Apple Publishes Its 'iOS Human Interface Guidelines' on iBooks

[MacRumors]

Apple has published its iOS Human Interface Guidelines to iBooks. The guidelines are Apple's recommendations and suggestions to developers for designing cohesive and usable apps that follow similar user interface principles to other iOS applications.

The company has long offered user interface guidelines, dating back to the original Macintosh, but has recently only offered its iOS 7 guidelines on the Developer Portal. By making them available to anyone via iBooks, the company appears to be looking to inform and inspire more designers.

An excerpt from the book:

Designing for iOS 7

iOS 7 embodies the following themes:

- Deference. The UI helps users understand and interact with the content, but never competes with it.
- Clarity. Text is legible at every size, icons are precise and lucid, adornments are subtle and appropriate, and a sharpened focus on functionality motivates the design.
- Depth. Visual layers and realistic motion impart vitality and heighten users' delight and understanding.

Whether you're redesigning an existing app or creating a new one, consider approaching the job in the way that Apple approached the redesign of the built-in apps:

- First, strip away the UI to expose the app's core functionality and reaffirm its relevance.
- Next, use the themes of iOS 7 to inform the design of the UI and the user experience. Restore details and embellishments with care and never gratuitously.
- Throughout, be prepared to defy precedent, question assumptions, and let a focus on content and functionality motivate every design decision.

The iOS Human Interface Guidelines are a free download from iBooks.

Article Link: Apple Publishes Its 'iOS Human Interface Guidelines' on iBooks

 

[adrianm2000]

No iOS 8 @ WWDC?

It suggests that they do not intend to introduce a major version of iOS at WWDC this year.

Seems odd that they would publish a version of the HIG that will be outdated in three weeks - if iOS 8 is introduced at WWDC 2014.

Unless the reason they're making it public is because it's outdated. But that seems like a stretch to me. There's easier ways of publishing old/archived material, like making the PDF available for download somewhere on Apple.com.

 

[Dulcimer]

It suggests that they do not intend to introduce a major version of iOS at WWDC this year.

Seems odd that they would publish a version of the HIG that will be outdated in three weeks - if iOS 8 is introduced at WWDC 2014.

Unless the reason they're making it public is because it's outdated. But that seems like a stretch to me. There's easier ways of publishing old/archived material, like making the PDF available for download somewhere on Apple.com.

iOS 1 through 6 looked largely the same. There's no reason to think that iOS 8 won't follow the pattern and stick with iOS 7's "Human Interface" guidelines.

 

[prowlmedia]

It suggests that they do not intend to introduce a major version of iOS at WWDC this year.

Seems odd that they would publish a version of the HIG that will be outdated in three weeks - if iOS 8 is introduced at WWDC 2014.


Unless the reason they're making it public is because it's outdated. But that seems like a stretch to me. There's easier ways of publishing old/archived material, like making the PDF available for download somewhere on Apple.com.

Erm.. it's probably not going to change that much!

Even if it does iBooks update like apps do. So they can add that better notifications pull down or this split screen interface thingy if it happens.

 

[Peel]

I still have a copy of the original Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines from 1984.

 

[Panu]

I notice that the iOS 6 version of Weather is much easier to read and use than the iOS 7 version. If iOS 8 has the same esthetic and usability problems as iOS7, Apple has not listened to any user feedback. Or at least not to the user feedback that disagrees with Jony Ive.

Apple loves Jony Ive more than it loves all its customers combined. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be Jony Ive! I admired his industrial design. Then he started trashing user interfaces, and I wish he'd just go away.

 

[MattInOz]

The iOS 8 HIG won't be public till iOS 8 is released and that is months away.

Maybe they are pushing it out now so they can test a selective update system with developers, which could indicate all sorts of interesting new features.

 

[LordQ]

I notice that the iOS 6 version of Weather is much easier to read and use than the iOS 7 version. If iOS 8 has the same esthetic and usability problems as iOS7, Apple has not listened to any user feedback. Or at least not to the user feedback that disagrees with Jony Ive.

Apple loves Jony Ive more than it loves all its customers combined. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be Jony Ive! I admired his industrial design. Then he started trashing user interfaces, and I wish he'd just go away.

Pardon me but in my opinion the iOS 6 weather app looks hideous, iOS 7 is UI/UX design done right.

About Jony, I remember Steve once said Ive was the most powerful guy at Apple after him :O

 

[Rainbow Evil]

I notice that the iOS 6 version of Weather is much easier to read and use than the iOS 7 version.

The readability of the weather app in iOS 7 here is due to compression making the text blend with the background - I can assure you it's not an issue on the actual phone and is a million miles better looking than the previous version.

One criticism of the new weather app, however, is that the status bar is very difficult to read when the top-most city (in list mode) is in darkness (it's night there) because it shows straight through... That part wasn't well thought out.

 

[MonstaMash]

I notice that the iOS 6 version of Weather is much easier to read and use than the iOS 7 version. If iOS 8 has the same esthetic and usability problems as iOS7, Apple has not listened to any user feedback. Or at least not to the user feedback that disagrees with Jony Ive.

Apple loves Jony Ive more than it loves all its customers combined. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be Jony Ive! I admired his industrial design. Then he started trashing user interfaces, and I wish he'd just go away.

lol, what are you talking about. One glance at the iOS 7 version and you can tell exactly what the weather is like. I would argue that the iOS 6 version is more confusing.

 

[MacVista]

Thin yellow fonts on white background is the new FAD, lot's of punk colors and motion.

 

[Sound214]

I wonder if they'll wait and publish OS X Human Interface Guidelines on the iBooks Store when 10.10 is official, because of the rumored redesign.

