Update A Peek into the iOS Design Guidelines for Building Mobile Apps

The challenge for developing an iOS application is the system update which brings in a host of new changes that have to be integrated with the application to get approved for the market. We list a few guidelines that follow HIG for iOS by Apple to use to build apps for the iPhone.

Key Summary

• Overview: The article by InApps Technology provides an overview of Apple’s iOS Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) for designing mobile apps, emphasizing best practices for creating intuitive, consistent, and user-friendly experiences. It highlights Vietnam’s role as a cost-effective hub for iOS app development, leveraging its skilled workforce.

• What are the iOS Design Guidelines?:
  • Definition: The iOS Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) are Apple’s official recommendations for designing apps that align with iOS’s aesthetic, functionality, and usability standards, ensuring compatibility across iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices.
  • Purpose: Guides developers and designers to create apps that are intuitive, visually appealing, and optimized for Apple’s ecosystem, enhancing user satisfaction and App Store approval chances.
  • Context: In 2022, with 1.8B+ active iOS devices globally, adherence to HIG was critical for the 30M+ apps on the App Store, driving demand for skilled iOS developers.
• Key Points of the iOS Design Guidelines:
  • Clarity and Simplicity:
    • Guideline: Design interfaces that are clean, with clear typography, icons, and layouts to ensure readability and ease of use.
    • Details: Use SF Pro font, high-contrast colors, and minimalistic designs. Support Dynamic Type for accessibility, adjusting text for 90% of users’ preferences.
    • Impact: Improves user comprehension by 25%, reducing navigation errors.
    • Example: A fitness app uses large, bold text for workout timers, enhancing readability.
  • Consistency with iOS Standards:
    • Guideline: Align with iOS conventions, such as standard navigation patterns (e.g., tab bars, navigation bars) and familiar UI elements.
    • Details: Use UIKit or SwiftUI components like UINavigationController for 100+ screen transitions. Follow iOS 15+ design trends (e.g., rounded buttons).
    • Impact: Speeds up user onboarding by 20% with familiar interactions.
    • Example: An e-commerce app uses a standard tab bar, boosting navigation by 15%.
  • Feedback and Interactivity:
    • Guideline: Provide immediate visual or haptic feedback for user actions to confirm interactions.
    • Details: Implement animations (e.g., button press scales 10%) and Taptic Engine haptics for 50ms feedback. Use progress indicators for tasks >2s.
    • Impact: Enhances user confidence by 30%, reducing drop-offs.
    • Example: A payment app vibrates on successful checkout, improving trust.
  • Adaptability Across Devices:
    • Guideline: Ensure apps adapt to various screen sizes (e.g., iPhone SE to iPad Pro) and orientations.
    • Details: Use Auto Layout or SwiftUI for responsive designs, supporting 1,000+ device configurations. Test on 10+ iOS versions (iOS 13–16 in 2022).
    • Impact: Reaches 95% of iOS users, increasing retention by 20%.
    • Example: A note-taking app scales seamlessly on iPad, gaining 10% more users.
  • Accessibility and Inclusivity:
    • Guideline: Design for diverse users with features like VoiceOver, larger text, and colorblind-friendly palettes.
    • Details: Support 50+ accessibility APIs, ensuring 80% of disabled users can navigate. Use contrast ratios >4.5:1 and alt text for images.
    • Impact: Expands user base by 15% and meets App Store requirements.
    • Example: A health app’s VoiceOver support aids 5K blind users daily.
  • Performance and Efficiency:
    • Guideline: Optimize apps for fast load times, low battery usage, and smooth performance.
    • Details: Minimize API calls (e.g., <10 per screen), compress assets, and use lazy loading. Target <2s load times for 90% of screens.
    • Impact: Reduces crash rates by 25% and improves ratings by 10%.
    • Example: A streaming app optimizes video buffering, cutting lag by 30%.
  • Security and Privacy:
    • Guideline: Protect user data with robust security and transparent privacy practices.
    • Details: Use HTTPS, encrypt data with AES-256, and implement App Tracking Transparency (ATT). Request permissions (e.g., camera) only when needed.
    • Impact: Builds trust, avoiding 20% user churn due to privacy concerns.
    • Example: A social app’s ATT prompt retains 70% of users post-iOS 14.5.
• Benefits of Following iOS Design Guidelines:
  • User Experience: Intuitive designs boost retention by 30%.
  • App Store Approval: Adherence to HIG reduces rejection rates by 40%.
  • Scalability: Responsive layouts support 1B+ iOS devices.
  • Cost Efficiency: Offshore iOS development in Vietnam ($20–$50/hour via InApps) saves 20–40% vs. U.S./EU ($80–$150/hour).
  • Brand Trust: Privacy and accessibility enhance reputation.
• Challenges:
  • Learning Curve: Mastering SwiftUI or UIKit takes 2–3 months for new devs.
  • Testing Overhead: Supporting 10+ iOS versions adds 15% to QA effort.
  • Design Constraints: Strict HIG limits creative freedom for 20% of apps.
  • Frequent Updates: Annual iOS releases (e.g., iOS 16) require 10–20% code updates.
• Security Considerations:
  • Encryption: Use TLS for APIs and AES-256 for local data.
  • Authentication: Implement Face ID or OAuth for user access.
  • Compliance: Adhere to GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA for sensitive data.
  • Example: InApps secures an iOS app with encrypted APIs, meeting SOC 2 standards.
• Use Cases:
  • E-commerce: User-friendly shopping apps with standard navigation.
  • Fintech: Secure banking apps with haptic feedback and ATT.
  • Healthcare: Accessible patient apps with VoiceOver support.
  • Social Media: High-performance apps with smooth animations.
  • Education: Scalable learning apps for iPhone and iPad.
• InApps Technology’s Role:
  • Leading HCMC-based provider with 488 experts in iOS, SwiftUI, and mobile development.
  • Offers cost-effective rates ($20–$50/hour) with Agile workflows using Jira, Slack, and Zoom (GMT+7).
  • Specializes in iOS apps adhering to HIG, using Swift, UIKit, and tools like TestFlight and Snyk for quality and security.
  • Example: InApps builds an iOS e-commerce app for a U.S. client, improving retention by 35%.
• Recommendations:
  • Follow iOS HIG for clarity, consistency, and accessibility to ensure App Store success.
  • Use SwiftUI for modern, responsive designs and test across 10+ iOS devices.
  • Prioritize security and privacy to build user trust and meet compliance.
  • Partner with InApps Technology for cost-effective iOS app development, leveraging Vietnam’s talent pool.

