Apple HIG: System Experiences
Check for .claude/apple-design-context.md before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered.
Key Principles
General
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Glanceable, immediate value. System experiences bring your app's most important content to surfaces the user sees without launching your app. Design for seconds of attention.
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Respect platform context. A Lock Screen widget has different constraints than a Home Screen widget. A complication is far smaller than a top shelf item.
Widgets
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Show relevant information, not everything. Display the most useful subset, updated appropriately.
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Support multiple sizes with distinct layouts. Each size should be a thoughtful design, not a scaled version of another.
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Deep-link on tap. Take users to the relevant content, not the app's root screen.
Live Activities
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Track events with a clear start and end. Deliveries, scores, timers, rides. Design for both Dynamic Island and Lock Screen.
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Stay updated and timely. Stale data undermines trust. End promptly when the event concludes.
Notifications
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Respect user attention. Only send notifications for information users genuinely care about. No promotional or low-value notifications.
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Actionable and self-contained. Include enough context to understand and act without opening the app. Support notification actions. Use threading and grouping.
Complications
- Focused data on the watch face. Design for the smallest useful representation. Support multiple families. Budget updates wisely.
Home Screen Quick Actions
- 3-4 most common tasks. Short titles, optional subtitles, relevant SF Symbol icons.
Top Shelf
- tvOS showcase. Feature content that entices: new episodes, featured items, recent content.
App Clips
- Instant, focused functionality within a strict size budget. Load quickly without App Store download. Only what's needed for the immediate task, then offer full app install.
App Shortcuts
- Surface key actions to Siri and Spotlight. Define shortcuts for frequent tasks. Use natural, conversational trigger phrases.
Reference Index
| Reference | Topic | Key content |
|---|---|---|
| widgets.md | Widgets | Glanceable info, sizes, deep linking, timeline |
| live-activities.md | Live Activities | Real-time tracking, Dynamic Island, Lock Screen |
| notifications.md | Notifications | Attention, actions, grouping, content |
| complications.md | Complications | Watch face data, families, budgeted updates |
| home-screen-quick-actions.md | Quick actions | Haptic Touch, common tasks, SF Symbols |
| top-shelf.md | Top shelf | Featured content, showcase |
| app-clips.md | App Clips | Instant use, lightweight, focused task, NFC/QR |
| watch-faces.md | Watch faces | Custom complications, face sharing |
| app-shortcuts.md | App Shortcuts | Siri, Spotlight, voice triggers |
Output Format
- System experience recommendation -- which surface best fits the use case.
- Content strategy -- what to display, priority, what to omit.
- Update frequency -- refresh rate including system budget constraints.
- Size/family variants -- which to support and how layout adapts.
- Deep link behavior -- where tapping takes the user.
Questions to Ask
- What information needs to surface outside the app?
- Which platform?
- How frequently does the data update?
- What is the primary glanceable need?
Related Skills
- hig-components-status -- Progress indicators in widgets or Live Activities
- hig-inputs -- Interaction patterns for system experiences (Digital Crown for complications)
- hig-technologies -- Siri for App Shortcuts, HealthKit for complications, NFC for App Clips
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When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.