 

[jthompson666]

All of the images used look as if they have been taken from immediately after the initial public release of iOS 7. For example all of apples App Store apps still have their iOS 6 style icons, keynote 09 is used as a demonstration of keynote on the desktop and the phone app still has the sensible end call button rather than the silly circle we make do with today!

 

[furi0usbee]

I notice that the iOS 6 version of Weather is much easier to read and use than the iOS 7 version.

How? They both have the same data. Actually, iOS7 tells you what it is like outside "Mostly Sunny" in this case. So iOS 7 has more data, and in my opinion, is just as easy to read as iOS 6.

 

[richwoodrocket]

It's probably because Apple wants to test something.

 

[Rogifan]

One criticism of the new weather app, however, is that the status bar is very difficult to read when the top-most city (in list mode) is in darkness (it's night there) because it shows straight through... That part wasn't well thought out.

Do you have an example of this? I'm looking at the app right now and am not noticing this problem.

----------

Pardon me but in my opinion the iOS 6 weather app looks hideous, iOS 7 is UI/UX design done right.

About Jony, I remember Steve once said Ive was the most powerful guy at Apple after him :O

I don't love everything about iOS 7 but people do forget that after Apple ran the iOS 7 video at WWDC it did get a standing ovation from some of the developers. I think the only time anyone stood up at an Apple event was when Steve Jobs came on stage either after coming back from a medical leave or while he was sick (e.g. WWDC 2011). No doubt there are things developers would change but I bet if you took a poll and asked how many would prefer to go back to iOS 6 not many would.

 

[redscull]

Pardon me but in my opinion the iOS 6 weather app looks hideous, iOS 7 is UI/UX design done right.

About Jony, I remember Steve once said Ive was the most powerful guy at Apple after him :O

The new weather app is pretty, but it's less usable. The text is much harder to read in many areas, and its layout is almost devoid of organization. When you need more info than the background weather fx conveys, it actually takes more time and mental effort to find and absorb it compared to the older app. It's like a work of art instead of a tool. Pretty. Not efficient. Prettiness awes initially, but tools actually stay useful.

----------

The readability of the weather app in iOS 7 here is due to compression making the text blend with the background - I can assure you it's not an issue on the actual phone and is a million miles better looking than the previous version.

Your assurances are bologna. It is harder to read. Period. Impossible to read? No. But less legible than the iOS 6 weather. Irrefutably.

 

[Zxxv]

iOS 6 at a glance tells me all I want to know. Guess I'm a picture type of guy. iOS 7 I have to read. Stop look read. For what its worth thats how it works for me and plenty of others I know.

The bordering, shading and boxing in of stuff in iOS 6 is there to make things more readable. They serve a purpose to draw the eye quickly. I like that. iOS 7 is like looking at water and everything blending into it.

 

[.X.]

I notice that the iOS 6 version of Weather is much easier to read and use than the iOS 7 version. If iOS 8 has the same esthetic and usability problems as iOS7, Apple has not listened to any user feedback. Or at least not to the user feedback that disagrees with Jony Ive.

Agreed, the iOS6 version is not only much easier to read, it is also much better looking.

Apple loves Jony Ive more than it loves all its customers combined. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be Jony Ive! I admired his industrial design. Then he started trashing user interfaces, and I wish he'd just go away.

This. He managed to completely ruin a perfectly fine and gorgeous UI.

I like the new functions in iOS7, but the design? Ugh... Worst thing I have seen in a very long time. I'm shocked they let this happen.

 

[MellowFuzz]

For me, the iOS 6 Weather app always looked like it was night. More legible (and that was partly due to less information with better text) but more oppressive.

 

[B4U]

Dear iOS app developers:

Just in case you don't know how to fuglify your app, here is a guideline for you.

 

[mainstreetmark]

An excerpt:

"Make many of your labels look like buttons, and make many of your buttons look like labels."

 

[hipnetic]

I notice that the iOS 6 version of Weather is much easier to read and use than the iOS 7 version. If iOS 8 has the same esthetic and usability problems as iOS7, Apple has not listened to any user feedback. Or at least not to the user feedback that disagrees with Jony Ive.

Apple loves Jony Ive more than it loves all its customers combined. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be Jony Ive! I admired his industrial design. Then he started trashing user interfaces, and I wish he'd just go away.

iOS 6 at a glance tells me all I want to know. Guess I'm a picture type of guy. iOS 7 I have to read. Stop look read. For what its worth thats how it works for me and plenty of others I know.

The bordering, shading and boxing in of stuff in iOS 6 is there to make things more readable. They serve a purpose to draw the eye quickly. I like that. iOS 7 is like looking at water and everything blending into it.

I agree. Just using this Weather app as an example, with iOS6, I could quickly launch the app, look at the weekly forecast and see a very clear pictorial representation of a sun, or partly cloud, or rain, or whatever and my brain would recognize it in less than a second and I could turn the phone back off. With iOS7's wireframe icons, I have to look at each day's icon more carefully to determine exactly what it's depicting. Are they impossible to interpret? Of course not. But there's a noticeable difference in the effort required to interpret them. This is supposed to be progress?

 

[scottishwildcat]

I still have a copy of the original Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines from 1984.

I don't have that, but I do still have their interactive CD-ROM "Making it Macintosh: The Human Interface Guidelines Companion" from 1993, which was a lovely thing indeed.

 

[roadbloc]

iOS 1 through 6 looked largely the same. There's no reason to think that iOS 8 won't follow the pattern and stick with iOS 7's "Human Interface" guidelines.

More bad news for iOS 6 fans then.