Member-only story
Design for spatial user interfaces
Hey everyone, I just dove into a fascinating Apple Developer video on designing for spatial user interfaces. Buckle up, because it seems they’re building a whole new platform, and this video breaks down the key principles, building blocks, and best practices for crafting layouts in this exciting new space.
1. Building the Basics: Redefining UI Foundations
The first step is understanding the UI foundations. Here, Apple throws out the traditional flat app icon and introduces a whole new dimension — literally! Imagine a 3D app icon with a background layer and up to two foreground layers stacked on top. Pretty cool, right? This layered approach adds depth and personality to your app.
But it doesn’t stop there. Materials are no longer static; they adapt to the lighting conditions in your environment. So, if you’re using your app in a brightly lit room, the materials will appear bright and crisp. Conversely, in a dimly lit space, the materials will adjust to maintain optimal visibility.
Finally, they’ve addressed the challenge of reading text on these potentially larger screens. Typography has been meticulously tweaked to improve readability. Text is slightly bolder, and the spacing between letters (called tracking) has been increased just a touch. These subtle adjustments ensure users can comfortably read information within the app.
