Apple hires Wired magazine creative director to design team

Posted:
in General Discussion
Apple is adding a new member to its design team, as Billy Sorrentino, Wired magazine's Head of Creative, on Tuesday announced he will depart the publication to take on an undisclosed role at the Cupertino tech giant.


Billy Sorrentino. | Source: Semi Permanent


Wired confirmed Sorrentino's move to Re/code but declined to elaborate on what post the former editor would take at Apple. Apple has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.

According to his LinkedIn bio, Sorrentino was responsible for each of Wired's four major creative departments, a job that required proficiency in design, photography and video production. As part of his daily duties, he handled various magazine initiatives across a number of platforms, including print, web, digital, social media, retail and live events.

Though it is unknown as to how, exactly, Sorrentino will contribute to Apple's design team, his position will likely involve graphic design. In 2016, Sorrentino was presented a National Magazine Award, or Ellie, honoring excellence in print magazine design for his work at Wired. He is also the recipient of awards from the Art Director's Club Global, D&AD, The Society of Publication Designers, the Type Director's Club, American Photography, American Illustration, the One Club, and the Webby Awards.

Prior to his three years at Wired, Sorrentino served as design director at Cond? Nast's digital publishing arm. He also headed up design at WWE, Maxim, and Blender Magazine, and served as creative director at his own design agency from 2003 to 2010.

Taking Sorrentino's place at Wired is deputy creative director David Moretti.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 32
    interesting hire. He could potentially lead the online and print division or possibly even act as a design and creative director for UI design.
    cali
  • Reply 2 of 32
    interesting hire. He could potentially lead the online and print division or possibly even act as a design and creative director for UI design.

    Or, given the recent rumors swirling around Jony Ive, it's a trial run to see if he can be replaced.  /conspiracy.
    cali
  • Reply 3 of 32
    Overhaul the iOS News app.

    calimacplusplus
  • Reply 4 of 32
    interesting hire. He could potentially lead the online and print division or possibly even act as a design and creative director for UI design.

    Or, given the recent rumors swirling around Jony Ive, it's a trial run to see if he can be replaced.  /conspiracy.
    LOL. Considering Ive is in a position where he's basically insulated from EVER being fired, I don't think that will happen, but he really should step away and let some people with more at stake in the success of Apple take over more of his job functions.
    bobroodysamoria
  • Reply 5 of 32
    dougddougd Posts: 292member
    Another sell out to the big Apple
  • Reply 6 of 32
    Considering his experience is with magazines my guess is he's either going to work for the marketing department or the software UI team (Alan Dye, who leads that team, came from Schiller's org).
  • Reply 7 of 32
    dougd said:
    Another sell out to the big Apple
    Sell out? What does that mean? People should never try?
    cali
  • Reply 8 of 32
    Another high priced "talent".  Where are the results for all this talent they have hired over the last few years.  That's right, they do have a new book out.  Apple is like the New York Yankees.  The highest payroll yet they are in last place.  
    freethinking
  • Reply 9 of 32
    Hardly in last place. 

    And i should ad this looks like a good hire. Congrats Sorrentino. 
    edited November 2016 calidamn_its_hotration al
  • Reply 10 of 32
    Hopefully Jony Ives will be moved permanently to the historic catalogue and Christmas tree side job division (a lateral move with no reduction in salary of course).

    And this Sorrentino new hire will bring a breath of fresh air heading the Existing Products division.

    (fingers crossed)
    freethinkingbigpics
  • Reply 11 of 32
    Another high priced "talent".  Where are the results for all this talent they have hired over the last few years.  That's right, they do have a new book out.  Apple is like the New York Yankees.  The highest payroll yet they are in last place.  
    Troll Points:
    - First post
    - Asserts Apple is somehow in last place
    cali
  • Reply 12 of 32

    bobroo said:
    Hopefully Jony Ives will be moved permanently to the historic catalogue and Christmas tree side job division (a lateral move with no reduction in salary of course).

    And this Sorrentino new hire will bring a breath of fresh air heading the Existing Products division.

    (fingers crossed)
    What makes you think he'd have anything to do with industrial design?
    cali
  • Reply 13 of 32
    What the heck?

    wired's creative dept. sucks. 

    This is guy should have Zero Indluence on design/creative endeavors at Apple. 

    Hes a better fit at Microsoft. 
  • Reply 14 of 32
    dysamoriadysamoria Posts: 3,430member
    Considering his experience is with magazines my guess is he's either going to work for the marketing department or the software UI team (Alan Dye, who leads that team, came from Schiller's org).
    Magazines have nothing in common with UI design. 
    macplusplus
  • Reply 15 of 32
    frank777frank777 Posts: 5,839member
    Print-focused? I really, really hope he's a Quark guy.

    Buy Quark, add it to the Pro Apps division, fix whatever causes Quark prefs to become corrupted so often, and price it properly (like FCP.)

    With a proper Mac-first alternative to Adobe InDesign and a bunch of Photoshop and Illustrator alternatives already available,
    we can finally say goodbye to Adobe's Costly Cloud.
    dysamoria
  • Reply 16 of 32
    calicali Posts: 3,494member

    bobroo said:
    Hopefully Jony Ives will be moved permanently to the historic catalogue and Christmas tree side job division (a lateral move with no reduction in salary of course).

    And this Sorrentino new hire will bring a breath of fresh air heading the Existing Products division.

    (fingers crossed)
    What makes you think he'd have anything to do with industrial design?
    What makes him think he's better than Ive?
  • Reply 17 of 32
    Another high priced "talent".  Where are the results for all this talent they have hired over the last few years.  That's right, they do have a new book out.  Apple is like the New York Yankees.  The highest payroll yet they are in last place.  
    Troll Points:
    - First post
    - Asserts Apple is somehow in last place
    Time to wake up fanboys

    https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/29/the-end-of-the-apple-dynasty/
    bobroo
  • Reply 18 of 32
    ksecksec Posts: 1,569member
    I find it interesting Apple has been hiring a lot of Magazine / Online editors recently. 
    cali
  • Reply 19 of 32
     The reason for this hire is absolutely clear - new Coffee Table books!!
    edited November 2016 dysamoriabigpics
  • Reply 20 of 32
    Overhaul the iOS News app.

    And maybe Apple Music, iTunes and a bit AppStores...
    dysamoria
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