Evans Hankey, the first woman to lead Apple's Industrial Design team

The departure of Apple’s Jony Ive has come as a surprise to everyone. After almost 30 years working for the Bite Apple, the head of design has decided to take a new direction by founding his own company, LoveFrom , also focused on design and with Apple as a customer.

Alan Dye will team up with Hankey to run the software group

Evans Hankey, the first woman to lead Apple’s Industrial Design team

This has consequences, such as an internal restructuring to replace Ive’s departure from the company. However, Apple is clear on how it will replace him, and it will be two people .

On the one hand there will be Alan Dye , who was already the head of the software design team while Ive was away, so the position of Vice President of Human Interface Design ( ) is not unfamiliar to him. He will be in charge of the software team and therefore the decisions on iOS, macOS, iPadOS and other software.

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On the other hand there will be Evans Hankey , who has been part of the team for years and managed the studio, although now she will be Vice President of Industrial Design . This means that Hankey will be the first woman to lead the famous group that has shaped such recognisable Apple products as the iMac and the iPhone. According to Cult of Mac, she holds more than 300 patents in her name.

The mind behind the Apple Watch will have a more active role

Jeff Williams presenting the Apple Watch

Although Jony Ive worked side by side with Tim Cook, Hankey and Dye will have to “report” to Jeff Williams , Apple’s Director of Operations, who will have a more participative role from now on. Williams has been in charge of developing the Apple Watch since its inception.

These names may not be as recognizable as Ive’s, but Apple claims that “both Dye and Hankey have played key leadership roles on Apple’s design team for many years” .

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Clearly, Evans Hankey and Alan Dye’s footprint will not be noticed on the company’s products overnight, but will be a gradual process. However, a new phase has begun at Apple that will bring important changes in the future.