Carl Pei, the co-founder and CEO of tech startup Nothing, recently responded playfully to the news that Mladen M. Hoyss, the company’s former Software Creative Director, has joined Apple’s design team. Hoyss, known for his minimalist and user-friendly design approach, announced his new role at Apple on X (formerly Twitter), writing “New beginning @Apple” and updating his bio accordingly.
Pei responded by quoting the post with a cheeky remark: “Congrats dude, proud of you! @tim_cook let me know if you need any more product help.” While humorous on the surface, many interpreted Pei’s comment as a smart branding gesture, subtly positioning Nothing as a hub for world-class design talent—one that even Apple finds valuable. The comment also drew comparisons to historic tech rivalries in Silicon Valley, such as Steve Jobs’ well-known 2005 email to Adobe about poaching employees.
Hoyss played a crucial role in shaping Nothing OS, the company’s Android-based operating system praised for its clean and intuitive interface. His departure comes just before the anticipated July 2025 release of Nothing Phone (3), a flagship smartphone expected to build on the legacy of its predecessors with strong design and user experience—elements Hoyss helped define.
