Back in September 2025, Apple stunned the world with the iPhone Air and more so with its presentation, which was done by a name rarely seen on Apple’s stage – Abidur Chowdhury. Chowdhury, who was a key contributor to the design of the iPhone Air, has quit Apple and is now moving on to a new role at an AI startup.
According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Chowdhury has left the tech titan to join an unnamed artificial intelligence startup, thus marking a high-profile defection that has reportedly generated substantial internal attention within Apple’s design division. The Bangladesh-origin designers made it to the headlines after their role in the development of the iPhone Air emerged.
iPhone Air designer leaves Apple
Chowdhury, who joined Apple in 2019 – around the time legendary design chief Jony Ive departed – rose to prominence. His influence was acknowledged during the September launch event for the iPhone Air, where Apple selected him to present the device’s design and features in the launch video segment. For a relatively new face in the realm of Apple, an opportunity to feature in a global launch event video is often considered a rare and significant recognition of a designer at Steve Jobs’ firm.
The iPhone Air, which Chowdhury helped develop, has been praised for its aesthetic design and technological advancements, even though reports suggest that the device has experienced weaker-than-expected sales since its release. The Air utilises the innards of the iPhone 17 series but focuses entirely on a slim design.
Even though sales of the iPhone Air haven’t met demands, a follow-up version is already reportedly in development for a 2027 release, hinting at the design direction Apple wants to take.
Apple undergoing a reshuffle in management
Chowdhury’s departure is not an isolated incident but part of a broader, ongoing transition within Apple’s design and leadership structure. In recent years, the company has seen several veteran designers either retire or move on to new ventures, one of which began with the departure of Jony Ive in 2019, after which Chowdhury entered the scene.
Apple also saw the recent departure of Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, who had been overseeing the group. The design teams now report directly to CEO Tim Cook, who himself is rumoured to hang up the boots and give way to John Ternus, who is presently the Senior Vice President of engineering at Apple.
