What are Apple's Human Interface Guidelines?

Apple's Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) are official design principles and best practices for creating apps on Apple platforms. They cover everything from layout and typography to accessibility and platform-specific behaviors, helping developers create intuitive, consistent user experiences.

Why should Bluesky developers follow Apple's HIG?

Following HIG helps with App Store approval (Apple rejects apps with poor UX), creates familiar experiences users already understand, ensures accessibility compliance, and results in apps that feel native to iOS rather than cross-platform ports.

What are the core principles of Apple's Human Interface Guidelines?

The core HIG principles are Clarity (clean, precise, uncluttered design), Deference (UI should support content, not compete with it), Depth (visual layers and realistic motion), and Consistency (standard controls behave as users expect).

Can my app be rejected for not following HIG?

Yes. Apple's App Store Review Guidelines explicitly require apps to provide a good user experience. Apps with confusing navigation, non-standard control behaviors, or poor accessibility are regularly rejected. Following HIG from the start avoids costly revisions and resubmissions.

Apple Human Interface Guidelines for Bluesky Apps: Why HIG Matters for iOS Developers

If you're building a Bluesky client for iOS, there's one document you should read before writing a single line of code: Apple's Human Interface Guidelines (HIG).

The HIG isn't just a suggestion - it's the foundation of every successful iOS app. Following these guidelines leads to App Store approval, users who intuitively understand your app, and a product that feels like it belongs on iOS.

In this guide, we'll cover why HIG matters for Bluesky developers, the core principles you need to know, and practical applications for social media app development.

What Are the Human Interface Guidelines?

The Human Interface Guidelines are Apple's official design documentation for creating apps on their platforms. Updated continuously since the original Macintosh, the HIG covers:

Foundations: Color, typography, icons, layout, materials, motion, accessibility
Patterns: Navigation, data entry, feedback, launching, settings
Components: Buttons, menus, pickers, sheets, alerts, and all system controls
Platform-Specific Guidance: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS

Think of HIG as the contract between Apple, developers, and users. Users expect iOS apps to behave consistently. When they swipe to go back, pull to refresh, or tap a disclosure indicator, they expect predictable results. HIG ensures your app meets those expectations.

Why HIG Matters for Bluesky Developers

1. App Store Approval

Apple explicitly rejects apps that provide a confusing, non-standard, or poor user experience. Common rejection reasons related to HIG violations include:

Misusing standard controls (using a toggle where a button belongs)
Non-standard navigation patterns that confuse users
Failing to support accessibility features
Ignoring platform conventions (no support for Dynamic Type)
Poor layout on different device sizes

Designing according to HIG from the start avoids costly revisions, resubmissions, and delays. We've seen Bluesky clients rejected for exactly these issues.

2. User Trust and Familiarity

iOS users have years of muscle memory. They know that:

Swiping from the left edge goes back
Pulling down refreshes content
Long-pressing reveals context menus
The tab bar provides top-level navigation
Blue text is tappable

When your Bluesky app follows these patterns, users feel immediately comfortable. They can focus on discovering content and growing their following rather than learning how your app works.

3. Accessibility Compliance

HIG heavily emphasizes accessibility. Following the guidelines ensures your app works with:

VoiceOver: Screen reading for blind users
Dynamic Type: User-controlled text sizes
Reduce Motion: Minimized animations for motion-sensitive users
High Contrast: Enhanced visibility for low vision
Switch Control: Alternative input methods

Accessibility isn't optional - it's how you ensure everyone can use your Bluesky client to connect with the community.

4. Future-Proofing

Apple continuously updates iOS. Apps built according to HIG adapt better to new iOS versions. When Apple introduced Dynamic Island, apps using standard controls and navigation patterns required minimal updates. Custom implementations broke.

Core HIG Principles for iOS Apps

The HIG is built on four fundamental principles. Every design decision should align with these:

1. Clarity

iOS apps should be clean, precise, and uncluttered:

Limit the number of elements on screen
Use clear, recognizable icons and labels
Provide precise, actionable text
Eliminate visual noise

For Bluesky apps: Posts should be easy to read. Actions (like, repost, reply) should be immediately obvious. Don't clutter the timeline with excessive UI chrome.

2. Deference

The UI should support content, not compete with it:

Content is the star - UI is the supporting cast
Use translucency and blur to suggest depth without distraction
Minimize decorative elements
Let content fill the screen

For Bluesky apps: The posts your users want to see should dominate the screen. Navigation and actions should be accessible but not attention-grabbing.

3. Depth

Visual layers and realistic motion communicate hierarchy and interactivity:

Sheets slide up from the bottom
Pushed views slide in from the right
Modals appear above content with dimmed backgrounds
Layers create clear spatial relationships

For Bluesky apps: When viewing a thread, the original post should feel like the foundation with replies layered on top. The compose sheet should feel like it slides over the timeline.

4. Consistency

Standard controls behave as users expect:

Use system controls wherever possible
Navigation follows platform conventions
Gestures work the same across the app
Terminology matches iOS vocabulary

For Bluesky apps: Use a tab bar for primary navigation. Use the share sheet for sharing. Use the standard context menu for post actions. Don't reinvent what iOS already does well.

