App Ui Design

majiayu000/spellbook/plugins/spellbook-ui/skills/app-ui-design

by majiayu000ed52af74bce85ba9e71db109c72708833012eaf2No licenseListed Oct 9, 2026Updated Oct 9, 2026

Mobile app UI design expert for iOS and Android. Use when designing app interfaces, creating design systems, ensuring accessibility, or following platform guidelines. Covers Material Design 3, Human Interface Guidelines, color theory, typography, and 2025 trends.

Instructions onlyDesign & Creative
AI-generated overview

Guides mobile app UI design for iOS and Android, covering design systems, accessibility, and platform guidelines.

What it does
This skill provides expert guidance for designing mobile app interfaces. It covers design system fundamentals such as color tokens, typography scales, and spacing, plus platform-specific rules for iOS Human Interface Guidelines and Android Material Design 3. It also addresses accessibility requirements, dark mode, microinteractions, and 2025 design trends, with extended reference material and a design system template.
When to use it
Use it when designing app interfaces, building or documenting a design system, checking accessibility compliance, or following iOS or Android platform guidelines. It suits new app design, cross-platform adaptive design, and redesign audits.
Requirements
No scripts or tools are required; it is instructions and reference documents only. It relies on the agent's own capabilities and the bundled reference files and template.

Mobile App UI Design

Expert guidance for designing beautiful, accessible, and platform-native mobile app interfaces following 2025 best practices.

Core Philosophy

  • User-First Design — Prioritize user needs, behaviors, and mental models over aesthetics
  • Platform Consistency — Follow iOS HIG and Android Material Design guidelines
  • Accessibility as Foundation — Design for all users from the start, not as an afterthought
  • Emotional Intelligence — Create interfaces that users emotionally connect with
  • Performance-Conscious — Beautiful design that doesn't sacrifice app performance

Hard Rules (Must Follow)

These rules are mandatory. Violating them means the skill is not working correctly.

Accessibility First

All designs must meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards. Accessibility is not optional.

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❌ FORBIDDEN:- Color contrast below 4.5:1 for text- Touch targets smaller than 44×44pt (iOS) or 48×48dp (Android)- Information conveyed by color alone- Missing alternative text for images- Non-keyboard-navigable interfaces
✅ REQUIRED:- Minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text- Minimum 3:1 contrast ratio for large text (18pt+)- Touch targets: 44×44pt (iOS) / 48×48dp (Android)- Support for Dynamic Type / Font Scaling- VoiceOver (iOS) / TalkBack (Android) compatibility- Clear focus indicators for keyboard navigation

Platform Guidelines Adherence

Follow platform-specific design guidelines. Do not mix iOS and Android patterns.

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❌ FORBIDDEN:- Using Android-style FAB on iOS- Using iOS-style bottom sheets on Android without adaptation- Mixing platform navigation patterns- Ignoring platform typography (SF Pro vs Roboto)
✅ REQUIRED:iOS (Human Interface Guidelines):- Use SF Pro font family- Tab bar at bottom for primary navigation- Push navigation with back chevron- Standard iOS controls (UIKit/SwiftUI)
Android (Material Design 3):- Use Roboto font family- Bottom navigation bar or navigation drawer- Material components with ripple effects- Follow Material You dynamic theming

Consistent Design System

Every app must have a documented design system with tokens.

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❌ FORBIDDEN:- Ad-hoc colors and spacing values- Inconsistent button styles across screens- Multiple unnamed font sizes- Components without defined states
✅ REQUIRED:Design System Must Include:├── Color Tokens (primary, secondary, surface, error, etc.)├── Typography Scale (heading1-6, body, caption, etc.)├── Spacing Scale (4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48px)├── Border Radius Tokens (none, sm, md, lg, full)├── Shadow/Elevation Tokens (elevation1-5)└── Component Library (button, input, card, etc.)

Touch-Friendly Design

All interactive elements must be optimized for touch interaction.

