. This departure comes at a critical juncture for Apple, which is already experiencing a series of transitions and notable exits in its design division over recent years. Chowdhury joined Apple in 2019, shortly after the exit of renowned design leader Jony Ive.
Since then, the design team has undergone significant restructuring, with several senior designers either retiring or joining Ive in his independent projects. Amidst this changing environment, Chowdhury has emerged as one of the prominent new-generation designers. He was described by insiders as playing a crucial role in the development of the iPhone Air, influencing both its physical design and the narrative Apple presented during its launch event in September 2025, which he personally hosted. The iPhone Air represented a significant change in Apple’s smartphone strategy, being the thinnest and lightest model to date, a feat that garnered widespread acclaim for its sleek design and comfortable feel.
However, despite the positive reception of its design, the device’s market performance has been less than anticipated. Bloomberg highlights that Chowdhury’s departure is unrelated to the phone’s launch, which has been praised for its aesthetics despite facing weaker sales. Analysts suggest that the lower demand is more influenced by general economic concerns and a saturated premium smartphone market rather than the product itself. Nevertheless, Apple’s initiative to innovate with an ultra-slim flagship was seen as a notable progression, credited partly to Chowdhury and his team.
His exit adds to the list of changes within Apple’s industrial design organization, which is adapting to new reporting structures, including direct oversight from CEO Tim Cook following the retirement of long-time operations chief Jeff Williams. The loss of emerging talents like Chowdhury presents new challenges as Apple seeks to stabilize and evolve its design culture. Concurrently, competition for AI talent in the tech sector has escalated, with major firms actively recruiting designers and engineers to enhance AI integration in their products. Apple has also witnessed significant departures from its AI and machine learning divisions, a trend that appears to be extending to its hardware design teams.
Chowdhury’s transition highlights this broader industry trend, where the intersections of design, technology, and AI are becoming increasingly relevant, prompting companies to compete for talent that can navigate this evolving landscape.