Build native iOS interfaces following Apple Human Interface Guidelines. Use when the user mentions "iPhone app", "iPad layout", "SwiftUI", "UIKit", "Dynamic Island", "safe areas", or "HIG compliance". Covers navigation patterns, accessibility, SF Symbols, and platform conventions. For general UI polish, see refactoring-ui. For affordance design, see design-everyday-things. Trigger with 'ios', 'hig', 'design'.
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name
ios-hig-design
description
Build native iOS interfaces following Apple Human Interface Guidelines. Use when the user mentions "iPhone app", "iPad layout", "SwiftUI", "UIKit", "Dynamic Island", "safe areas", or "HIG compliance". Covers navigation patterns, accessibility, SF Symbols, and platform conventions. For general UI polish, see refactoring-ui. For affordance design, see design-everyday-things. Trigger with 'ios', 'hig', 'design'.
allowed-tools
Read, Glob, Grep
license
MIT
author
Wondelai <hello@wondelai.com>
version
1.0.1
compatible-with
claude-code, codex, openclaw
tags
["design","compliance","ios-hig"]
iOS Human Interface Guidelines Design Skill
Framework for designing native iOS app interfaces that feel intuitive, consistent, and aligned with Apple's design philosophy. Based on Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, the definitive resource for building apps that integrate seamlessly with iPhone, iPad, and the broader Apple ecosystem.
Core Principle
Apple's iOS design philosophy rests on three foundational pillars: clarity, deference, and depth. Every element must be legible and purposeful (clarity). The interface should never overshadow the content it presents (deference). And layering, transitions, and realistic motion must provide hierarchy and spatial relationships (depth).
The foundation: The best iOS apps don't just follow HIG rules mechanically---they internalize the philosophy that the interface exists to serve the user's content and tasks. Native components, system conventions, and platform consistency aren't constraints---they're the reason iOS users trust and enjoy apps that feel like they belong.
Scoring
Goal: 10/10. When reviewing or creating iOS interfaces or SwiftUI/UIKit code, rate them 0-10 based on adherence to the principles below. A 10/10 means full alignment with all guidelines; lower scores indicate gaps to address. Always provide the current score and specific improvements needed to reach 10/10.
iOS Design Framework
1. Layout & Safe Areas
Core concept: iOS devices have specific screen dimensions, safe area insets, and hardware intrusions (notch, Dynamic Island, home indicator) that must be respected in every layout.
Why it works: When layouts respect safe areas and standard spacing, the app feels native and trustworthy. Users never have content hidden behind hardware features or system UI, and the visual rhythm matches the rest of the platform.
Key insights:
Design for the smallest screen first (375pt width for iPhone SE)
Safe areas protect content from hardware features---never place interactive elements under the notch, Dynamic Island, or home indicator
Standard content margins are 16-20pt from screen edges
Minimum touch target size is 44 x 44pt
List row minimum height is 44pt
Standard spacing increments: 8 / 16 / 24pt
Product applications:
Context
Layout Pattern
Example
Status bar
59pt height, always respected
Time, signal, battery area
Navigation bar
44pt standard row + 58pt large title
Back button, title, actions
Content area
Flexible, scrollable, respects safe area
Main app content
Tab bar
49pt height, translucent with blur
2-5 primary destinations
Home indicator
34pt inset at bottom
System gesture area
Copy patterns:
Use VStack { } which respects safe areas by default
Use .ignoresSafeArea() only for backgrounds and decorative elements, never for interactive content
Always test on multiple device sizes including iPhone SE and Pro Max
Ethical boundary: Never hide critical content or controls behind hardware intrusions. Users with any device should have equal access to all functionality.
Core concept: iOS uses the San Francisco (SF Pro) typeface with a semantic text style system that automatically scales for accessibility via Dynamic Type.
Why it works: Semantic text styles create consistent visual hierarchy across the platform. Dynamic Type ensures every user---including those with visual impairments---can read content at their preferred size without breaking layouts.
