apple-hig-expert
by alirezarezvaniapple-hig-expert is a Claude skill for Apple HIG design and audits across iOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS. It provides platform notes, accessibility guidance, Liquid Glass visual review, a HIG audit template, and a Python checker for contrast and tap targets.
This skill scores 78/100, which makes it a solid listing candidate for directory users who want an Apple HIG-oriented design and audit assistant. It is triggerable, has enough workflow scaffolding to outperform a generic prompt, and includes references, a template, and a small checker script, but users should note the lack of local install guidance and the need to verify fast-changing Apple guideline claims against live sources.
- Strong trigger description covers Apple-platform UI audits, mockup reviews, contrast/tap-target checks, and native-feeling UI design scenarios.
- Operational structure is usable: it asks for platform, current state, and app category, then separates design-from-scratch and HIG-audit modes.
- Includes reusable aids beyond prose, including platform, accessibility, and visual-design references, a HIG audit scorecard template, and a Python checker for contrast and tap-target calculations.
- No install command or README is present in the skill folder, so directory users may need to rely on the broader repository installation pattern.
- The guidance includes fast-moving Apple/HIG and Liquid Glass claims and explicitly tells agents to verify important claims against live HIG pages, so it should not be treated as a fully authoritative offline reference.
Overview of apple-hig-expert skill
What apple-hig-expert is for
apple-hig-expert is a Claude skill for designing or auditing Apple-platform interfaces against Apple Human Interface Guidelines. It is most useful when you need a structured HIG review for iOS, macOS, watchOS, or visionOS rather than a loose “make this look Apple-like” prompt.
The skill focuses on practical UI decisions: platform navigation patterns, accessibility, contrast, tap target size, typography, semantic color, safe areas, Dynamic Island usage, macOS menus, watchOS glanceability, visionOS spatial controls, and the repository’s Liquid Glass visual guidance.
Best-fit users and jobs
The apple-hig-expert skill fits product designers, indie app builders, SwiftUI developers, design reviewers, and teams preparing a native Apple app for handoff or QA. It is especially strong for:
- Auditing mockups, screenshots, or written UI specs before implementation.
- Turning a rough Apple app idea into platform-appropriate layout guidance.
- Checking accessibility basics such as VoiceOver labeling, Dynamic Type, 44x44pt tap targets, and contrast.
- Producing a scorecard-style review that teams can track across iterations.
What makes it different from a generic prompt
A generic AI prompt may give broad Apple design advice. apple-hig-expert adds a more inspectable workflow: platform-specific reference notes, a visual design guide, an accessibility guide, a reusable audit template, and a small Python checker for quantitative contrast and target-size checks. That makes it easier to request repeatable HIG audits instead of one-off design opinions.
How to Use apple-hig-expert skill
apple-hig-expert install and repository path
Install from the source repository with:
npx skills add alirezarezvani/claude-skills --skill apple-hig-expert
The skill lives at:
product-team/apple-hig-expert/skills/apple-hig-expert
After install, read SKILL.md first, then inspect these supporting files:
references/platform-specifics.mdfor iOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS patterns.references/visual-design.mdfor typography, semantic color, and Liquid Glass guidance.references/accessibility.mdfor VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, contrast, and tap target expectations.templates/hig-audit-template.mdfor the scorecard structure.scripts/hig_checker.pyfor contrast and tap-target checks.
Give the skill the inputs it needs
For strong apple-hig-expert usage, include the platform, app category, current design state, and what kind of output you want. A weak request is:
Audit this screen for HIG.
A stronger prompt is:
Use apple-hig-expert to audit this iOS finance app dashboard. Target iPhone, SwiftUI implementation, existing Figma mockup. Focus on HIG compliance, accessibility, navigation, safe areas, Liquid Glass readability, and any issues that would block App Store-quality polish. Return a scored audit using the repository template, with severity, rationale, and concrete fixes.
