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Prioritize content over chrome. Reduce visual clutter. Use system-provided materials and subtle separators rather than heavy borders and backgrounds.
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Build in accessibility from the start. Design for VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, Reduce Motion, Increase Contrast, and Switch Control from day one. Every interactive element needs an accessible label.
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Use system colors and materials. System colors adapt to light/dark mode, increased contrast, and vibrancy. Prefer semantic colors (label, secondaryLabel, systemBackground) over hard-coded values.
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Use platform fonts and icons. SF Pro, SF Compact, SF Mono by default. New York for serif. Follow the type hierarchy at recommended sizes. Use SF Symbols for iconography.
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Match platform conventions. Align look and behavior with system standards. Provide direct, responsive manipulation and clear feedback for every action.
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Respect privacy. Request permissions only when needed, explain why clearly, provide value before asking for data. Design for minimal data collection.
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Support internationalization. Accommodate text expansion, right-to-left scripts, and varying date/number formats. Use Auto Layout for dynamic content sizing.
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Use motion purposefully. Animation should communicate meaning and spatial relationships. Honor Reduce Motion by providing crossfade alternatives.
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Color + Dark Mode + Accessibility -- Custom palettes must work in both modes while maintaining WCAG contrast ratios. Start with system semantic colors.
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Typography + Accessibility + Layout -- Dynamic Type must scale without breaking layouts. Use text styles and Auto Layout for the full range of type sizes.
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Icons + Branding + SF Symbols -- Custom icons should match SF Symbols weight and optical sizing. Brand elements should integrate without overriding system conventions.
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Motion + Accessibility + Feedback -- Every animation must have a Reduce Motion alternative. Motion should reinforce spatial relationships, not decorate.
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Privacy + Writing + Onboarding -- Permission requests need clear, specific usage descriptions. Time them to when the user will understand the benefit.
