Apple’s design studio has lost nearly every Jony Ive-era designer. Incoming CEO John Ternus says he’ll fix it.

Apple's industrial design studio has been hollowed out over the past decade following Jony Ive's departure in 2019. Nearly every senior designer from the Ive era has since left — including Evans Hankey, Alan Dye, Bart Andre, and others — leaving the team understaffed and without executive representation. Jeff Williams took direct control after Hankey's exit but made no design hires, accelerating departures. Molly Anderson was appointed VP of Industrial Design in March 2026 despite no prior management experience. Incoming CEO John Ternus, who takes over September 1, has acknowledged the crisis and is preparing a major shake-up of the design organisation. The visible consequences include years-long stagnation in product form factors across iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac. Ternus faces the challenge of rebuilding design culture while simultaneously addressing Apple's AI lag, EU regulatory pressure, and a foldable iPhone launch.