HIG Foundations: Essential Topics

Typography

iOS has a sophisticated type system. HIG guidelines for typography:

Use Dynamic Type to respect user text size preferences
Use SF Pro (the system font) for interface elements
Use semantic text styles (body, headline, caption) not fixed sizes
Ensure sufficient contrast (4.5:1 for body text)

// SwiftUI: Correct way to use typography
Text(post.content)
    .font(.body)  // Responds to Dynamic Type

// Wrong: Fixed size ignores accessibility
Text(post.content)
    .font(.system(size: 14))

Color

Color guidelines ensure readability and accessibility:

Use semantic colors (label, secondaryLabel, background)
Test with color blindness simulators
Don't rely on color alone to convey information
Support Dark Mode and Increased Contrast

For Bluesky apps, this means your like button shouldn't be red only - it should also have a filled state change so colorblind users can see the difference.

Layout

Layout guidelines ensure your app works on all devices:

Use safe area insets to avoid notches and home indicators
Support all device sizes from iPhone SE to iPad Pro
Design for both portrait and landscape (or explicitly opt out)
Use size classes for adaptive layouts

Icons and SF Symbols

Apple provides SF Symbols - over 5,000 configurable icons that:

Match system style automatically
Scale with Dynamic Type
Support multiple weights and rendering modes
Are accessible out of the box

For Bluesky apps, use SF Symbols for common actions: heart.fill for likes, arrow.2.squarepath for reposts, bubble.left for replies, square.and.arrow.up for sharing.

Motion and Animation

Animation should be meaningful, not decorative:

Use animation to provide feedback and context
Keep animations short (under 0.3 seconds for most)
Respect Reduce Motion settings
Match system animation curves

Accessibility

The accessibility section of HIG is extensive. Key requirements:

Every interactive element must have an accessibility label
Support VoiceOver navigation
Provide image descriptions (alt text)
Ensure tappable areas are at least 44x44 points
Test with actual accessibility features enabled

Practical HIG Applications for Bluesky Apps

Navigation Structure

For a Bluesky client, HIG suggests:

Tab Bar for primary destinations (Timeline, Search, Notifications, Profile)
Navigation Stack for drilling into content (post → thread → profile)
Sheets for creating content (compose post)
Context Menus for secondary actions (delete, translate, copy link)

Timeline Interactions

HIG-compliant timeline interactions:

Tap post: Navigate to thread view
Long-press post: Show context menu
Swipe left: Quick actions (reply, share)
Pull down: Refresh content
Tap profile image: Navigate to profile

Compose Experience

For post composition:

Use a sheet presentation (slides up from bottom)
Provide clear Cancel and Post buttons
Show character count approaching limit
Support keyboard shortcuts on iPad
Handle image picker with system photo library UI

Feedback and Loading States

HIG emphasizes user feedback:

Show loading indicators when fetching content
Provide haptic feedback for actions (like, repost)
Display error states with actionable recovery options
Use skeleton views during initial load

Common HIG Violations in Social Media Apps

We've seen these mistakes in Bluesky clients and other social apps:

1. Custom Tab Bars

Problem: Building a custom tab bar that doesn't match system behavior.
Solution: Use UITabBarController or SwiftUI's TabView.

2. Ignoring Safe Areas

Problem: Content hidden behind the home indicator or notch.
Solution: Always respect safe area insets.

3. Fixed Font Sizes

Problem: Text that doesn't respond to Dynamic Type.
Solution: Use semantic text styles, test at all sizes.

4. Missing VoiceOver Labels

Problem: Buttons that VoiceOver announces as "button" with no context.
Solution: Add accessibilityLabel to every interactive element.

5. Non-Standard Navigation

Problem: Custom back buttons that break swipe-to-go-back.
Solution: Use standard NavigationView/NavigationStack.

Resources for Learning HIG

Apple provides excellent resources:

Human Interface Guidelines - The complete documentation
HIG Foundations - Core principles and components
Designing for iOS - Platform-specific guidance
SF Symbols App - Browse and search system icons
WWDC Design Sessions - Annual updates and deep dives

Conclusion: HIG Is Your Competitive Advantage

In a market with multiple Bluesky clients, the one that feels most native wins. Users don't consciously think "this follows HIG" - they think "this just works."

Following Apple's Human Interface Guidelines isn't a constraint - it's a competitive advantage. Your app gets approved faster, users understand it immediately, and it works for everyone including those relying on accessibility features.

Before you write code for your Bluesky client, read the HIG. Before you ship a feature, check it against the guidelines. Make HIG compliance part of your development process, not an afterthought.

Your users - and Apple's App Review team - will thank you.

Try Skyscraper

We built Skyscraper for iOS following Apple's Human Interface Guidelines from day one. The result is a Bluesky client that feels native, works with accessibility features, and helps you discover trending hashtags and grow your Bluesky following.

Questions about iOS design for Bluesky apps? Reach out at contact@getskyscraper.com.