IOS Mobile Design Competency

iOS Mobile Design Competency

Use this skill to design and implement polished, native iOS UI that matches Apple conventions and stays compliant across:

• SwiftUI (declarative)
• UIKit (imperative)

Operating rules (fast)

• Prefer system defaults first: semantic colors, dynamic type styles, SF Symbols.
• Respect safe areas and touch targets (>= 44x44pt).
• Validate Dark Mode and Dynamic Type early (not at the end).
• Treat accessibility as a feature, not a pass.

Workflow

1) Clarify the UI contract

Capture, in 5 bullets:

• Screen purpose + primary action
• Information hierarchy (what’s most important?)
• Navigation entry/exit (push? tab? modal?)
• States (loading/empty/error)
• Accessibility expectations (labels, headings, focus order)

2) Pick the framework layer

• Use SwiftUI when you can (new screens, rapid iteration, composable UI).
• Use UIKit when needed (legacy app sections, fine-grained control, advanced collection layouts, specific integrations).
• Mixed is fine: embed via UIHostingController or UIViewControllerRepresentable.

3) Layout implementation checklist

SwiftUI

• Compose with VStack/HStack/ZStack; use Spacer() intentionally.
• Prefer LazyVGrid/LazyHGrid for collections.
• Use GeometryReader only when necessary; avoid “layout hacks”.
• Use .safeAreaInset / .ignoresSafeArea deliberately.

UIKit

• Prefer Auto Layout anchors + NSLayoutConstraint.activate.
• Use UIStackView for vertical/horizontal structure; constrain the stack, not every child.
• Pin to safeAreaLayoutGuide.

4) Navigation patterns

• Hierarchical (push):
  • SwiftUI: NavigationStack + navigationDestination
  • UIKit: UINavigationController.pushViewController
• Tab-based:
  • SwiftUI: TabView
  • UIKit: UITabBarController
• Modal / sheet:
  • SwiftUI: .sheet / .fullScreenCover
  • UIKit: present(_:animated:) with appropriate modalPresentationStyle

5) System assets & typography

• SF Symbols:
  • SwiftUI: Image(systemName:)
  • UIKit: UIImage(systemName:)
  • Configure scale/weight with symbol configuration when needed.
• Typography:
  • Use semantic text styles (.body, .headline, etc.) not fixed sizes.
  • Ensure Dynamic Type is supported.

6) Theming & visual design

• Use semantic colors (.systemBackground, .label, .secondaryLabel, .tint, etc.).
• Avoid hard-coded hex unless defining Asset Catalog colors properly.
• Keep elevation subtle; prefer system materials for blur.

7) Accessibility (A11y)

• Set labels, hints, and correct traits.
• Ensure logical focus order.
• Verify tap targets.
• Don’t rely on color alone to convey meaning.

Done criteria (ship checklist)

• Works on at least: small iPhone + large iPhone + iPad (or explicitly out-of-scope).
• Passes Dark Mode + increased contrast.
• Passes Dynamic Type (including largest sizes) without truncation of key content.
• VoiceOver: elements are discoverable, labeled, and navigable.

References

• For detailed snippets/patterns, read: references/patterns.md.

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