# hig-foundations

A skill that hands your agent Apple Human Interface Guidelines foundations: color, typography, SF Symbols, dark mode, accessibility. Useful when your UI looks off on Apple platforms.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 730 installs · ★ 148
- Author: raintree-technology
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/tree/HEAD/skills/hig-foundations/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/hig-foundations

## What it does

The skill gives the agent a reference set for Apple design foundations: semantic colors, SF Pro and New York fonts, SF Symbols, materials, motion, privacy, RTL support and inclusive design. It ships as an index of separate files — `accessibility.md`, `color.md`, `dark-mode.md`, `typography.md`, `sf-symbols.md`, `layout.md`, `materials.md`, `motion.md`, `privacy.md`, `right-to-left.md`, `app-icons.md`, `branding.md`, `images.md`, `inclusion.md`, `writing.md`, `immersive-experiences.md`, `spatial-layout.md`. The agent pulls the file that matches the question.

Before asking anything, it checks `.claude/apple-design-context.md` and reuses what is already there. Answers come back as a citation of a specific HIG section, platform differences, concrete SwiftUI, UIKit or AppKit patterns, and a note on accessibility impact — contrast ratios, Dynamic Type scaling, VoiceOver behavior.

The skill is tied to Apple platforms. If you ship a Flutter or React Native app and Apple platforms are not your target, advice on SF Symbols and system materials will not help you. For platform-specific guidance, interaction patterns and components it points to sibling skills: hig-platforms, hig-patterns, hig-components-layout, hig-components-content.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-foundations -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/hig-foundations/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/hig-foundations/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-foundations -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/hig-foundations/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-foundations -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/hig-foundations/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install raintree-technology/hig-doctor hig-foundations
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/hig-foundations/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-foundations -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/raintree-technology/hig-doctor --path skills/hig-foundations
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/hig-foundations/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-foundations -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/tree/HEAD/skills/hig-foundations/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- pick semantic colors that survive dark mode
- choose fonts and sizes that work with Dynamic Type
- match custom icons to SF Symbols weight and style
- check contrast and accessibility of a screen
- mirror a layout for right-to-left languages

## Example prompts
- Check my palette against the HIG — the colors look wrong in dark mode
- What font and sizes should I use for Dynamic Type in SwiftUI?
- My icons don't match the system style, what should I fix?

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 5312b7badbc83e8f.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 5312b7badbc83e8f
```text
---
name: hig-foundations
version: 1.0.0
description: >-
  Apple Human Interface Guidelines design foundations. Use this skill when the user asks about
  "HIG color", "Apple typography", "SF Symbols", "dark mode guidelines", "accessible design",
  "Apple design foundations", "app icon", "layout guidelines", "materials", "motion", "privacy",
  "right to left", "RTL", "inclusive design", branding, images, spatial layout, or writing style.
  Also use when the user says "my colors look wrong in dark mode", "what font should I use",
  "is my app accessible enough", "how do I support Dynamic Type", "what contrast ratio do I need",
  "how do I pick system colors", or "my icons don't match the system style".
  Cross-references: hig-platforms for platform-specific guidance, hig-patterns for interaction
  patterns, hig-components-layout for structural components, hig-components-content for display.
---

# Apple HIG: Design Foundations

Check for `.claude/apple-design-context.md` before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered.

## 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.
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 5312b7badbc83e8f

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 5312b7badbc83e8f tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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