Apple’s vice president of industrial design, Evans Hankey, is leaving the company reports CNBC. Hankey replaced former Apple chief designer Jony Ive three years ago when he left to start his own firm. Hankey was responsible for much of Apple’s industrial design work, from the exterior to the methods used for high-volume production.
Evans Hankey did not achieve the same recognition as Ive, who is known in Apple history as the key designer behind the creation of the iMac, iPod, and iPhone. However, she has often been quoted in the media following new product launches, discussing specific design decisions and the way Apple’s design team works.
Ive was close to Apple founder Steve Jobs and reported directly to the company’s CEO, Tim Cook. That changed when Hankey took over, and she reported to Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer.
Hankey worked closely with Alan Dye, who was responsible for the appearance of Apple’s software, and who will remain with the company. Tim Cook has not yet named Hankey’s replacement, but she will remain with the company for the time being to manage the transition.
“Apple’s design team brings together creative experts from around the world and from many disciplines to create products that are unmistakably Apple products. The senior design team has strong leaders with many years of experience. Evans plans to remain with the team during the transition period, and we would like to thank her for her leadership and contributions,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement.
Loading comments …