iPhone Air lead designer resigns! From Ive to Jony, is Apple Inc.'s design team saying goodbye to the golden age?

The Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) designer who was involved in the development of the iPhone Air and played the leading role in its product introduction video has resigned, marking the latest setback for Apple Inc.'s design team due to talent loss. According to sources familiar with the matter, industrial designer Abdul Ghoduri recently left the iPhone manufacturer and joined an artificial intelligence startup. His departure has caused a stir internally at the company as his status within the design team was rising. Due to privacy concerns, the sources requested to remain anonymous. Ghoduri was assigned by Apple Inc. to explain the new iPhone Air at a September event, where a 2-minute video showcasing the device's design concept, implementation, and core features was played live. It is understood that Ghoduri's appearance in the Apple Inc. event video was a high-profile task - meanwhile, the introduction video for the iPhone 17 Pro released simultaneously was narrated by Molly Anderson, the new head of the company's design team. An Apple Inc. spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. Ghoduri has been with Apple Inc. for over six years, and his career coincided with the departure of the renowned design director Jony Ive in 2019. This personnel change not only marks the end of an iconic phase in Apple Inc.'s design history that dates back to the Steve Jobs era, but also witnesses Ghoduri's complete journey from a newcomer to a core member of the design team. It is reported that Ghoduri not only narrated the marketing video for the iPhone Air but also played a crucial role in the development of the iPhone Air product. However, his departure is not directly related to the market performance of that model - despite the iPhone Air's sales not meeting expectations, its innovative design has still garnered wide praise in the industry. The second generation of the iPhone Air product is planned for release in 2027. Since Ive's departure years ago, the Apple Inc. design team has undergone a nearly complete restructuring. Most of the previous team members have retired or moved to other companies (including Ive's LoveFrom company). Now, the team is primarily composed of recruits from the design industry and relatively junior members within the organization. The team is at the core of Apple Inc.'s product development process along with the engineering and manufacturing departments, and has experienced other changes this year. For example, Jeff Williams, who has long overseen the design team as Chief Operating Officer, resigned last week, and the organization's user interface department led by Alan Dye is also facing turmoil and a series of personnel departures. In July, Apple Inc. stated that after Williams' departure, the design team will report directly to CEO Tim Cook.