Stratpix
Design Systems & Platform

Human Interface Guidelines

Maintained by Apple

Apple’s platform guidance for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS - patterns, components, and platform conventions.

Open Human Interface Guidelines

Why it matters

App Store review reads the HIG. Deviating from platform conventions on Apple platforms costs you both usability and, occasionally, approval.

Key principles

  1. Design for the platform, not across it - conventions differ meaningfully between iOS, macOS, and visionOS.
  2. Respect system-provided components so accessibility, Dynamic Type, and Dark Mode work for free.
  3. Minimum 44x44pt touch targets on touch platforms; honour safe areas rather than hardcoding insets.
  4. Support Dynamic Type, VoiceOver, Reduce Motion, and increased contrast as defaults, not enhancements.
  5. Use SF Symbols so iconography scales with text weight and size automatically.

Resources

Foundations, principles, tutorials, community Figma files, icon sets, and templates.