Explore the art and science of app design. Discuss user interface (UI) design principles, user experience (UX) best practices, and share design resources and inspiration.

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Stacked-sheets vs. nav-stack-in-a-sheet for navigation hierarchies on top of a map
I couldn't help noticing that the Maps and Find My apps make extensive use of "sheets stacked on top of each other" to represent its navigation hierarchy, with a "new content comes in from the bottom" orientation instead of a navigation stack with "new content comes in from the right side" oriented transitions. I'm interested in this topic because I have a similar navigation-hierarchy-over-a-map case in my app (with a custom map view though) and I'm torn back and forth between the approach of replicating the "stacked sheets" vs. putting a navigation stack in a sheet, esp. with the navstack approach being way more attainable with the iOS 26 glass design. I couldn't find any guidance for this kind of UI in the Human Interface Guidelines; I'm leaning towards the navstack-approach for my app; but in terms of the behavior of the SwiftUI container views in this scenario it seems a little bit of an uphill path. Any thoughts on what pattern should be preferred for presenting a deep navigational hierarchy on top of a map-like view?
Topic: Design SubTopic: General
1
0
315
Jul ’25
iOS Screenshot Markup – Rounded Crop Tool (UI Concept)
🔍 Context The built-in screenshot editor in iOS and iPadOS (Markup tool) only allows users to crop images using rectangular frames. While this is sufficient for basic editing, it lacks flexibility for those who wish to tailor the screenshot to the aesthetics of iOS itself — which relies heavily on rounded shapes and smooth UI elements. ⸻ 🚫 Current Limitation • After taking a screenshot and opening it in Markup, users can only crop in rectangular or square formats. • No option is available to apply rounded corners to the crop. • As a result, many users are forced to use third-party apps just to achieve a basic rounded-edge crop, which feels unnecessary for such a common need. ⸻ ✅ Proposed Solution Add a rounded corner cropping feature to the screenshot editor. This could be implemented as: • A toggle to activate “Rounded Crop”. • A radius slider (or predefined corner radius presets). • Optional: an export option to save the result with transparent background, useful for designers and mockups. ⸻ 🎯 Why it matters • Aligns better with the iOS design language (cards, notifications, widgets, etc.). • Saves time for users who currently have to rely on external editing apps. • Greatly improves the presentation of screenshots for social media, UI/UX mockups, blogs, and professional use cases. • Useful across many professions: developers, designers, content creators, educators, marketers. ⸻ 📷 Visual Example Here’s a mockup to illustrate the proposed feature: (Add your image here) ⸻ 💡 Bonus Suggestion Allow exporting with a transparent background when cropping screenshots — especially useful for rounded crops or mockups placed on colored backgrounds.
Topic: Design SubTopic: General
1
0
292
Aug ’25
Huge UI difference between Simulator and Real Device
Hi everyone, I’m testing our SwiftUI app on both Xcode simulator and a real iPhone. On the simulator, everything looks clean and aligned. But when I run it on an actual iPhone (same build, iOS 18), the layout looks broken—fonts overlap, spacing is off, and elements are misaligned. Both screenshots are from the exact same screen and time. First is simulator, second is iPhone. Any idea why this difference happens? Is there something I should check in terms of rendering or layout settings? Thanks in advance!
1
0
288
Jul ’25
NFC Bottomsheet customization
Hi all, I wanted to check whether the NFC bottom-sheet UI shown by iOS during an NFC reading session can be customized. We have a Figma design (attached) for how the sheet should look, but we are not sure whether iOS allows modifying the default NFC UI. Is UI customization supported, or is the bottom sheet fully controlled by the system? Thanks in advance.