Key insights:
Large Title: 34pt Bold; Title: 17pt Medium; Body: 17pt Regular
Secondary text: 15pt Regular at 60% opacity; Caption: 12-13pt
Minimum text size is 11pt (captions/secondary info only)
Line height minimum 1.3x font size for body text
Optimal line length: 35-50 characters per line on mobile
Always use left-aligned, non-justified text
Minimum contrast ratio: 4.5:1 (WCAG AA)
Product applications:
Context
Typography Pattern
Example
Screen titles
.largeTitle or .title style
Large title collapses on scroll
Body content
.body style, 17pt
List items, descriptions
Secondary info
.subheadline or .footnote
Timestamps, metadata
Tab labels
10pt SF text
Tab bar item labels
Buttons
.body weight semibold
Primary action text
Copy patterns:
Use .font(.title), .font(.body), .font(.caption) instead of hardcoded sizes
Prefer weight and color variation over extreme size differences for hierarchy
Test all layouts at the largest Dynamic Type size to ensure nothing breaks
Use @ScaledMetric for custom spacing that scales with Dynamic Type
Ethical boundary: Never disable Dynamic Type or set fixed font sizes that prevent accessibility scaling. Every user deserves readable text.
See: references/typography.md for complete text styles, font sizes, and Dark Mode typography rules.
3. Color & Dark Mode
Core concept: iOS provides semantic system colors that automatically adapt between light and dark appearances, ensuring proper contrast and visual hierarchy in both modes.
Why it works: Semantic colors maintain readability and hierarchy across appearances without manual intervention. Users who prefer Dark Mode get a first-class experience, and apps that support both modes feel polished and native.
Key insights:
Use Color(.label), Color(.secondaryLabel), Color(.systemBackground) instead of hardcoded colors
Color(.systemBlue) is the default tint/accent; .systemRed for destructive actions; .systemGreen for success
Dark Mode inverts text colors (dark to light) and shifts backgrounds darker while maintaining relative hierarchy
Accent colors in Dark Mode need lower brightness and higher saturation to pop
Always preview both modes during development
Maintain 4.5:1 contrast ratio in both light and dark
Core concept: iOS uses a layered navigation model with tab bars for primary destinations, navigation stacks for hierarchical drilling, and modals for focused tasks.
Why it works: Consistent navigation patterns mean users always know where they are, how they got there, and how to go back. Violating these patterns creates confusion and makes the app feel foreign on iOS.
Key insights:
Tab bar: 2-5 primary destinations, always visible, remembers state per tab
Navigation bar: back button (top-left), title (center or large), actions (top-right)
Large title collapses to compact title on scroll with smooth animation
Modals for focused tasks; dismiss via swipe-down or explicit close button
Never use hamburger menus---iOS users expect tab bars
Search bar can appear below nav bar, hidden until pulled down
Product applications:
Context
Navigation Pattern
Example
App structure
Tab bar with 3-5 tabs
Home, Search, Profile
Content hierarchy
Push navigation (drill-down)
List > Detail > Edit
Focused tasks
Modal presentation
Compose, settings, filters
Search
Pull-down search bar
Spotlight-style search
Split view
iPad sidebar + detail
Mail, Notes on iPad
Copy patterns:
Back button text should be the previous screen's title, not "Back"
Tab labels should be single words: "Home", "Search", "Profile"
Modal titles should describe the task: "New Message", "Edit Profile"
Use NavigationStack (not deprecated NavigationView) in SwiftUI
Ethical boundary: Never trap users in flows without a clear exit. Every screen must have an obvious way to go back or dismiss.
See: references/navigation.md for tab bar, navigation bar, modals, search patterns, and split views.
5. Controls & Inputs
Core concept: iOS provides a rich library of native controls (buttons, lists, toggles, pickers, menus, text fields) that users already understand and expect.
Why it works: Native controls come with built-in accessibility, haptic feedback, and interaction patterns that users have already learned. Custom controls create friction and often miss edge cases that Apple has already solved.
