Sometimes even the legends move on.
Bloomberg has reported that Apple’s longest-running senior designer, Bart Andre, is retiring. Andre, who joined Apple in 1992, worked with Jony Ive and his team, his departure marking “the near-complete turnover” of Ive’s former design team.
Andre announced his plans to retire this month. His departure is a significant shakeup to Apple’s industrial design team, but only the latest in a series of changes and departures.
Andre, described as “one of Ive’s top lieutenants,” helped work on the iPhone’s multitouch screen, Touch ID, and other major innovations to Apple products. He is also known for holding an amazing number of Apple patents.
Currently, Apple’s industrial design team is led by chief operating officer Jeff Williams. “Having an operations person oversee a division dedicated to design and innovation has rankled some staff,” Bloomberg says, according to “people close to the situation.”
Cost-cutting measures have been cited as adding to a feeling of unrest among the team. ”Under I’ve, the team embarked on exploratory projects that didn’t necessarily have an immediate payoff – something that’s been reigned in,” said the source.
Still, here’s to Mr. Andre, with 30+ great years of design, and some amazing projects under his belt. We hope he enjoys his retirement, and it’s extremely well-deserved.