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macos-design-guidelines

Enforce macOS HIG conformity for menus, windows, toolbars, and sidebars.

486|29|Updated Feb 1, 2026
Search Tags:#macos#SwiftUI#AppKit#design-guidelines#window-management#keyboard-shortcuts#HIG
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/ehmo/platform-design-skills --skill macos-design-guidelines-ehmo
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: macos-design-guidelines
Source: https://github.com/ehmo/platform-design-skills/tree/main/skills/macos
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/ehmo/platform-design-skills --skill macos-design-guidelines-ehmo

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

macOS design teams often struggle to consistently apply Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, resulting in fragmented UX and inconsistent conventions across macOS apps. This Skill codifies macOS HIG patterns into actionable rules and practical examples to guide design reviews, UI implementation, and product decisions.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Menu Bar standards: ensures standard menus (App, File, Edit, View, Window, Help) exist, are discoverable, and support dynamic updates.
  • Windows & Toolbars: prescribes resizable main windows, fullscreen support, and toolbar usage with labeled icons to improve discoverability.
  • Sidebars & Navigation: advocates a leading collapsible sidebar with a source-list style and clear content organization.
  • Keyboard & Pointer Patterns: emphasizes comprehensive keyboard shortcuts, focus management, hover states, and drag-and-drop interactions.
  • System Integration: covers Dock presence, Spotlight indexing, Quick Look previews, and sharing/services support to feel native.

Use Case: A design team audits a macOS app against the HIG and updates UI patterns to improve consistency, accessibility, and developer guidance.

Quick Start

Use this skill to quickly assess whether a macOS app's UI adheres to core HIG rules for menus, windows, toolbars, sidebars, and keyboard navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions about macos-design-guidelines

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I ensure my macOS app follows Apple's Human Interface Guidelines?▼

To ensure your macOS app follows Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, audit its menus, windows, toolbars, sidebars, and keyboard navigation against codified HIG patterns. This enforces conformity for design reviews, UI implementation, and product decisions.

What is the standard macOS window management pattern for toolbars and sidebars?▼

The standard macOS window management pattern requires resizable main windows with fullscreen support, toolbars using labeled icons for discoverability, and a leading collapsible sidebar styled as a source-list to organize content clearly.

Does my Mac app need specific keyboard shortcuts and system integration features?▼

Yes, your Mac app needs comprehensive keyboard shortcuts, focus management, and hover states. System integration features like Dock presence, Spotlight indexing, Quick Look previews, and sharing support are also required to feel native.

How do I audit an existing Mac app UI for HIG conformity?▼

To audit an existing Mac app UI for HIG conformity, review the app's standard menus, window resizing behavior, sidebar navigation, and drag-and-drop interactions. Compare these UI patterns against structured HIG metadata and practical examples to identify inconsistencies.

Can I apply macOS HIG rules to both SwiftUI and AppKit implementations?▼

Yes, you can apply macOS HIG rules to both SwiftUI and AppKit implementations. The guidelines enforce conformity across UI implementation, covering menus, windows, toolbars, and keyboard navigation regardless of the chosen Apple UI framework.

What are the standard menus required for a native macOS application?▼

The standard menus required for a native macOS application are App, File, Edit, View, Window, and Help. These menus must exist, be discoverable, and support dynamic updates to ensure a consistent user experience.

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