tvOS Design Guidelines

Apple TV is a living room device driven entirely by focus-based navigation and the Siri Remote. There is no pointer, no touch screen, and no mouse. Every design decision must account for the 10-foot viewing distance, the simplicity of the remote, and the lean-back nature of TV consumption.

1. Focus-Based Navigation (CRITICAL)

The focus system is the foundation of all tvOS interaction. There is no cursor -- users move focus between elements using the Siri Remote touch surface.

Rules

FOCUS-01: Every interactive element must have a clearly visible focus state. The focused item must be unmistakably distinguished from unfocused items. Use scaling (typically 1.05x-1.1x), elevation via shadow, brightness changes, or border highlights. Never rely on color alone.

FOCUS-02: Focus movement must be predictable and follow a logical spatial layout. When a user swipes right, focus must move to the element visually to the right. Avoid layouts where focus jumps unexpectedly across the screen. Grid and linear layouts are safest.

FOCUS-03: Use focus guides (UIFocusGuide) to bridge gaps in layouts.