Halide Co-Founder Joins Apple’s Design Team
▼ Summary
– Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of Lux and known for apps like Halide, is joining Apple’s design team.
– He announced the move, expressing excitement about working with Apple on his favorite products.
– The future of his company, Lux, and its apps is now unclear following his career change.
– Neither de With nor Apple provided immediate comment on the situation when asked.
– de With has prior experience working with Apple, having done design work on iCloud/MobileMe and the Find My apps.
The co-founder of the acclaimed camera app Halide has officially joined Apple’s design team, marking a significant talent acquisition for the tech giant. Sebastiaan de With, who also co-founded the development studio Lux, publicly announced his new role, expressing his enthusiasm for collaborating with what he calls the very best team in the world on my favorite products. This move brings a renowned designer with deep expertise in mobile photography and user interface design directly into Apple’s internal creative fold.
De With’s professional portfolio is impressive, extending well beyond the popular Halide app. His work also includes the video app Kino and the Orion web browser. His history with Apple is not new; according to his personal website, he has previously contributed design work for the company, specifically on projects related to iCloud, MobileMe, and the Find My apps. This prior collaboration suggests a smooth integration into Apple’s design philosophy and existing workflows.
The immediate future of Lux and its suite of applications remains uncertain following this career shift. As a co-founder, de With’s departure from day-to-day operations raises questions about ongoing development and support for Halide, which is widely regarded as one of the most powerful third-party camera applications available for iPhone. Neither de With nor Apple provided additional comments regarding the transition or the fate of the Lux-developed software when initially contacted.
This hiring underscores Apple’s continued strategy of recruiting top external talent to bolster its in-house design capabilities. Bringing in a designer of de With’s caliber, particularly one with a proven track record in creating beloved and functionally sophisticated iOS applications, signals a strong commitment to refining the user experience across its ecosystem. The photography and imaging sector, a critical battleground for smartphone manufacturers, may see particular influence from his expertise moving forward.
(Source: The Verge)
