At Apple’s much-anticipated “Awe Dropping” launch event, the spotlight unexpectedly shifted not just toward the sleek new iPhone Air, but toward the mysterious figure who introduced it. In a break from Apple’s traditional on-screen format, the iPhone Air was unveiled not by a familiar executive, but through the voice of an industrial designer: Abidur Chowdhury. His name appeared on-screen, but his face did not.
“It’s a paradox you have to hold to believe,” said Chowdhury during the product narration, describing Apple’s new ultra-thin smartphone.
Despite remaining off-camera, Chowdhury’s role captured attention. Apple typically showcases team members with visible name and designation cards during launches, yet Chowdhury’s appearance was limited to voiceover a rare move for the tech giant. His detailed explanation of the iPhone Air’s design process suggested a major role in its development, possibly even leadership.
The Designer Behind the Curtain
While Chowdhury’s public profile is minimal, he lacks a LinkedIn account and doesn’t appear on Apple’s official leadership pages his personal website confirms his position as an Industrial Designer based in San Francisco. Born and raised in London, he describes himself as someone who thrives on innovation and creating meaningful user experiences.
“Nothing gets me more excited than creating innovative products people can’t bear to be without,” reads his biography.
Chowdhury joined Apple in January 2019, following a diverse early career. He graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Product Design and Technology from Loughborough University in the UK. As a student, he was recognised with several high-profile awards including the Red Dot Design Award in 2016 for his “Plug and Play” concept, as well as the James Dyson Foundation Bursary, the 3D Hubs Student Grant, and the New Designers Kenwood Appliances Award. He also won the Seymour Powell Design Week competition.
Before Apple, he built industry experience through internships at Cambridge Consultants and Curventa, and later worked at the London-based design agency Layer. In 2018, he launched Abidur Chowdhury Design, his own consultancy, collaborating with start-ups and agencies on product strategy, hardware experiences, and industrial design.
iPhone Air: A New Chapter in Minimalism
The iPhone Air is Apple’s thinnest smartphone yet and marks a significant leap in product engineering. Encased in titanium, it’s a third slimmer than previous models and features a single telephoto camera powered by AI-enhanced photography software. Despite a smaller battery, the phone maintains all-day battery life, thanks to smart battery optimisation tools.
Chowdhury explained that Apple had to completely rework the internal structure, particularly the camera plateau, to accommodate the necessary hardware.
He noted, “The company had to redesign the iPhone Air camera plateau (as seen in the iPhone 17 Pro models) to fit the cameras, chipset, and the system modules. The entirety of the remaining space went to fit in a high-density battery for the smartphone.”
A Unique Introduction at the Awe Dropping Event
Apple’s launch event introduced the full iPhone 17 lineup, including the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max, featuring the new A19 Pro chip, upgraded camera systems, and larger displays. However, it was the iPhone Air that stood out not only due to its minimalist design, but also the unconventional presentation.
Chowdhury’s voice guided viewers through the design philosophy and challenges behind the Air’s development, a notable departure from Apple’s standard keynote style. His omission from the camera did not go unnoticed, sparking intrigue over the designer whose contributions shaped what Apple calls a phone “that feels like a piece of the future.”
In the Indian market, the iPhone Air 256GB variant is priced at Rs 1,19,900, with multiple storage options and color variants expected for pre-order in the coming weeks.
