Apple's hardware design chief leaves the company after three years
Apple's main replacement for Jony Ive is leaving. The company has confirmed to Bloomberg that industrial design manager Evans Hankey is leaving after three years. There is no named replacement as of this writing, but Hankey would remain in his role for six months as part of a transition. Alan Dye, who took the reins of Ive's software design in 2019, will remain in his role.
The mixture may not be strictly negative. Bloomberg sources say Gary Butcher, one of Dye's former top designers and currently Airbnb's vice president of design, is back at Apple. What responsibilities Butcher might take on his return are unclear.
In a statement to Bloomberg, Apple pointed out that its design unit has "strong leaders with decades of experience" and creates products that are "undeniably" representative of the company. . No explanation is given as to why Hankey is leaving.
Hankey had a lot of expectations placed on her when she took over. I've been responsible for many of Apple's most iconic hardware designs, including the iMac, iPod, and iPhone. While it's unclear exactly how much Hankey shaped product design (I didn't fully part ways until July), she oversaw a mix of beloved redesigns and subtle evolutions during her tenure. . The company ditched the unpopular butterfly keyboard-era MacBooks in favor of more practical models and introduced some major redesigns, such as the iMac M1. At the same time, caution has sometimes been called for, as evidenced by an Apple Watch that, aside from the Ultra, hasn't changed much since 2018.
That doesn't necessarily mean a problem for Apple. However, this increases the potential for a shift in design direction, especially for products in unfamiliar categories. The company is rumored to be developing a mixed reality headset, augmented reality glasses, and even an electric car. While Hankey's influence may still be felt with all major introductions, there's a chance that his successor will add a new twist to these devices.
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Apple's main replacement for Jony Ive is leaving. The company has confirmed to Bloomberg that industrial design manager Evans Hankey is leaving after three years. There is no named replacement as of this writing, but Hankey would remain in his role for six months as part of a transition. Alan Dye, who took the reins of Ive's software design in 2019, will remain in his role.
The mixture may not be strictly negative. Bloomberg sources say Gary Butcher, one of Dye's former top designers and currently Airbnb's vice president of design, is back at Apple. What responsibilities Butcher might take on his return are unclear.
In a statement to Bloomberg, Apple pointed out that its design unit has "strong leaders with decades of experience" and creates products that are "undeniably" representative of the company. . No explanation is given as to why Hankey is leaving.
Hankey had a lot of expectations placed on her when she took over. I've been responsible for many of Apple's most iconic hardware designs, including the iMac, iPod, and iPhone. While it's unclear exactly how much Hankey shaped product design (I didn't fully part ways until July), she oversaw a mix of beloved redesigns and subtle evolutions during her tenure. . The company ditched the unpopular butterfly keyboard-era MacBooks in favor of more practical models and introduced some major redesigns, such as the iMac M1. At the same time, caution has sometimes been called for, as evidenced by an Apple Watch that, aside from the Ultra, hasn't changed much since 2018.
That doesn't necessarily mean a problem for Apple. However, this increases the potential for a shift in design direction, especially for products in unfamiliar categories. The company is rumored to be developing a mixed reality headset, augmented reality glasses, and even an electric car. While Hankey's influence may still be felt with all major introductions, there's a chance that his successor will add a new twist to these devices.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.
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