Google’s senior user experience design lead, Kevin Fox, is leaving the search giant to join a small start-up.

Fox’s resume includes the design of Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Reader 2.0. He was also leading the design of Google’s publishing products, such as Blogger, Google Groups and Page Creator.

Referring to the move away from Google in his blog, Fox said, “Will it be awkward when I talk with friends [made at Google] about the web and they have to censor themselves to prevent discussing confidential products? Even more novel, how easily will I adapt to working in an environment where we're far more open about the projects we're working on, to the point of evangelising them.”

Fox did not reveal the name of the company he is joining.