Former iPhone designer joins a space habitation company as advisor

Apple designer Peter Russell-Clarke to advise a space company

Vast, a space habitation company, has brought former Apple industrial designer Peter Russell-Clarke on board as an advisor to help build its own industrial design team.

Since its inception in 2021, Vast has been developing space habitation technology. The company's mission is to facilitate sustainable human habitation in space, particularly in environments counteracting the adverse effects of zero gravity.

Currently, the company shared in a release with AppleInsider that they are developing Haven-1, the first low-cost artificial gravity crewed station, aiming to expand human presence in the solar system.

In his new role at Vast, Russell-Clarke will lead the Industrial Design team, integrating his design philosophy into the company's engineering processes. His focus will be on building an industrial design team which will help engineers enhance the space experience for astronauts in terms of safety, comfort, and efficiency.

"I am excited to be involved with Vast on their incredibly ambitious endeavor," said Russell-Clarke. "It's a huge task, but from what I've seen, the experience, enthusiasm, and dedication of the Vast team will no doubt lead to incredible things. The challenges are immense and the problems unique, but as a designer, using these constraints to find something completely new is enticing."

During his nearly 20-year tenure at Apple, Russell-Clarke made significant design contributions, shaping the look and feel of products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch and the architectural design of Apple Park. His involvement is evident in over 1,000 Apple patents, which have been pivotal in developing the iMac, iPod Nano, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air.

Russell-Clarke's design journey began with his studio, where he collaborated with major brands like Nike and Swatch. His extensive international experience includes managing teams across different countries as the Global Group Design Manager at Nokia.

After leaving Apple in 2023, Russell-Clarke shifted his focus to projects that benefit human and planetary health. He remains an influential figure in the design community, serving as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Royal College of Art USA and as a visiting professor at the Royal College of Art in London.