iOS (Human Interface Guidelines)

Artur Ryhus 🇺🇦
Bootcamp
Published in
10 min readFeb 4, 2024

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The developer’s guide to the Human Interface Guidelines

The iOS Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) is a set of design principles and recommendations provided by Apple for creating intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces on its iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS platforms. In this article, we will explore the key elements of the iOS HIG, including its platform concept, components, units of measurement, scalability, and other critical considerations. We will also discuss the differences between iOS design and Google’s Material Design and provide insights into the tools and resources available to help designers and developers create outstanding iOS user experiences.

iOS Platform Concept and Principles

The iOS platform is built on a few core design principles that prioritize clarity, depth, and focus. Here are some of the key principles to keep in mind when designing for iOS:

  • Clarity:
    Apple encourages developers to create designs that are easily understood, using consistent and straightforward navigation. It emphasizes the importance of intuitive user interfaces to enhance the overall user experience.
  • Depth:
    The iOS HIG promotes the use of layers, shadows, and animations to provide a sense of depth and make interactions more engaging. This gives the user a clear understanding of the interface’s hierarchy and structure.

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