Key insights:
Page-level actions go in the nav bar (top) or action bar (bottom)
Primary buttons are filled with the theme color; secondary are outlined or text-only
Destructive actions use red and require confirmation for irreversible operations
Lists (table views) are the fundamental iOS content pattern
Match keyboard type to expected input (.emailAddress, .phonePad, .URL)
Use .textContentType for autofill support (email, password, address)
Product applications:
Context
Control Pattern
Example
Forms
Native text fields with proper keyboard types
Email field with @ keyboard
Settings
Grouped list with toggles, disclosure
iOS Settings style
Selection
Picker, segmented control, or action sheet
Date picker, sort options
Destructive actions
Red button + confirmation alert
"Delete Account" flow
Context actions
Long press menu or swipe actions
Edit, share, delete on row
Copy patterns:
Use .keyboardType(.emailAddress) and .textContentType(.emailAddress) together
Prefer system alerts for confirmations: .alert() or .confirmationDialog()
Use .swipeActions on list rows for common actions
Place primary action buttons at the bottom of the screen within thumb reach
Ethical boundary: Never disguise ads as native controls or make destructive actions too easy to trigger accidentally. Confirmation dialogs exist for a reason.
Core concept: iOS has world-class accessibility features (VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, Switch Control, Voice Control) and every app must support them as a first-class concern, not an afterthought.
Why it works: Accessibility is not optional---it is required by app store guidelines and by ethical design practice. Over 1 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. Accessible apps also benefit all users (larger text in sunlight, VoiceOver while driving).
Key insights:
Every interactive element needs an .accessibilityLabel describing what it is
Use .accessibilityValue for current state and .accessibilityHint for what it does
Group related elements with .accessibilityElement(children: .combine)
Support Dynamic Type at all sizes---test at the largest setting
Minimum touch target: 44 x 44pt
Minimum contrast ratio: 4.5:1 for text (WCAG AA)
Never convey meaning through color alone
Product applications:
Context
Accessibility Pattern
Example
Icons
.accessibilityLabel("Favorite")
Heart icon with label
Sliders
.accessibilityValue("\(Int(volume * 100))%")
Volume control
Buttons
.accessibilityHint("Shares this item")
Share button
Groups
.accessibilityElement(children: .combine)
Avatar + name row
Images
Decorative: .accessibilityHidden(true)
Background patterns
Copy patterns:
Write accessibility labels as nouns: "Favorite", "Settings", "Close"
Write hints as actions: "Shares this item with others", "Opens settings"
Test the complete app flow using only VoiceOver
Use Accessibility Inspector in Xcode to audit contrast and labels
Ethical boundary: Accessibility is not a nice-to-have. Shipping an inaccessible app excludes real people. Treat VoiceOver testing as seriously as visual testing.
See: references/accessibility.md for VoiceOver implementation, Dynamic Type support, and accessibility checklist.
7. Icons & Images
Core concept: iOS uses SF Symbols as the standard icon system and requires app icons in specific sizes with the signature superellipse ("squircle") mask applied automatically.
Why it works: SF Symbols are designed to align perfectly with San Francisco text, scale with Dynamic Type, and adapt to different weights and sizes. Consistent iconography makes the interface feel cohesive and native.
Key insights:
Use SF Symbols (Image(systemName:)) for all standard icons---they scale with text
App icons: export as 1024x1024px square; iOS applies the squircle mask automatically
Icon corner radius formula: side length x 0.222 with 61% corner smoothing
iOS 18+ supports light, dark, and tinted icon variants
Avoid text in app icons---it does not scale well
Keep icon designs simple with recognizable silhouettes
Product applications:
Context
Icon Pattern
Example
Tab bar
SF Symbols, filled variant for selected
house.fill, magnifyingglass
Navigation bar
SF Symbols at regular weight
gear, plus, ellipsis
List accessories
SF Symbols, secondary color
chevron.right, checkmark
App icon
1024px square, simple bold design
Single recognizable glyph
Widgets
SF Symbols matching widget style
Consistent with app branding
Copy patterns:
Use Image(systemName: "heart.fill") for SF Symbols
Apply .symbolRenderingMode(.hierarchical) for multi-color depth
Use .imageScale(.large) or .font() to size symbols relative to text
Browse available symbols in the SF Symbols app (free from Apple)
Ethical boundary: Never use misleading icons that suggest functionality that does not exist. Icon meaning should match the iOS convention (e.g., trash = delete, not archive).
