Apple prepares major overhaul of industrial design team

Apple is preparing for a significant restructuring of its industrial design organization ahead of the transition to new leadership in September. Reports indicate that the studio, once a powerhouse of innovation, has lost substantial influence and credibility over the last decade. Incoming CEO John Ternus intends to implement a major shake-up to restore the team's status as the company prepares for his official takeover from Tim Cook.

#Apple #John Ternus #Jony Ive #Industrial Design #Tech Leadership

According to Thenextweb, Apple’s industrial design studio is facing a period of profound transformation as it seeks to recover from years of internal decline. The organization, which was once considered the most influential product design operation in the global technology industry, has reportedly been hollowed out since the departure of Jony Ive.

The erosion of design influence

Bloomberg reports that the studio no longer holds a true seat at the executive table. Instead of leading the company's creative direction, it has transitioned into a service bureau where other departments request specific tasks before moving on. This shift began roughly a decade ago in 2015 when Jony Ive stepped back from day-to-day management to become chief design officer.

While Apple framed this as a promotion, it initiated a slow erosion of the design-first culture established during Steve Jobs's tenure. Following Ive's total departure in 2019 to form LoveFrom, the studio struggled to maintain its previous stature. When Evans Hankey took over as head of industrial design, he was notably excluded from the executive team and instead reported to Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, a move that signaled a shift toward supply chain priorities over aesthetic innovation.

A crisis of talent and leadership

The departure of key figures triggered a wave of exits that left the studio depleted. Several notable designers from the Ive era defected to LoveFrom or started independent firms, while others retired. Key departures included:

Bart Andre, who served the company since 1992, retired in February 2024.
Colin Burns, Peter Russell-Clarke, and Shota Aoyagi all departed around the same period.
Alan Dye, who managed user interface design since 2015, left for Meta in December 2025.

To stem these losses, Jeff Williams took direct control of the group but failed to halt the exodus. When he retired in November 2025, Apple appointed Molly Anderson as vice president of industrial design in March 2026. However, critics note that Anderson had no prior management experience, leading to a team currently populated by more junior staffers who lack the depth of previous global leaders.

The Ternus mandate

Incoming CEO John Ternus is now tasked with addressing this crisis before he takes over on September 1. He is reportedly preparing to put his firm imprint on the design organization to restore its gravitas and ensure it remains a core pillar of Apple's product development strategy.

FAQ

Who is the current head of Apple's industrial design?

Molly Anderson was appointed as the vice president of industrial design in March 2026. She took over the role following the retirement of Jeff Williams in November 2025.

Why is Apple restructuring its industrial design team?

The studio has lost influence and credibility since Jony Ive's departure, becoming a service bureau rather than a creative leader. Incoming CEO John Ternus intends to restructure the organization to restore its status as a core pillar of product development.