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❌ FORBIDDEN:- Touch targets smaller than minimum size- Interactive elements too close together (<8px gap)- Important actions outside thumb reach zone- Hover-dependent interactions
✅ REQUIRED:- Minimum touch target: 44×44pt (iOS) / 48×48dp (Android)- Minimum spacing between targets: 8px- Primary actions in thumb-friendly zone (bottom 2/3)- Clear tap feedback (ripple, highlight, scale)

Quick Reference

When to Use What

ScenarioApproachKey Considerations
New app designStart with design systemDefine tokens before screens
iOS-only appHuman Interface GuidelinesSF Pro, standard iOS patterns
Android-only appMaterial Design 3Roboto, Material components
Cross-platform appAdaptive designPlatform-specific navigation
Redesign existing appAudit firstMaintain mental models
Accessibility reviewWCAG 2.2 AA checklistContrast, touch targets, labels

Design System Fundamentals

Color System

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## Color Token Structure
### Semantic Colorsprimary          → Main brand color, CTAsprimary-variant  → Darker/lighter primary for statessecondary        → Secondary actions, accentsbackground       → App backgroundsurface          → Card backgrounds, elevated surfaceserror            → Error states, destructive actionson-primary       → Text/icons on primary coloron-background    → Text/icons on backgroundon-surface       → Text/icons on surface
### Color Palette (60-30-10 Rule)60% → Neutral/background colors30% → Secondary/supporting colors10% → Accent/primary colors
### Dark Mode Considerations- Don't just invert colors- Use desaturated colors for dark surfaces- Reduce contrast slightly (avoid pure white on black)- Maintain color meaning across modes

Typography Scale

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## Mobile Typography Guidelines
### iOS Typography (SF Pro)Large Title   → 34pt, BoldTitle 1       → 28pt, BoldTitle 2       → 22pt, BoldTitle 3       → 20pt, SemiboldHeadline      → 17pt, SemiboldBody          → 17pt, RegularCallout       → 16pt, RegularSubhead       → 15pt, RegularFootnote      → 13pt, RegularCaption 1     → 12pt, RegularCaption 2     → 11pt, Regular
### Android Typography (Roboto / Material 3)Display Large  → 57spDisplay Medium → 45spDisplay Small  → 36spHeadline Large → 32spHeadline Medium→ 28spHeadline Small → 24spTitle Large    → 22spTitle Medium   → 16sp, MediumTitle Small    → 14sp, MediumBody Large     → 16spBody Medium    → 14spBody Small     → 12spLabel Large    → 14sp, MediumLabel Medium   → 12sp, MediumLabel Small    → 11sp, Medium
### Best Practices- Maximum 2-3 font families per app- Minimum body text: 16px (14px absolute minimum)- Line height: 1.4-1.6× font size for body text- Support Dynamic Type (iOS) / Font Scaling (Android)

Spacing System

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## 8-Point Grid System
Base Unit: 8px
### Spacing Scalespacing-0    → 0pxspacing-1    → 4px   (half unit)spacing-2    → 8px   (1 unit)spacing-3    → 12px  (1.5 units)spacing-4    → 16px  (2 units)spacing-5    → 24px  (3 units)spacing-6    → 32px  (4 units)spacing-7    → 48px  (6 units)spacing-8    → 64px  (8 units)
### Component SpacingButton padding      → 12px vertical, 24px horizontalCard padding        → 16pxList item padding   → 16px horizontal, 12px verticalSection spacing     → 24px-32pxScreen edge margin  → 16px (phones), 24px (tablets)
### Touch Target SpacingMinimum gap between interactive elements: 8pxRecommended gap: 12-16px

Platform Guidelines

iOS Human Interface Guidelines

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## iOS Design Principles
### Core Principles1. Clarity    → Text legible, icons precise, purpose obvious2. Deference  → UI helps understanding, not competing with content3. Depth      → Visual layers and realistic motion convey hierarchy
### Navigation Patterns- Tab Bar (bottom) → 3-5 primary destinations- Navigation Bar (top) → Title, back button, actions- Modal sheets → Temporary focused tasks- Popovers (iPad) → Contextual options
### 2025 Updates: Liquid Glass- Translucent materials for controls- Floating navigation elements- Dynamic depth and hierarchy- Background blur effects
### Safe Areas- Top: Status bar + Dynamic Island/Notch- Bottom: Home indicator (34pt on Face ID devices)- Use safeAreaInsets for proper content placement
### Standard Dimensions- Navigation bar height: 44pt (96pt with large title)- Tab bar height: 49pt (83pt on Face ID devices)- Toolbar height: 44pt

