Sebastiaan de With, the co-founder of Lux—the creative studio behind popular iPhone photography apps Halide and Kino—officially joined Apple’s design team this week. The move marks a significant reunion, as de With returns to the tech giant to influence the future of its hardware and software aesthetics.
A Strategic Return to Cupertino
This appointment represents de With’s second tenure at Apple. During his previous stint, he contributed to the development of iCloud and the Find My service. Before establishing Lux with partner Ben Sandofsky in 2016, de With built an extensive design portfolio working with industry leaders such as Sony, T-Mobile, and Mozilla.
Confirming his transition, de With shared his enthusiasm in a post on X, stating he is eager to collaborate with the company’s design organization on products he deeply admires.
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. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/9gzU4ziIJ7
— Sebastiaan de With (@sdw) January 28, 2026
Future of Halide and Lux
Despite the departure of one of its founders, Lux remains operational. Co-founder Ben Sandofsky clarified in a Reddit post that development of the Halide app will continue under the Lux banner. The company recently unveiled a public preview of Halide Mark III, which emphasizes “Looks”—a new feature designed to emulate the unique aesthetics of traditional film photography.
Navigating a Period of Design Transition
De With’s arrival comes at a pivotal moment for Apple’s internal design division. The company has faced scrutiny recently, particularly regarding the “Liquid Glass” design language introduced with iOS 26, which received mixed critical feedback. Furthermore, the department is undergoing a leadership reshuffle following the departure of Alan Dye, the former chief of user interface design, who moved to Meta in December.
The organizational shifts extend to the highest levels of management. As reported by Bloomberg, John Ternus—widely considered a potential successor to CEO Tim Cook—assumed oversight of both hardware and software design late last year.