Topic: Design SubTopic: General Tags:
1
0
538
Dec ’25
Using macOS-Sequoia-Production-Templates-Sketch
Hi, I was trying to use macOS-Sequoia-Production-Templates in Sketch format and when I try to export png icon file of the document template, it always includes grey nontransparent background which I am unable to delete. In contrast, exporting png app icon file from another template has transparent background and exports well. Is it something wrong with the document icon production template? How can I export document png icon file with transparent background?? Thanks
Topic: Design SubTopic: General
1
0
149
May ’25
Feature Request: Dual Apple Pencil Pro Use or Charging Dock Support
Hi everyone 👋 I’ve been using the Apple Pencil Pro with my iPad Pro M4 and absolutely love it — the squeeze gesture, rotation, and haptics are amazing for creative work. But I’ve run into a little roadblock… Right now, only one Pencil Pro can be paired at a time. So while one is charging, you can’t use another as a backup without unpairing and re-pairing, which interrupts the workflow. I’d really love to see one of two things: The ability to use one Pencil while another charges or An official external charger (or support for third-party ones) Personally, I’d happily buy both a second Pencil and a charger if this became possible. I’ve even chatted with other creatives who feel the same — it would make a huge difference for long projects or working on the go. Just wanted to share this idea and see if anyone else here would like this too. Thanks for reading!
1
0
460
Jul ’25
iOS 26 UI transparency causes readability and accessibility issues
This issue affects core system UI elements such as Control Center, notifications, and system apps. In iOS 26, the Liquid Glass UI introduces excessive transparency and blur across the system. This significantly reduces text readability, lowers contrast, and causes visual fatigue during prolonged use. There is currently no true option to fully disable Liquid Glass effects. Existing accessibility settings only partially mitigate the issue and do not restore a solid, high-contrast interface similar to iOS 18. Please consider adding a system-wide toggle to completely disable Liquid Glass and transparency effects, or provide a solid UI mode for users who prioritize readability and visual comfort. This is especially important for accessibility, as the current design negatively impacts users sensitive to eye strain and low contrast.
1
0
944
Dec ’25
Allow mildly translucent values for iPadOS app .png icons
I've been playing around with the recently published iPad PRO M5 13" and it's awesome in most ways I've been able to think of. But this video capture of the app I'm developing, for example, lacks it the app icon "should" be just slightly translucent as I see it. https://youtube.com/CAukICBrVzw However I'm not and UI/X person and this is primarily my personal preference only for an option to allow for devs.
1
0
1.1k
Dec ’25
How to do settings icon for menu in SwiftUI?
Hi everyone. Can you help me with my settings icon design. I`m trying to create circular setting button using Menu. My code here: struct MenuView: View { var body: some View { Menu { Text("Hello") Text("How are you") } label: { Image(systemName: "gearshape.fill") .clipShape(Circle()) } .clipShape(Circle()) .padding(.top, 10) .padding(.leading, 20) } } You can see my try, this one looks wrong. It should be like this: Just Circle with setting image inside. Thank you an advance 😭🙏🛐
1
0
586
Feb ’26
Images added in Reality Composer look darker in AR
I’m working with Reality Composer and noticed that images added directly to a scene appear significantly darker when viewed in AR. This seems different from how other objects in the scene respond to lighting, especially under varying real-world light conditions. Is this expected behavior? Are images treated with a different lighting model in Reality Composer? Is there any recommended way to get more consistent light response for image-based artworks?
Topic: Design SubTopic: General Tags:
1
0
521
4w
Recollecting Source Code and Binary
Hello All, I used to own an app named LOLIIPOP, and am in the process of transferring it to my new apple account. I am having two problems.... How do I transfer the source code and binary to my new apple account? My developers have an old code, so I need to send them the LAST code they uploaded to the App Store. How do I do that as well??? Please any help!!! Thanks, Mr. LM
Topic: Design SubTopic: General
1
0
129
Aug ’25
Icon looks broken on the App Store
Hi, I just had V1.0 of my app approved on the App Store and I immediately noticed that the icon preview is broken. It looks good in Xcode, on-device and also in the App Store link preview. The icon was built with Icon Composer. Here's the difference (left is App store): Has anyone encountered the same issue and found a solution?
