HTC has a new lead designer (again)

Not even a full year has passed since Scott Croyle, the designer who brought us the One M7 and One M8, 'transitioned' himself out of HTC's main design lab. Succeeding him was Jonah Becker, who was billed as a capable stand-in for Croyle. The two came to HTC six years ago when the Taiwanese firm snatched up their design studio, One & Co. With Croyle already taking his leave, HTC is now confirming Becker has also left the company. Succeeding him is in-house candidate Daniel Hundt.

It's continued shake-up at HTC, which recently saw the company change CEOs. As Peter Chou left to play Sergey Brin at the company's product development arm, Cher Wang stepped up to take over the day-to-day operations of CEO. Wang is a co-founder, and — like Becker — no stranger to what is going on (and needs to be done) at HTC.

It's been an amazing seventeen year journey with One & Co and HTC, but it's time for a new adventure. Stay tuned for details of what's next.

— Jonah Becker (@JonahABecker) March 26, 2015

It's not clear when Becker left HTC, but whether we realize it or not — we may not have been fans of his work. With the One M9, many reviewers considered the phone 'too safe' a play. For most, it was no significant upgrade to the One M8. HTC failed to 'pull and Apple' and effectively tell the audience how this One really was new and different.

It seemed like a square camera peg in a round hole. It doesn't really work as a 'new' device.

It's also not known when Becker left, so the One M9 may have been HTC's bunt single in a time of transition. Whatever the case, that's two very capable lead designers, gone inside of a year.

Source: Jonah Becker

Via: The Verge