Apple has published its iOS Human Interface Guidelines on iBooks. The guidelines lay out Apple’s recommendations to developers for designing apps that follow user interface principles similar to Apple’s iOS 7 apps.
MacRumors notes that 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:
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 is available as a free download in iBooks. [DIRECT LINK]