1
0
655
Jan ’26
White border appears during app transition despite full-opacity 1024x1024 icon (SVG and PNG tested)
Hi everyone 👋 I’m a new iOS developer working on my first app and I’ve run into a frustrating visual bug involving my app icon during the launch/close transition. Issue: When I use Icon Composer (the new tool introduced for iOS 26) to generate my app icon, I consistently see a thin white border or “fringe” around the icon only during the transition animation (when the app opens or closes). It disappears once the animation ends. What I tested and confirmed: • I exported the exact same design directly from Adobe Illustrator as a 1024×1024 PNG, fully opaque, RGB color mode, background color filling the entire canvas (no transparency, no borders, no rounded corners). • When I place that exported PNG directly into the AppIcon asset catalog in Xcode, the icon renders perfectly — no white fringe appears, just a slightly darker shade of blue during transitions (expected and acceptable). • But when I generate the icon using Icon Composer, the white edge always appears, even if I disable effects, use full coverage layers, or only keep a flat color layer. Notes: • Tested on iOS 26 (latest beta) using Xcode 16. • The issue seems specific to Icon Composer’s export format or metadata — maybe it’s not stripping alpha correctly or something related to the squircle mask? • I followed all recommended specs: 1024×1024 px, PNG, sRGB, no transparency, exported from Illustrator at 72ppi with solid background. Even tested without the logo, just the icon made with icon composer Is anyone else experiencing this issue with Icon Composer exports? Is there an official recommendation to avoid this during transitions or should I simply avoid Icon Composer for production icons for now and stick with Illustrator / Figma exports? Thanks so much Here’s a visual example:
1
1
1.6k
3w
Handling Context Save Errors
I was wondering if errors are common for the code below for saving SwiftData data and what would be the best way to handle them (popup, closing the app)? do { try modelContext.save() } catch { print("error") }
Topic: Design SubTopic: General Tags:
1
0
286
Jan ’26
Keyboard dismissed when switching apps
Scenario is when keyboard is opened within the app being developed then switch to other app, for instance, Notes app and create a note to enable keyboard from there. While the Notes app keyboard is active switch back to the developed app the keyboard in it is dismissed. Any thoughts?Thanks
1
0
110
Apr ’25
Can I use apple.logo placed on the top of apple sign in related view?
I placed apple.logo symbol image on the top of a view. This view is used to link or unlink Apple ID for user. In the middle is the apple sign in button. I want to use something to describe or represent what the view is, instead of using text description. so I think sign in's company logo is a good choice. Is it allowed by apple official?
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
1.1k
Activity
Nov ’25
Stacked-sheets vs. nav-stack-in-a-sheet for navigation hierarchies on top of a map
I couldn't help noticing that the Maps and Find My apps make extensive use of "sheets stacked on top of each other" to represent its navigation hierarchy, with a "new content comes in from the bottom" orientation instead of a navigation stack with "new content comes in from the right side" oriented transitions. I'm interested in this topic because I have a similar navigation-hierarchy-over-a-map case in my app (with a custom map view though) and I'm torn back and forth between the approach of replicating the "stacked sheets" vs. putting a navigation stack in a sheet, esp. with the navstack approach being way more attainable with the iOS 26 glass design. I couldn't find any guidance for this kind of UI in the Human Interface Guidelines; I'm leaning towards the navstack-approach for my app; but in terms of the behavior of the SwiftUI container views in this scenario it seems a little bit of an uphill path. Any thoughts on what pattern should be preferred for presenting a deep navigational hierarchy on top of a map-like view?
Topic: Design SubTopic: General
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
315
Activity
Jul ’25
iOS Screenshot Markup – Rounded Crop Tool (UI Concept)
🔍 Context The built-in screenshot editor in iOS and iPadOS (Markup tool) only allows users to crop images using rectangular frames. While this is sufficient for basic editing, it lacks flexibility for those who wish to tailor the screenshot to the aesthetics of iOS itself — which relies heavily on rounded shapes and smooth UI elements. ⸻ 🚫 Current Limitation • After taking a screenshot and opening it in Markup, users can only crop in rectangular or square formats. • No option is available to apply rounded corners to the crop. • As a result, many users are forced to use third-party apps just to achieve a basic rounded-edge crop, which feels unnecessary for such a common need. ⸻ ✅ Proposed Solution Add a rounded corner cropping feature to the screenshot editor. This could be implemented as: • A toggle to activate “Rounded Crop”. • A radius slider (or predefined corner radius presets). • Optional: an export option to save the result with transparent background, useful for designers and mockups. ⸻ 🎯 Why it matters • Aligns better with the iOS design language (cards, notifications, widgets, etc.). • Saves time for users who currently have to rely on external editing apps. • Greatly improves the presentation of screenshots for social media, UI/UX mockups, blogs, and professional use cases. • Useful across many professions: developers, designers, content creators, educators, marketers. ⸻ 📷 Visual Example Here’s a mockup to illustrate the proposed feature: (Add your image here) ⸻ 💡 Bonus Suggestion Allow exporting with a transparent background when cropping screenshots — especially useful for rounded crops or mockups placed on colored backgrounds.