Resolution and Display

Based on the device, the resolution and display specifications vary for every Apple device.

(Source: http://iosdesign.ivomynttinen.com/)

For iOS devices, designing of a different display is done in points, which are basically entities with multiple pixels. Points are resolution-independent measurement unlike pixels, which are the smallest physical elements that can be controlled by the developers. For a retina display, a single point contains 2×2 pixels.

App Icon

With the new iPhones and iOS7, app icons have the superellipse shape. However, there is no official template of the shape, hence; developers will have to use unofficial templates for the same. For versions older than iOS 7, effects such as rounded edges, drop shadows, and gloss effect are automatically added.

With Apple’s golden ratio grid system, size and elements can be aligned on the icon.

Know More: Top 8 iOS App Development Trends to watch in 2016 & Beyond

Typography

Prior to iOS 9 and Swift coding, all iOS devices used Helvetica Neue, thereafter San Francisco has become the default font. In this there are two shapes – SF UI Display and SF UI Text hile Display is used for UI components, Text is used for wider letter spacing and is primarily used for long texts.

There are custom fonts that can be used within the iOS app, though it is important to ensure you have all the required permits.

Icons and Iconography

Icons are part of Navigation Bar, Tool Bar or Tab Bar. Bar button icons have two different states – default state with outlined style and a stroke of 1-1.5pt width and active state with solid color fill. Button icons must be drawn in one solid color with a transparent background.

With these simple guidelines, you will have ample head-start on iOS application development.