Apple Hires Nothing's Top Designer — Carl Pei Has A Cheeky Message For Tim Cook
Carl Pei, co-founder and CEO of Nothing, didn't miss the opportunity to both celebrate the move and poke fun at Apple.
Mladen M Hoyss, formerly the Software Creative Director at consumer tech startup Nothing, has officially joined Apple's design team. The Berlin-based designer, known for his refined, user-centric approach, made the announcement via a post on X (formerly Twitter), captioned simply: “New beginning @Apple,” alongside the Apple logo. His social media bio now reflects his new role on the “Apple Design Team,” marking a notable shift in his career trajectory.
Carl Pei’s Message: Part Congrats, Part Subtle Shade
Carl Pei, co-founder and CEO of the London-headquartered Nothing, didn't miss the opportunity to both celebrate Hoyss and poke fun at Apple. Quoting Hoyss’s post, Pei wrote on X: “Congrats dude, proud of you! @tim_cook let me know if you need any more product help.”
The message, though congratulatory on the surface, didn’t go unnoticed for its sly undertone. Many online interpreted Pei’s post as a well-timed branding nudge — cheeky, strategic, and perfectly on-brand for a startup that has consistently marketed itself as the cool, design-forward underdog in a sea of tech giants.
Nothing's Growing Reputation as a Design Powerhouse
Hoyss’s departure may be a loss for Nothing, but it also serves as an inadvertent badge of honour. The fact that Apple — a company synonymous with top-tier industrial and software design — has tapped someone from Nothing’s leadership team speaks volumes about the kind of talent the young brand is cultivating.
Pei’s post wasn’t just witty; it subtly positioned Nothing as a creative powerhouse whose design sensibilities are gaining recognition even among tech’s upper echelons. The implication? If Apple, the world's most valuable company, is looking to Nothing for design inspiration, the startup must be doing something right.
Whether intended as a light jab or a clever piece of self-promotion, Carl Pei's message hit the sweet spot between humour and hustle — the very tone that has helped Nothing carve a niche for itself in a crowded marketplace.
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