Apple hires iPhone camera app Halide’s co-founder for its design team

Apple Lands a Photography Powerhouse: Halide’s Sebastiaan de With Joins the Design Team

In a move that’s sending ripples through the tech and photography worlds, Apple has recruited Sebastiaan de With, the visionary co-founder behind Lux, the studio responsible for some of the most beloved iPhone camera apps in existence—Halide and Kino. De With, a seasoned designer with a storied history in both Apple and the broader tech industry, announced his return to the Cupertino giant on Wednesday, marking a significant coup for Apple’s design team.

For those unfamiliar, de With is no stranger to Apple. He previously worked on iCloud and Find My, contributing to the seamless ecosystem that Apple is known for. However, his most recent and notable work has been outside the Apple ecosystem, where he co-founded Lux with Ben Sandofsky in 2016. Together, they created Halide, a premium iPhone camera app that has garnered a cult following for its intuitive design and powerful features. More recently, Lux launched Kino, a video app that was named Apple’s iPhone App of the Year in 2024, further cementing de With’s reputation as a master of mobile photography and videography.

De With’s announcement on X (formerly Twitter) was brief but brimming with excitement. “So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products,” he wrote, accompanied by a celebratory emoji. The post quickly garnered attention from the tech community, with many speculating about the impact his expertise could have on Apple’s future products.

While de With’s move to Apple is undoubtedly a major headline, it’s worth noting that Lux isn’t going anywhere. Sandofsky reassured fans in a Reddit post that Halide will continue to be developed by Lux, with the company recently releasing a public preview of Halide Mark III. This new version focuses on “Looks,” a feature designed to recreate the aesthetics of classic film cameras, a nod to the growing trend of nostalgic, film-inspired photography in the digital age.

De With’s arrival at Apple comes at a pivotal moment for the company’s design division. The introduction of Liquid Glass with iOS 26 was met with mixed reviews, with some users and critics finding the new aesthetic less intuitive than previous iterations. Adding to the turbulence, Apple’s chief of user interface design, Alan Dye, left for Meta in December, leaving a significant gap in the company’s design leadership. To make matters more intriguing, Bloomberg reported last week that John Ternus, a key figure in Apple’s hardware division and a potential successor to CEO Tim Cook, has taken over both hardware and software design. This consolidation of power under Ternus suggests a renewed focus on cohesive design across Apple’s product lineup.

So, what does de With’s hiring mean for Apple and its users? For starters, his deep understanding of mobile photography and videography could lead to significant enhancements in the iPhone’s camera capabilities. Apple has long been a leader in smartphone photography, but competition is fiercer than ever, with brands like Google and Samsung pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. De With’s expertise could help Apple stay ahead of the curve, particularly as the company explores new frontiers like computational photography and augmented reality.

Moreover, de With’s design philosophy—rooted in simplicity, functionality, and user-centric innovation—aligns perfectly with Apple’s ethos. His work on Halide and Kino demonstrates a knack for creating tools that are both powerful and accessible, a balance that Apple has always strived for. It’s not hard to imagine his influence extending beyond the camera app, potentially shaping the design of future Apple products and services.

As the tech world watches closely, one thing is clear: Sebastiaan de With’s return to Apple is more than just a hiring announcement—it’s a statement of intent. With his talent and Apple’s resources, the possibilities are endless. Whether it’s revolutionizing mobile photography, refining the user experience, or pushing the boundaries of design, de With’s presence at Apple is sure to leave a lasting impact.

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