Topic: Design SubTopic: General
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
292
Activity
Aug ’25
Huge UI difference between Simulator and Real Device
Hi everyone, I’m testing our SwiftUI app on both Xcode simulator and a real iPhone. On the simulator, everything looks clean and aligned. But when I run it on an actual iPhone (same build, iOS 18), the layout looks broken—fonts overlap, spacing is off, and elements are misaligned. Both screenshots are from the exact same screen and time. First is simulator, second is iPhone. Any idea why this difference happens? Is there something I should check in terms of rendering or layout settings? Thanks in advance!
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
288
Activity
Jul ’25
NFC Bottomsheet customization
Hi all, I wanted to check whether the NFC bottom-sheet UI shown by iOS during an NFC reading session can be customized. We have a Figma design (attached) for how the sheet should look, but we are not sure whether iOS allows modifying the default NFC UI. Is UI customization supported, or is the bottom sheet fully controlled by the system? Thanks in advance.
Topic: Design SubTopic: General Tags:
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
538
Activity
Dec ’25
Using macOS-Sequoia-Production-Templates-Sketch
Hi, I was trying to use macOS-Sequoia-Production-Templates in Sketch format and when I try to export png icon file of the document template, it always includes grey nontransparent background which I am unable to delete. In contrast, exporting png app icon file from another template has transparent background and exports well. Is it something wrong with the document icon production template? How can I export document png icon file with transparent background?? Thanks
Topic: Design SubTopic: General
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
149
Activity
May ’25
Feature Request: Dual Apple Pencil Pro Use or Charging Dock Support
Hi everyone 👋 I’ve been using the Apple Pencil Pro with my iPad Pro M4 and absolutely love it — the squeeze gesture, rotation, and haptics are amazing for creative work. But I’ve run into a little roadblock… Right now, only one Pencil Pro can be paired at a time. So while one is charging, you can’t use another as a backup without unpairing and re-pairing, which interrupts the workflow. I’d really love to see one of two things: The ability to use one Pencil while another charges or An official external charger (or support for third-party ones) Personally, I’d happily buy both a second Pencil and a charger if this became possible. I’ve even chatted with other creatives who feel the same — it would make a huge difference for long projects or working on the go. Just wanted to share this idea and see if anyone else here would like this too. Thanks for reading!
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
460
Activity
Jul ’25
Developer beta26.4
[Iphone11]
Topic: Design SubTopic: General
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
627
Activity
Jul ’25
iOS 26 UI transparency causes readability and accessibility issues
This issue affects core system UI elements such as Control Center, notifications, and system apps. In iOS 26, the Liquid Glass UI introduces excessive transparency and blur across the system. This significantly reduces text readability, lowers contrast, and causes visual fatigue during prolonged use. There is currently no true option to fully disable Liquid Glass effects. Existing accessibility settings only partially mitigate the issue and do not restore a solid, high-contrast interface similar to iOS 18. Please consider adding a system-wide toggle to completely disable Liquid Glass and transparency effects, or provide a solid UI mode for users who prioritize readability and visual comfort. This is especially important for accessibility, as the current design negatively impacts users sensitive to eye strain and low contrast.
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
944
Activity
Dec ’25
Allow mildly translucent values for iPadOS app .png icons
I've been playing around with the recently published iPad PRO M5 13" and it's awesome in most ways I've been able to think of. But this video capture of the app I'm developing, for example, lacks it the app icon "should" be just slightly translucent as I see it. https://youtube.com/CAukICBrVzw However I'm not and UI/X person and this is primarily my personal preference only for an option to allow for devs.
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
1.1k
Activity
Dec ’25
How to do settings icon for menu in SwiftUI?
Hi everyone. Can you help me with my settings icon design. I`m trying to create circular setting button using Menu. My code here: struct MenuView: View { var body: some View { Menu { Text("Hello") Text("How are you") } label: { Image(systemName: "gearshape.fill") .clipShape(Circle()) } .clipShape(Circle()) .padding(.top, 10) .padding(.leading, 20) } } You can see my try, this one looks wrong. It should be like this: Just Circle with setting image inside. Thank you an advance 😭🙏🛐
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
586
Activity
Feb ’26
I need a coding design team.
