# Apple Recruits Halide Co-Founder to Design Team
Apple has hired Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of the acclaimed iPhone camera app Halide and parent company Lux, to join its prestigious Human Interface Design team, marking a significant talent acquisition amid ongoing leadership shifts in the company's design organization.[1][2][4]
De With, a prominent figure in the iOS photography community, announced the move on social platforms like Bluesky and Threads, expressing excitement about working "with the very best team in the world on my favorite products."[2][3][4] This hire reunites him with Apple, where he previously freelanced on key projects including Find My, iCloud, and MobileMe.[1][3][5]
Sebastiaan de With's Impressive Background and Expertise
Sebastiaan de With brings a wealth of experience from his work at Lux, where he co-founded and led design for Halide, Kino, Spectre, and Orion—apps celebrated for pushing iPhone photography and videography with features like manual controls and Process Zero mode for minimal computational processing.[2][3][4] Halide has been a staple in Apple's App Store editorial picks, earning praise for elevating iPhone camera capabilities beyond stock defaults.[2]
Beyond Lux, de With has designed for major tech players including Sony, Mozilla, Oracle, HP, and EA, solidifying his reputation as a versatile creative force.[1][4] His prior Apple collaborations and critical insights into the company's camera tech make him a natural fit, with industry observers optimistic about his potential impact on future products.[1][2]
Apple's Design Team Shakeup and Strategic Hires
This recruitment occurs against a backdrop of turbulence in Apple's design leadership. Alan Dye, vice president of Human Interface Design since 2015, left for Meta in December, with 26-year veteran Stephen Lemay stepping in.[1][4] Reports indicate CEO Tim Cook has enlisted John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering and a top CEO contender, to oversee design teams behind the scenes.[1][4]
The shifts follow Jony Ive's 2019 departure to launch LoveFrom, which has drawn some Apple talent, including collaborations with OpenAI.[3][4] Apple's design philosophy, once epitomized by Ive, now navigates divided reactions to innovations like Liquid Glass, positioning hires like de With as key to refreshing the team's direction.[3]
Future of Halide and Lux Amid the Transition
De With's departure raises questions about Lux and its apps, though co-founder Daniel Sandofsky remains optimistic. Just before the announcement, Lux launched a public preview of Halide Mark III, highlighting collaborations with Icono and colorist Cullen Kelly, and receiving strong early feedback.[4][5] Sandofsky emphasized the shared design process at Lux and his continued leadership in product development and coding.[5]
While Apple's secretive culture keeps details sparse, de With's expertise in camera apps fuels hopes for enhancements to the native Camera app and broader human interface improvements.[5]
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sebastiaan de With? Sebastiaan de With is the co-founder of Lux and lead designer behind popular iPhone apps like Halide, Kino, Spectre, and Orion, with prior freelance work on Apple's Find My, iCloud, and MobileMe projects.[1][2][4]
What role is Sebastiaan de With taking at Apple? He is joining Apple's **Human Interface Design team**, focusing on user interface for products like those in the iPhone ecosystem.[1][3][4]
Why is this hire significant for Apple's design team? It comes amid leadership changes, including Alan Dye's exit to Meta and John Ternus's expanded oversight, signaling Apple's push to integrate top external talent post-Jony Ive.[1][3][4]
What are Halide and Lux? **Halide** is Lux's flagship manual camera app for iPhone, known for features like Process Zero; Lux also makes videography apps like Kino, often featured in Apple's App Store.[2][3][5]
Will Halide continue after de With joins Apple? Co-founder Daniel Sandofsky has expressed strong optimism, recently launching Halide Mark III preview, indicating the apps will persist under his leadership.[4][5]
How has the photography community reacted? Observers praise de With's design prowess and see the move as Apple recognizing third-party innovations to potentially improve its own camera software.[1][2]
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 12:40:49 PM
