Abidur Chowdhury, the designer who presented the design video for the iPhone Air at Apple’s September event, has departed from the company to join an artificial intelligence startup. His exit has caused a stir within Apple, given his increasing influence in the closely-knit design team. Over the past few years, Apple has witnessed a series of departures from its design division, known for its meticulously crafted industrial design culture.
According to Bloomberg, Abidur Chowdhury, an industrial designer, recently left Apple to join an artificial intelligence startup, as confirmed by sources familiar with the situation. His departure has created internal ripples, considering his growing prominence within the design team. Interestingly, Chowdhury’s exit occurred shortly after his presentation of the iPhone Air during Apple’s autumn 2025 launch.
Upon joining Apple in 2019, Chowdhury stepped in following the departure of design visionary Jony Ive, the mastermind behind iconic Apple products like the iPhone. However, Chowdhury’s departure marks another significant change in Apple’s design department. During his tenure, Apple’s industrial design group has undergone a period of transition, with several veteran designers retiring or following Ive to his new ventures. Chowdhury stood out as a key figure, playing a pivotal role in shaping the iPhone Air’s physical appearance and the narrative surrounding its launch.
The iPhone Air signified a notable shift in Apple’s smartphone approach, prioritizing thinness, lightness, and a streamlined form factor. Reviews lauded the device for its slim profile, design, ergonomic feel, and refined silhouette. Though Chowdhury’s departure is unrelated to the commercial performance of the iPhone Air or any product issues, Bloomberg highlights that the acclaim for the phone’s design contrasts with its underwhelming sales.
Despite the iPhone Air’s lukewarm sales, questions have arisen about consumer interest in ultra-thin premium phones—a segment Apple is striving to define. Analysts attribute the subdued demand to economic challenges and intense competition in the premium smartphone market rather than any flaws in the device itself. Nonetheless, Chowdhury and his team are recognized for advancing Apple’s industrial design language at a crucial juncture for the company.
Apple’s design team has witnessed a wave of changes since 2019, with several prominent designers transitioning to new endeavors, including former colleagues who followed Jony Ive. Losing emerging talents like Chowdhury presents additional hurdles for Apple’s design leadership, especially as the team adjusts to reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook post the retirement of Jeff Williams.
Chowdhury’s departure coincides with the broader industry trend of heightened competition for AI talent. Tech companies of all sizes are racing to attract engineers and designers to bolster their AI capabilities, with Apple already experiencing notable exits from its AI and machine learning teams.