Who is Abidur Chowdhury? Bangladeshi-origin man, designer who introduced thinnest iPhone, leaves Apple due to…
Apple designer Abidur Chowdhury, who helped develop the iPhone Air and appeared in the launch video, has left the company to join an artificial intelligence startup. His debut drew attention at Apple, where he spent six years contributing to major product and marketing design efforts.
In a significant move in the global tech landscape, prominent Apple designer Abidur Chowdhury has resigned from the company to join an emerging artificial intelligence startup, the LA Times reported on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Reportedly, his departure caused a stir within Apple, especially since he had recently gained greater visibility in the company’s prestigious design division.
The Key Figure Behind the iPhone Air Design
Chowdhury became widely known to the public when he appeared in the official launch video of Apple’s iPhone Air in September 2025; this was a high-profile role usually reserved for senior design staff. In the two-minute presentation, he detailed the creative process behind the device and highlighted its engineering intricacies. Such front-of-camera views are considered a sign of trust in Apple’s internal culture.
Despite the growing interest in its launch, Apple declined to comment on the development.
Professional Background and Early Career
Abidur Chowdhury, who studied Product Design and Technology at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, started his career as an Industrial Design intern at Cambridge Consultants in 2015. His first stint was at Curventa in 2016 and short-term roles at Layer Design in 2017, where he gained experience on a variety of consumer and industrial design projects.
After working as a freelance industrial design consultant for over a year, Chowdhury joined Apple in January 2019. He played a central role in shaping the product aesthetics for the next six years and reportedly contributed greatly to the development and marketing efforts of the iPhone Air.
Although he has now reportedly moved on to an AI startup, his LinkedIn profile still lists Apple as his current employer as of November 19, 2025.
A Departure That Signals Another Shift in Apple’s Design Era
Chowdhury’s arrival at Apple in 2019 coincided with the departure of legendary design chief Jony Ive and marked the beginning of a new chapter in the company’s design philosophy. According to Bloomberg, its exit took place as Apple continues to develop its product line and prepares the second generation iPhone Air, which is expected in 2027.
While the reasons for Chowdhury’s move are not linked to the device launch, his move to an AI-focused role underscores a broader shift of senior design talent towards AI and next-generation technologies.