**BREAKING: Apple Design Team Bolstered by Halide Co-Founder Hire**
Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of Lux and designer behind iPhone camera apps Halide and Kino, announced on January 28 via Bluesky: "Some big personal news: I've joined the Design Team at Apple. So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products."[1][2][3] This return follows his prior freelance work on iCloud, Find My, and MobileMe, amid Apple's design shifts including Alan Dye's December departure to Meta and John Ternus overseeing hardware/software design.[3][5] Lux co-founder Ben Sandofsky confirmed on Reddit that Halide development continues, with
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 12:50:52 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Apple Recruits Halide Co-Founder to Design Team**
Sebastiaan de With's move to Apple's Human Interface Design team has sparked international optimism in photography communities worldwide, with developers praising it as a boost to iPhone camera innovation amid global scrutiny of Apple's post-Jony Ive designs like the divisive **Liquid Glass** in iOS 26[1][2][5]. Tech outlets from Engadget (US), 9to5Mac (global), and TechCrunch (US with international reach) hailed de With's expertise from prior work at Sony, Mozilla, Oracle, and HP, quoting his excitement: "**So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products**," announced on Thread
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 1:00:53 PM
**No regulatory or government response reported.** Search results on Apple's hiring of Halide co-founder Sebastiaan de With detail his January 29, 2026, move to the design team—his second stint after prior iCloud and Find My work—with no mentions of antitrust scrutiny, competition authority reviews, or official statements from bodies like the FTC or EU Commission[1][2]. Lux co-founder Ben Sandofsky affirmed Halide's continuity, releasing Halide Mark III preview amid the news[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 1:10:56 PM
**Breaking: Apple recruits Halide co-founder Sebastiaan de With to design team amid iPhone camera scrutiny.** De With, the creative force behind Lux's **Halide** app—featuring manual controls and **Process Zero** mode for minimal computational processing—and **Kino**, brings expertise from prior Apple stints on iCloud and Find My, plus deep analyses like his iPhone 16e camera "vibe" review[1][3]. This hire signals Apple's push to refine its stock Camera app and Human Interface Design amid backlash to **Liquid Glass** in iOS 26 and leadership shifts, including Alan Dye's exit to Meta and John Ternus overseeing design, as Halide Mark III previews "Looks" film aesthetics independently
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 1:21:05 PM
**Breaking: Apple hires Halide co-founder Sebastiaan de With to bolster its Human Interface Design team amid recent leadership shakeups.** De With, the creative force behind Halide's manual controls and Process Zero mode—which captures images with minimal computational processing for a "pure" RAW-like output—brings expertise from deep iPhone camera analyses that have critiqued Apple's defaults, potentially driving iOS 27 camera UI improvements like enhanced manual modes.[1][2][3] "So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products," de With posted on Bluesky January 28, joining as VP Alan Dye exits for Meta and John Ternus oversees design—signaling a push to integrate indie innovations int
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 1:31:07 PM
**Breaking: Apple Design Team Bolstered by Halide Co-Founder Amid Leadership Shifts**
Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of Lux and designer behind iPhone apps Halide and Kino, announced Wednesday he's joining Apple's Human Interface Design team, stating on Threads and Bluesky: "So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products."[1][2][3] This return follows his prior freelance work on Apple's iCloud, MobileMe, and Find My, as the team navigates changes including Alan Dye's December departure to Meta and John Ternus overseeing hardware/software design.[2][4][5] Lux reassures fans Halide continues independently, launching a public preview of Halid
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 1:41:05 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Apple-Halide Hire Draws No Regulatory Response**
No regulatory bodies or government agencies have issued statements, investigations, or concerns regarding Apple's recruitment of Halide co-founder Sebastiaan de With to its design team, as reported across multiple outlets on January 29, 2026[1][2][3]. Sources confirm the move as a standard talent acquisition, with de With stating on X, “So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products,” and no mentions of antitrust scrutiny or competition policy violations[1]. Industry observers note Apple's history of rehiring alumni without intervention, signaling no immediate regulatory ripples[3].
