Bangladeshi-Origin Designer Leads Apple's Thinnest iPhone Revolution

Abidur Chowdhury, a London-born industrial designer with roots in Bangladesh, has stepped into the global spotlight after leading the design efforts for Apple's groundbreaking new smartphone, the iPhone Air. Unveiled at the company's recent event in Cupertino, the iPhone Air has been hailed as a triumph of engineering and design, marking a new era of ultra-thin, powerful devices.

In an unprecedented move for a product launch, Chowdhury, a designer who joined the tech giant in 2019, introduced the device with a voiceover, describing it as "a paradox you have to hold to believe." The new phone is the slimmest iPhone to date, measuring a mere 5.6mm thick. It is encased in a durable titanium frame and features a redesigned camera system, a powerful A19 Pro chip, and an innovative internal architecture that maximizes battery life despite its compact form.

The iPhone Air's design required a complete rethink of the internal components, particularly the camera. Chowdhury's team engineered a new camera plateau to accommodate the high-density battery and a 48MP Fusion Camera system, which offers two levels of zoom from a single lens. The device also features a new 18MP front-facing "Center Stage" camera and an eSIM-only design.

Before his rise at Apple, Chowdhury's career was marked by excellence. He studied Product Design and Technology at Loughborough University, earning several prestigious accolades, including the James Dyson Foundation Bursary and a Red Dot Design Award. His professional journey includes roles at UK-based firms Layer, Cambridge Consultants, and Curventa. He also ran his own consultancy, Abidur Chowdhury Design. On his personal website, Chowdhury describes his design philosophy as a passion for "creating innovative products people can't bear to be without," a mantra that perfectly aligns with Apple's core principles.

The iPhone Air, priced at $999 (approximately Tk1.56 lakh), was revealed alongside the new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, which also feature the A19 Pro chip and other advanced features.