Apple HIG: Design Foundations

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Key Principles

1. Prioritize content over chrome. Reduce visual clutter. Use system-provided materials and subtle separators rather than heavy borders and backgrounds.

2. Build in accessibility from the start. Design for VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, Reduce Motion, Increase Contrast, and Switch Control from day one. Every interactive element needs an accessible label.

3. Use system colors and materials. System colors adapt to light/dark mode, increased contrast, and vibrancy. Prefer semantic colors (label, secondaryLabel, systemBackground) over hard-coded values.

4. Use platform fonts and icons. SF Pro, SF Compact, SF Mono by default. New York for serif. Follow the type hierarchy at recommended sizes. Use SF Symbols for iconography.

5. Match platform conventions. Align look and behavior with system standards. Provide direct, responsive manipulation and clear feedback for every action.

6. Respect privacy. Request permissions only when needed, explain why clearly, provide value before asking for data. Design for minimal data collection.

7. Support internationalization. Accommodate text expansion, right-to-left scripts, and varying date/number formats. Use Auto Layout for dynamic content sizing.