What design updates are upcoming

Upcoming Design Updates

UIKit Enhancements

In iOS 18, UIKit has received several major updates aimed at improving the user interface and overall user experience:

1. Document Launch Experience: Redesigned to give full control over launch views and design, with first-class support for template document creation. This helps in guiding users through creating their first document while maintaining a great browsing experience.
2. Tabs and Sidebar: Major updates include a new compact look for tab bars, reducing empty space and bringing app content to the forefront. The new combined tab and sidebar experience allows for quick navigation and deeper access to app sections. Customization features enable users to personalize the sidebar and tab bar.
3. Fluid Transitions: New fluid transitions across the system enhance the visual experience.
4. List Improvements: Automatic appearance updates from the list environment trait, new header and footer configurations, and new constructors for list cell, header, and footer backgrounds.
5. UI Update Link: A new feature in iOS 18 that simplifies implementing complex animations requiring periodic UI updates, with advanced features for better performance and battery efficiency.

For more details, you can check out the session What’s new in UIKit.

CarPlay Design System

The next generation of CarPlay introduces a deeply customizable design system that allows automakers to tailor the look and functionality of CarPlay to each vehicle. Key features include:

1. Customizable Gauge Designs: Tailored for each automaker to support unique instrument cluster layouts.
2. Flexible Layout System: Adapts to hardware configurations and design preferences, with customizable backgrounds and color theming.
3. Dynamic Content: Combines vehicle info with CarPlay features, including a new native climate app and terrestrial radio with high-key integration.
4. Automaker Settings and Apps: Allows for easy updates and elegant surfacing of unique experiences and interfaces.

For a deeper dive, you can watch the session Say hello to the next generation of CarPlay design system.

SF Symbols 6

SF Symbols 6 introduces over 800 new symbols, expanding the library to over 6000 unique symbols. New additions include:

1. Automotive Symbols: Such as batteries, convertibles, and temperature indicators.
2. Localized Symbols: Including scripts like Greek, Cyrillic, and several Indic numeral systems.
3. Animation Presets: Designed to enhance app expressiveness.

For more information, you can explore the session What’s new in SF Symbols 6.

Relevant Sessions

1. What’s new in UIKit
2. Say hello to the next generation of CarPlay design system
3. What’s new in SF Symbols 6

These sessions provide a comprehensive overview of the upcoming design updates and enhancements across various Apple platforms.