If you are designing from scratch, provide the user task, primary screens, target device family, and whether you prefer SwiftUI-oriented recommendations.
Use the right mode for your goal
The skill supports two practical modes. For design from scratch, ask it to select the platform navigation model first, then define layout, typography, color, accessibility, and native integrations. For an audit, ask it to fill or follow templates/hig-audit-template.md and score visual design, navigation, accessibility, interaction, and platform features.
For measurable checks, use the helper script where applicable:
python scripts/hig_checker.py contrast "#FFFFFF" "#000000"
python scripts/hig_checker.py target 40 44
Use the script for numeric evidence, then ask the skill to interpret the result in the context of Apple HIG and your specific UI.
Practical workflow for better reviews
A useful apple-hig-expert guide workflow is:
- Attach or describe the screen, including visible text, controls, colors, dimensions, and navigation.
- State the platform and OS assumptions.
- Ask for a HIG audit with severity levels: blocker, major, minor, suggestion.
- Request fixes in designer-friendly and developer-friendly language.
- Iterate with updated screenshots or specs and ask what changed.
This works better than asking for “beautiful Apple UI” because it forces the skill to evaluate fit, ergonomics, accessibility, and platform convention.
apple-hig-expert skill FAQ
Is apple-hig-expert for UI Design or development?
Both, but it is primarily a design review and product-quality skill. apple-hig-expert for UI Design is strongest when you need layout critique, native pattern selection, accessibility review, and visual direction. Developers can also use it to translate HIG findings into SwiftUI-friendly implementation notes, but it is not a full SwiftUI code generator.
Can it replace Apple’s official HIG?
No. Apple’s HIG changes, and the skill itself notes that important claims should be verified against live Apple documentation. Use apple-hig-expert to structure thinking, catch common issues, and produce review artifacts. For shipping decisions, especially around newer system features or Liquid Glass behavior, verify against Apple’s current Human Interface Guidelines.
When should I not use this skill?
Do not use it for Android Material Design, web-only design systems, general branding work, or non-Apple UI conventions. It is also not ideal if you only need a visual mood board or marketing landing page critique. The value comes from Apple-platform specificity: HIG compliance, accessibility, platform ergonomics, and native behavior.
Is it beginner-friendly?
Yes, if you provide context. Beginners can ask for explanations of terms like Dynamic Type, semantic colors, safe areas, tab bars, sidebars, complications, and ornaments. The audit template helps beginners avoid missing categories, while the reference files give the model a clearer checklist than a plain prompt.
How to Improve apple-hig-expert skill
Improve apple-hig-expert results with better evidence
The skill performs best when you supply concrete UI evidence. Include screenshots, Figma frame notes, color values, font sizes, tap target dimensions, navigation hierarchy, platform target, and the user’s primary task. If you only provide a vague app idea, the output will be more conceptual and less audit-ready.
For an audit, ask for: issue, HIG principle, severity, affected users, recommended fix, and verification step. This turns the response into a usable review document rather than a list of opinions.
Watch for common failure modes
The most common risk is overgeneralizing Apple style across platforms. A good iOS answer may be wrong for macOS, watchOS, or visionOS. Always specify the platform and device context. Another risk is treating visual polish as more important than accessibility; explicitly request checks for VoiceOver labels, Dynamic Type behavior, contrast, and minimum control sizes.
For Liquid Glass guidance, ask the skill to separate aesthetic recommendations from readability and contrast requirements, especially when translucency or vibrancy affects text legibility.
Iterate after the first output
Do not stop at the first audit. Ask follow-up questions such as:
- “Which three issues should we fix before user testing?”
- “Rewrite these findings as Figma comments.”
- “Convert the audit into SwiftUI implementation tasks.”
- “Re-check the revised design and only report remaining HIG risks.”
- “Which recommendations are strict accessibility concerns versus subjective polish?”
This makes apple-hig-expert more useful for real product workflows because each iteration narrows from broad HIG review to actionable design and engineering changes.