File: Then Apple Creative Director Alan Dye celebrates the launch of the July Issue at the new WIRED office on June 24, 2015 in San Francisco, California.
Apple 's head of user interface design, Alan Dye, will reportedly join Meta , in a notable shift of executive talent in Silicon Valley.
Apple confirmed Dye's departure and CEO Tim Cook said in a statement that the company prioritizes design and has a strong team. The statement said that veteran designer Stephen Lemay will succeed Dye.
"Steve Lemay has played a key role in the design of every major Apple interface since 1999," Cook said in a statement.
Compared to other Silicon Valley companies, Apple has always emphasized design to customers and investors as one of its strengths. Apple prominently features its design executives to discuss interface changes at the company's launch events.
Most recently, Dye revealed in June a redesign of Apple's software interface for iPhones, Macs, and Apple Watch called Liquid Glass. The company described it as an "elegant" new design with translucent buttons, updated app icons, and fluid animations.
Dye said it was the "next chapter" of the company's software and said it "sets the stage" for the next era of Apple products.
"Our new design blurs the lines between hardware and software to create an experience that's more delightful than ever while still familiar and easy to use," Dye said at the launch.
Reviews were mixed on the Liquid Glass update, which shipped with new iPhones in September.