Android Material Design 3

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## Material Design 3 Principles
### Core Concepts1. Material You    → Personal, adaptive, dynamic color2. Expressiveness  → Emotional connection through design3. Accessibility   → Inclusive design for all users
### Navigation Patterns- Bottom Navigation → 3-5 primary destinations- Navigation Drawer → 5+ destinations or secondary nav- Navigation Rail → Tablets and large screens- Top App Bar → Title, navigation, actions
### Material 3 Expressive (2025)- Dynamic color from user wallpaper- Springy, physics-based motion- Bolder, more expressive typography- Rounded, approachable shapes
### Component Shapes- Extra Small: 4dp- Small: 8dp- Medium: 12dp- Large: 16dp- Extra Large: 28dp- Full: 50% (pills/circles)
### Standard Dimensions- App bar height: 64dp- Bottom navigation height: 80dp- FAB size: 56dp (standard), 40dp (small), 96dp (large)

2025 Design Trends

AI-Driven Personalization

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## Adaptive UI Patterns
### Personalization Strategies- Content recommendations based on behavior- Adaptive UI layouts based on usage patterns- Smart defaults and predictive actions- Contextual feature suggestions
### Implementation Guidelines- Always provide manual override options- Explain why content is recommended- Respect user privacy preferences- Gradual personalization (don't overwhelm new users)

Dark Mode Excellence

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## Dark Mode Best Practices
### Color AdaptationLight Mode          →    Dark ModeWhite (#FFFFFF)     →    Dark gray (#121212)Black (#000000)     →    White (#FFFFFF)Primary (vibrant)   →    Primary (desaturated)Shadows             →    Subtle shadows or none
### Surface Elevation (Material 3)Elevation 0  → #121212Elevation 1  → #1E1E1E (+ 5% white overlay)Elevation 2  → #232323 (+ 7% white overlay)Elevation 3  → #272727 (+ 8% white overlay)Elevation 4  → #2C2C2C (+ 9% white overlay)Elevation 5  → #323232 (+ 11% white overlay)
### Recommendations- Auto-switch based on system setting- Separate color tokens for light/dark- Test contrast in both modes- Consider OLED optimization (true blacks)

Microinteractions

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## Meaningful Motion
### Types of Microinteractions- Feedback → Button press, form submission- State → Loading, success, error- Guidance → Onboarding hints, tooltips- Delight → Celebration animations, easter eggs
### Motion Principles- Duration: 200-500ms for most interactions- Easing: Use natural easing curves- Purpose: Every animation should have a reason- Performance: Use hardware-accelerated properties
### 2025 Trends- Springy, physics-based animations- Morphing transitions between states- Gesture-driven interactions- Reduced motion support for accessibility

Glassmorphism & Neumorphism

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## Modern Visual Styles
### GlassmorphismProperties:- Background blur (backdrop-filter: blur)- Transparency (10-40% opacity)- Subtle border (1px white at 20% opacity)- Soft shadow
Use Cases:- Overlays and modals- Cards on image backgrounds- Navigation bars (iOS Liquid Glass)
Caution:- Ensure text readability- Consider performance impact- Provide fallback for older devices
### Neumorphism (Soft UI)Properties:- Soft shadows (light and dark)- Subtle elevation effect- Muted color palette
Use Cases:- Toggle switches- Input fields- Cards
Caution:- Often fails accessibility contrast tests- Use sparingly, not as primary style- Always test with actual content

Extended Reference

Detailed material starting at ## Accessibility Checklist has been moved to reference/extended.md [blocked] to keep this skill concise. Load that reference when the task requires the moved examples, command catalogs, checklists, platform details, or implementation templates.

Source and attribution

Source:majiayu000/spellbookinplugins/spellbook-ui/skills/app-ui-designat commited52af7

License: No license

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