Space habitat company Vast has hired former Apple industrial designer Peter Russell-Clarke as a consultant to help build its own industrial design team. Since its founding in 2021, Vast has been committed to developing space habitation technology. The company's mission is to promote sustainable human habitation in space, particularly in environments that offset the adverse effects of zero gravity.
Currently, the company said in a press release that they are developing Haven-1, the first low-cost artificial gravity manned space station, aimed at expanding human presence in the solar system.
In his new role at Vast, Russell-Clarke will lead the industrial design team and integrate his design philosophy into the company's engineering processes. His focus will be building an industrial design team that helps engineers enhance the astronauts’ space experience in terms of safety, comfort and efficiency.
“I’m delighted to be involved in Vast’s ambitious undertaking,” said Russell-Clarke. "It's a huge undertaking, but from what I've seen, there's no doubt that the experience, enthusiasm and dedication of the Vast team will lead to incredible things. The challenges are huge and the problems to be solved are unique, but as a designer, it's tempting to use those constraints to find something completely new."
During his nearly 20 years at Apple, Russell-Clarke made significant design contributions, shaping the look and feel of products such as iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, as well as the architectural design of Apple Park. He was involved in more than 1,000 patents that were critical to the development of the iMac, iPod Nano, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
Russell-Clarke's design journey began in his studio, where he worked with major brands such as Nike and Swatch. He has extensive international experience, including serving as Nokia Global Group Design Manager, managing teams in different countries.
After leaving Apple in 2023, Russell-Clarke will shift his focus to projects that benefit the health of people and the planet. He remains an influential figure in the design world, serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Academy of Arts in the United States and as a Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Art in London.