Meta Hires Alan Dye to Lead Reality Labs Studio
Meta hires Alan Dye to head a Reality Labs creative studio, a move Zuckerberg tied to AI glasses that could refocus investors on Meta's hardware roadmap.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Meta hired Alan Dye to lead a new Reality Labs creative studio on Dec. 3, 2025.
- Zuckerberg framed the hire as accelerating design for AI glasses and other consumer devices.
- Dye will report to CTO Andrew Bosworth and will leave Apple on Dec. 31, 2025.
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Meta Platforms Inc. (META) hired Alan Dye, Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) vice president of human interface design, to lead a new Reality Labs creative studio, the company said on Dec. 3, 2025. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg linked the move to accelerating the company’s push into AI glasses and other consumer devices.
Meta Launches Reality Labs Creative Studio
Mark Zuckerberg announced on Threads that Meta created a new creative studio within Reality Labs, appointing Dye as chief design officer. Dye will report to Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth. The studio aims to merge design, fashion, and technology, treating intelligence as a new design material to integrate hardware, software, and AI across products.
The initial leadership team includes Billy Sorrentino, a former Apple designer joining Meta alongside Joshua To, Pete Bristol, and Jason Rubin. Their roles span interface, industrial design, and metaverse art and design. Meta highlighted smart glasses, including the Ray-Ban Meta line, and virtual-reality headsets as key platforms for this integration.
Apple Names Successor as Dye Departs
Apple confirmed Dye will leave on Dec. 31, 2025, and named Steve Lemay as his successor to lead human-interface design. Lemay, a 26-year Apple veteran, has contributed to every major Apple interface since 1999. Apple CEO Tim Cook praised Lemay’s high standards and embodiment of Apple’s collaborative culture.
Dye spent about 20 years at Apple and led the Liquid Glass UI overhaul in iOS 26. He unveiled a new design language at WWDC in June 2025 and played a key role in Apple Vision Pro and visionOS design. Dye informed Apple’s top management of his departure during the week of Dec. 1, 2025.
The appointment reflects Meta’s strategic effort to elevate design within Reality Labs as it develops next-generation consumer hardware focused on AI-equipped devices. Neither company disclosed product timelines, investment levels, or revenue targets related to the new studio.
"We're entering a new era where AI glasses and other devices will change how we connect with technology and each other," Zuckerberg said. "The potential is enormous, but what matters most is making these experiences feel natural and truly centered around people."
