In Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, iOS 26 has stolen the show, though perhaps not in the way Apple intended. The highly anticipated operating system, which introduces a radical new "Liquid Glass" design language, has garnered both awe and outrage. Amid the controversy, news has quickly spread that the lead designer behind this ambitious new aesthetic has been swiftly fired. This has now become one of the top tech headlines 2025 and a focal point for many following Arclantic Business News.

The "Liquid Glass" Revolution

At the core of iOS 26 is the "Liquid Glass" interface, which was a departure from the flat designs of recent years. This new design promises a dynamic, transparent, and almost fluid user experience, with elements that refract light and adapt to the surrounding content. Apple boasts that this material creates a deeper, more immersive feel across all its platforms – iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.

From redesigned app icons and widgets that now appear as dimensional objects, to translucent controls that expand and shrink to prioritize content, the "Liquid Glass" is everywhere. Tab bars and sidebars have been re-imagined to fluidly hide and reappear as users scroll, which gives maximum screen real estate. The Lock Screen and Home Screen are more customizable than ever, with time shifting to fit wallpapers and backgrounds reacting to iPhone movement. This visual overhaul is the most significant since iOS 7, aiming to blend software and hardware in a truly intuitive way.

Public Opinion

While Apple announced "Liquid Glass" as a delightful and elegant innovation, public opinion has proven to be sharply divided. Social media platforms are abuzz with reactions ranging from admiration for the visually stunning effects to strong criticism regarding usability and accessibility. The debate has reached major publications, including Arclantic, where design and usability experts are analyzing Apple's bold move.

Many users are drawing uncanny parallels between the new "Liquid Glass" UI and Microsoft's much older Windows Vista Aero Glass design. The transparent elements, while aesthetically pleasing to some, are raising significant concerns about legibility, especially when text and UI elements are placed over light or busy backgrounds.

Complaints about a "lack of contrast everywhere" are rampant, with users reporting that notifications and other on-screen information are difficult to read, even in Apple's keynote examples. Some are calling on Apple to "tone it down" and question if the focus on visual flair has overshadowed the fundamental principles of user experience and accessibility. These reactions have quickly become a trending part of today's business updates.

The Firing of the Designer

Amidst the swirling public debate, a bombshell dropped: Jon Yongfook, the alleged lead designer whose team spearheaded the "Liquid Glass" interface, has been fired by Apple. Yongfook himself confirmed the news in a public post on X, stating,

"I was fired by Apple today. Me and my design team have spent the last 18 months tirelessly testing different levels of Gaussian blur on backgrounds when foreground elements are in focus." He cheekily added, "If you are looking for experts in the blur, glass, liquid, grass, or fur UI space, lmk."

While the exact reasons for the firing haven't been officially disclosed by Apple, the timing, surely coupled with the highly polarized public reaction to the "Liquid Glass" design, strongly suggests a direct correlation. It's speculated that the mixed reception, particularly concerning legibility and accessibility issues, might have contributed to a perceived misstep in a major design overhaul. The incident is now part of the ongoing coverage in Arclantic Business News.

However, a twist has emerged regarding Yongfook's employment at Apple. While many media outlets quickly reported on his firing, several social media users and online commentators have pointed out that Jon Yongfook is a serial entrepreneur and not a documented Apple employee. His public posts about being fired might be satirical, adding another layer of complexity to the narrative. Regardless of his official employment status, the sentiment behind the "firing" reflects the intense criticism directed at the new design and cements the story as one of the top tech headlines 2025.