See: references/app-icons.md for icon size tables, shape specifications, and design guidelines.
8. Gestures & Haptics
Core concept: iOS defines standard gestures (swipe back, pull to refresh, long press for context menu) and haptic feedback patterns that must be respected and never overridden.
Why it works: Gestures are muscle memory. When an app overrides the swipe-back gesture or repurposes pull-to-refresh, users feel disoriented and frustrated. Haptics provide invisible confirmation that an action registered, reducing uncertainty.
Key insights:
Never override: swipe-right-from-edge (back), swipe-down on modal (dismiss), pull-down on list (refresh)
Swipe-left on rows reveals actions (delete, archive, etc.)
Long press shows context menus
Pinch to zoom is expected on images and maps
Use three haptic types: impact (physical actions), notification (outcomes), selection (UI changes)
Haptics should be subtle and meaningful---never constant or annoying
Product applications:
Context
Gesture/Haptic Pattern
Example
Navigation
Swipe right from left edge
System back gesture
Modals
Swipe down to dismiss
Sheet dismissal
Lists
Pull to refresh, swipe for actions
Refresh content, delete row
Media
Pinch to zoom, double-tap
Photo viewer
Confirmation
.success haptic on completion
Payment confirmed
Selection
Selection haptic on toggle/pick
Picker wheel scroll
Copy patterns:
Use UIImpactFeedbackGenerator(style: .medium) for physical interactions
Use UINotificationFeedbackGenerator() with .success, .warning, .error for outcomes
Use UISelectionFeedbackGenerator() for UI state changes
Call .prepare() before triggering haptics to minimize latency
Ethical boundary: Never use aggressive haptics to pressure users into actions. Haptic feedback should confirm, not coerce.
See: references/gestures.md for standard gesture table, haptic feedback patterns, and animation guidelines.
This skill is based on Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, the official design documentation for all Apple platforms. For the complete guidelines, platform-specific guidance, and latest updates:
"The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman --- The foundational text on human-centered design that influenced Apple's approach
"Universal Principles of Design" by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, and Jill Butler --- 125 design principles applicable to iOS interface design
About the Author
The Apple Human Interface Guidelines are authored and maintained by Apple's Human Interface Design team, one of the most influential design organizations in technology. The HIG traces its origins to 1984, when Apple published the original Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines alongside the launch of the first Macintosh computer. That document established principles---direct manipulation, see-and-point, consistency, WYSIWYG, user control---that defined graphical user interface design for decades. Under the leadership of designers including Jef Raskin, Bruce Tognazzini, and later Jony Ive and Alan Dye, Apple's design philosophy evolved through Mac OS, iPhone (2007), iPad (2010), Apple Watch (2015), and Apple Vision Pro (2024). The HIG has been continuously updated to reflect new interaction paradigms---from mouse to multi-touch to spatial computing---while maintaining the core belief that technology should be intuitive, accessible, and delightful. Today the HIG is freely available at developer.apple.com and remains the essential reference for anyone building apps on Apple platforms.
Overview
Design native iOS interfaces following Apple Human Interface Guidelines.
Prerequisites
Access to the ORM environment or API
Required CLI tools installed and authenticated
Familiarity with ORM concepts and terminology
Instructions
Assess the current state of the ORM configuration
Identify the specific requirements and constraints
Apply the recommended patterns from this skill
Validate the changes against expected behavior
Document the configuration for team reference
Output
Configuration files or code changes applied to the project
