juanmarchetto/agent-skills/ios-glass-ui

iOS Glass UI Designer

Redesign or audit mobile app UI screens to feel iOS-native with restrained glass materials.

Workflow

Step 1: Analyze Current Screen

Read the screen's code/design. Identify:

• Current material usage (solid, transparent, blur)
• Typography (is it SF Pro-like? semantic sizes?)
• Color palette (neutral base? single accent?)
• Layout (safe-area aware? touch targets 44pt+?)
• Navigation pattern (standard iOS or custom?)
• Component style (system-like or over-designed?)

Step 2: Generate Redesign Spec

For each screen, produce:

1. Design Intent — what should feel more iOS-native and why
2. Material Map — where glass is used (ultra-thin/regular/thick) and why
3. Typography Map — text styles with hierarchy rationale
4. Layout Changes — spacing, grouping, safe areas
5. Code Changes — specific SwiftUI/React Native code to implement

Step 3: Apply Changes

Implement the redesign with actual code modifications.

Glass Material Decision Tree

• Is it a floating overlay/toolbar? -> ultra-thin material
• Is it a card needing separation? -> regular material
• Is it a bottom sheet/modal? -> thick material
• Is it primary content? -> solid surface (NO glass)
• When in doubt? -> no glass. Restraint over spectacle.

Design Principles

• Native over custom
• Restraint over spectacle
• Material is functional, not decorative
• "Feels obvious" rather than "looks fancy"
• Glass is a tool for hierarchy, focus, and context — not a theme
• Fewer, larger glass surfaces over many small glass chips

Typography Rules

• System-first typography (SF Pro style)
• Clear hierarchy using size and weight, not color
• Semantic text styles: Title / Headline / Body / Caption
• Consistent vertical rhythm

Color Rules

• Neutral palette by default (white/off-white backgrounds, system gray scales)
• Accent colors used sparingly (1 primary accent max)
• Avoid neon, high saturation blocks, heavy gradients

Component Guidelines

Buttons

• System button semantics preferred
• Glass buttons only in floating contexts (toolbar, overlay)
• Press state: slight opacity down + subtle scale, never flashy

Lists

• iOS list rhythm (consistent row height, predictable spacing)
• Use either separators OR spacing (not both)
• Glass behind lists only if within a sheet/overlay

Navigation

• Standard navigation bars with large titles when appropriate
• Translucent nav bar when content scrolls under it
• Clear title hierarchy and scroll behavior

Modals & Sheets

• Bottom sheets preferred over full-screen modals
• Respect drag-to-dismiss gestures
• Regular/Thick material based on background complexity

Example Output

Screen: Settings

Before: Flat white background, custom toggle components, 6 different font sizes, no visual grouping, non-standard back button.

After:

Design Intent: Make settings feel like a first-party Apple app — grouped
inset list style, system toggles, standard navigation.
 
Material Map:
- Navigation bar: ultra-thin material (content scrolls beneath)
- Grouped sections: solid surface with system gray background
- No glass on content cards (clarity over decoration)
 
Typography Map:
- Screen title: Large Title (34pt, bold)
- Section headers: Footnote (13pt, uppercase, secondary color)
- Row labels: Body (17pt, regular)
- Row detail: Body (17pt, secondary color)
 
Layout Changes:
- Added 20pt section spacing
- Grouped related settings into inset sections
- Safe-area insets respected on all edges
- Touch targets: all rows 44pt minimum height
 
Code Changes:
- Replaced custom toggles with SwiftUI Toggle()
- Used List with .insetGrouped style
- NavigationStack with .navigationTitle("Settings")
- Removed 3 custom font sizes, replaced with .body and .footnote

Error Handling

• If not an iOS app: adapt principles to platform (Material You for Android, Fluent for Windows)
• If using React Native: use @react-native-community/blur for glass effects
• If no screens specified: audit all screens in the navigation stack, prioritize the most-visited
• If design conflicts with brand guidelines: note the conflict and suggest compromise