Samsung Taps Former Mercedes-Benz Designer To Lead Smartphone Team

New year, new mobile division design chief. Samsung recently announced it has appointed Hubert H. Lee to lead its Mobile eXperience (MX) Design Team, who will oversee one of the company’s most prominent units. 

Lee will head the department responsible for some of the firm’s most notable products, including its Galaxy S smartphones, Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Watch, and more. 

Prior to the move, Lee was serving as the chief design officer at Mercedes-Benz China, with him overseeing the luxury automaker’s teams both locally and in the United States. 

“His unique and visionary perspective will help shape the look and feel of Galaxy, building on the distinct dieting ethos that users know and love,” the South Korean technology giant says in a statement. 

Lee expressed his excitement to take on a new challenge, describing that the brand is known for “building some of the world’s most beautiful products,” and had “transformed the mobile industry.” 

As Engadget points out, it will likely take at least a year before the new design chief leaves his mark on devices. With how fast-paced the industry is, it wouldn’t be surprising if the firm has already settled on its design for the 2024 model. 

Will Lee revolutionize Samsung’s designs going forward and leave a legacy akin to Jony Ive’s at Apple? Only time will tell. 

[via Engadget and Samsung, cover image via Megaflopp | Dreamstime.com]