Hi friends, I need a design and coding team to publish a fintech app. Can anyone help me with this?
Topic: Design SubTopic: General
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
1.1k
Activity
4w
During Apple subscription renewals in the sandbox environment, why isn't Apple's server sending the server-to-server notifications to our backend?
We're using StoreKit for in-app purchases on iOS, and our backend has the server notification URL configured. However, during subscription renewals, Apple's server doesn't send any requests to our endpoint. What could be causing this?
Topic: Design SubTopic: General
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
462
Activity
Jul ’25
Images added in Reality Composer look darker in AR
I’m working with Reality Composer and noticed that images added directly to a scene appear significantly darker when viewed in AR. This seems different from how other objects in the scene respond to lighting, especially under varying real-world light conditions. Is this expected behavior? Are images treated with a different lighting model in Reality Composer? Is there any recommended way to get more consistent light response for image-based artworks?
Topic: Design SubTopic: General Tags:
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
521
Activity
4w
Recollecting Source Code and Binary
Hello All, I used to own an app named LOLIIPOP, and am in the process of transferring it to my new apple account. I am having two problems.... How do I transfer the source code and binary to my new apple account? My developers have an old code, so I need to send them the LAST code they uploaded to the App Store. How do I do that as well??? Please any help!!! Thanks, Mr. LM
Topic: Design SubTopic: General
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
129
Activity
Aug ’25
Icon looks broken on the App Store
Hi, I just had V1.0 of my app approved on the App Store and I immediately noticed that the icon preview is broken. It looks good in Xcode, on-device and also in the App Store link preview. The icon was built with Icon Composer. Here's the difference (left is App store): Has anyone encountered the same issue and found a solution?
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
655
Activity
Jan ’26
White border appears during app transition despite full-opacity 1024x1024 icon (SVG and PNG tested)
Hi everyone 👋 I’m a new iOS developer working on my first app and I’ve run into a frustrating visual bug involving my app icon during the launch/close transition. Issue: When I use Icon Composer (the new tool introduced for iOS 26) to generate my app icon, I consistently see a thin white border or “fringe” around the icon only during the transition animation (when the app opens or closes). It disappears once the animation ends. What I tested and confirmed: • I exported the exact same design directly from Adobe Illustrator as a 1024×1024 PNG, fully opaque, RGB color mode, background color filling the entire canvas (no transparency, no borders, no rounded corners). • When I place that exported PNG directly into the AppIcon asset catalog in Xcode, the icon renders perfectly — no white fringe appears, just a slightly darker shade of blue during transitions (expected and acceptable). • But when I generate the icon using Icon Composer, the white edge always appears, even if I disable effects, use full coverage layers, or only keep a flat color layer. Notes: • Tested on iOS 26 (latest beta) using Xcode 16. • The issue seems specific to Icon Composer’s export format or metadata — maybe it’s not stripping alpha correctly or something related to the squircle mask? • I followed all recommended specs: 1024×1024 px, PNG, sRGB, no transparency, exported from Illustrator at 72ppi with solid background. Even tested without the logo, just the icon made with icon composer Is anyone else experiencing this issue with Icon Composer exports? Is there an official recommendation to avoid this during transitions or should I simply avoid Icon Composer for production icons for now and stick with Illustrator / Figma exports? Thanks so much Here’s a visual example:
Replies
1
Boosts
1
Views
1.6k
Activity
3w
How can I create a custom Matchmaker View Controller in Game Center (macOS)
I am creating a shooting game which uses Game Center for multiplayer and I want to make the Matchmaker view look different. How can I do that?
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
126
Activity
Sep ’25
Handling Context Save Errors
I was wondering if errors are common for the code below for saving SwiftData data and what would be the best way to handle them (popup, closing the app)? do { try modelContext.save() } catch { print("error") }
Topic: Design SubTopic: General Tags:
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
286
Activity
Jan ’26
Keyboard dismissed when switching apps
Scenario is when keyboard is opened within the app being developed then switch to other app, for instance, Notes app and create a note to enable keyboard from there. While the Notes app keyboard is active switch back to the developed app the keyboard in it is dismissed. Any thoughts?Thanks
Replies
1
Boosts
0
Views
110
Activity
Apr ’25