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 1:51:05 PM
**Apple's stock (AAPL) showed minimal reaction to news of Halide co-founder Sebastiaan de With joining its design team, trading flat at around $245 per share in midday session following the January 28 announcement.** [1][4][5][7][8] Investors appeared unmoved by the hire amid broader design shakeups, including Alan Dye's departure to Meta and John Ternus overseeing hardware-software design, with no notable volume spikes or analyst commentary on market impact reported. [1][4][8] De With himself expressed enthusiasm, posting on X/Bluesky: "So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products."[1][5][7][
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 2:01:05 PM
I cannot provide a news update on regulatory or government response to Apple's recruitment of Halide co-founder Sebastiaan de With, as the search results contain no information about any government or regulatory reaction to this hiring announcement. The available sources focus exclusively on de With's background, his role at Lux, and internal changes within Apple's design organization, but do not mention any official statements or responses from regulatory bodies or government agencies.
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 2:11:06 PM
**Apple's hire of Halide co-founder Sebastiaan de With bolsters its design team amid intensifying competition in smartphone photography and wearables.** De With, creator of the acclaimed Halide app with features like Process Zero mode and recently previewed Halide Mark III, announced on January 28, "So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products," joining as Apple's rivals like Meta—where ex-chief Alan Dye defected in December—and Snap's new Specs Inc. AR glasses unit ramp up challenges to iPhone camera supremacy.[2][3][1] This talent grab, under incoming overseer John Ternus, signals Apple's push to counter third-party innovations while Lux vows Halide
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 2:21:06 PM
**Apple's hire of Halide co-founder Sebastiaan de With for its design team signals a strategic push to infuse iPhone camera expertise amid recent leadership shakeups, drawing praise from industry observers.** De With, who returns after prior stints on iCloud and Find My, brings "unique insight into where Apple’s current approach succeeds and where it leaves opportunities for improvement," per WebProNews analysis, especially as native Camera app criticism mounts post-Liquid Glass in iOS 26[6][3]. Experts note his Halide legacy—lauded for manual controls and Process Zero mode—could revitalize interfaces under new overseer John Ternus, with Appleosophy calling it a "renewed focus on craft and user-centric interfaces."
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 2:31:08 PM
**Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of the acclaimed iPhone camera app Halide, has joined Apple's Human Interface Design team**, marking a significant leadership change as the company restructures its design organization following the December departure of Alan Dye to Meta.[2][5] De With, who previously contributed to Apple projects including iCloud, MobileMe, and Find My, announced the move on social media, stating he was "so excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products."[2][3] The hire comes as John Ternus, Apple's SVP of Hardware Engineering and potential successor to Tim Cook, takes oversight of the company's broader design teams, signaling a renewe
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 2:41:14 PM
**Apple has brought acclaimed camera app designer Sebastiaan de With into its design team**, marking a significant talent acquisition as the company navigates recent leadership changes in its design division.[1][2] De With, co-founder of Lux and creator of the popular Halide and Kino camera apps, announced the move on Bluesky and X, stating he was "excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products," returning to Apple where he previously worked on iCloud and Find My.[1][2] The hire comes amid major restructuring of Apple's design organization, including Alan Dye's departure to Meta in December and John Ternus taking oversight of hardware and software
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 2:51:13 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Consumer Buzz Over Apple's Halide Hire**
Apple fans are expressing strong optimism about Sebastiaan de With's move to the Human Interface Design team, with 9to5Mac commenters praising him as "a good designer" and voicing excitement for Apple's renewed design focus.[1] Many on X and Reddit speculate his Halide expertise could revitalize the native Camera app, criticized as "overly complex," amid backlash to iOS 26's **Liquid Glass** interface.[3][5] Lux co-founder Ben Sandofsky reassured users on Reddit that "Halide is here to stay," noting its new Mark III preview with film-like "Looks" features.[5][6]
🔄 Updated: 1/29/2026, 3:01:12 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Apple Recruits Halide Co-Founder to Design Team**
Sebastiaan de With's move to Apple's Human Interface Design team, announced on X with the quote "So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products,"[1][3][4] is drawing international optimism amid global criticism of recent designs like iOS 26's Liquid Glass, which received "deeply divided reactions" per Engadget[3] and poor reviews noted by TechCrunch.[5] Tech outlets worldwide, from 9to5Mac in the US to AppleInsider's global coverage, speculate his Halide expertise—praised for setting "the gold standard" in touchscreen camera interfaces—could revitaliz