Watchos Design Guidelines
Apply Apple Watch HIG rules when building or reviewing watchOS apps, complications, workouts, and Always On UI.
Overview
watchOS Design Guidelines is an agent skill for the Build phase that applies Apple Watch HIG rules across six prioritized categories for glanceable wrist UI.
Install
npx skills add https://github.com/ehmo/platform-design-skills --skill watchos-design-guidelinesWhat is this skill?
- 6 rule categories with stated priorities: Glanceable Design (CRITICAL) through Workouts & Health (per SKILL index)
- 5 key principles: glanceable-first (~2s comprehension), brief wrist interactions, Digital Crown primary, complications e
- When-to-use triggers: complications, Crown interactions, workout/health UI, notifications, Always On states
- Packaged rule corpus with `rules/_sections.md` IDs and evaluation checklist in SKILL.md
- 6 rule categories with priority tiers
- 5 documented key principles including 2-second glanceability target
Adoption & trust: 571 installs on skills.sh; 387 GitHub stars; 3/3 security scanners passed (skills.sh audits).
What problem does it solve?
Your watchOS screens feel like shrunken iPhone layouts and you are unsure whether complications, Crown flows, and Always On states meet Apple’s wrist-first bar.
Who is it for?
Indie Apple developers shipping or polishing watchOS apps, complications, or workout experiences alongside an iOS product.
Skip if: Pure iPhone or iPad UI, Android Wear, or teams that want implementation code instead of HIG conformance review.
When should I use this skill?
Building or reviewing watchOS app interfaces, complications, Digital Crown interactions, workout/health features, Watch notifications, or Always On display states.
What do I get? / Deliverables
Designs are reviewed against categorized HIG rules and checklist items so screens communicate intent within about two seconds and respect Crown-first interaction patterns.
- HIG-aligned review notes keyed to rule section IDs
- Evaluation checklist outcomes for glanceability and Crown navigation
Recommended Skills
Journey fit
Build is where watchOS interfaces are implemented and reviewed against Apple’s wrist-first constraints. Frontend covers SwiftUI/UIKit watch surfaces, complications, and glanceable screen flows—not backend sync alone.
How it compares
HIG checker skill for watchOS—not a SwiftUI component library or App Store marketing copy skill.
Common Questions / FAQ
Who is watchos-design-guidelines for?
Solo and indie builders working on Apple Watch apps, complications, workouts, or notifications who want agent-assisted HIG review.
When should I use watchos-design-guidelines?
During Build frontend work when creating or reviewing watchOS interfaces, Digital Crown interactions, complication layouts, workout UIs, or Always On display behavior.
Is watchos-design-guidelines safe to install?
Treat it as local reference documentation loaded into the agent—confirm package provenance via the Security Audits panel on this Prism page.
SKILL.md
READMESKILL.md - Watchos Design Guidelines
# watchOS Design Guidelines ## Purpose This skill provides Apple Human Interface Guidelines for Apple Watch. Load it when working on watchOS apps, complications, workout features, or any wrist-based interaction design. ## When to Use - Building or reviewing watchOS app interfaces - Designing complications for watch faces - Implementing Digital Crown interactions - Creating workout or health tracking features - Designing notifications for Apple Watch - Evaluating glanceability of Watch UI - Working with Always On display states ## File Structure | File | Contents | |------|----------| | `SKILL.md` | Complete design rules, specifications, and evaluation checklist | | `rules/_sections.md` | All rules organized by category with IDs for cross-reference | | `metadata.json` | Version, references, and abstract | ## Key Principles 1. **Glanceable first** -- every screen must communicate its purpose within 2 seconds 2. **Respect the wrist** -- interactions should be brief; avoid complex multi-step flows 3. **Digital Crown is primary** -- scroll, select, and adjust values with the Crown 4. **Complications drive engagement** -- keep watch face data fresh and useful 5. **Always On awareness** -- dim gracefully, hide sensitive content ## Rule Categories | # | Category | Priority | |---|----------|----------| | 1 | Glanceable Design | CRITICAL | | 2 | Digital Crown | HIGH | | 3 | Navigation | HIGH | | 4 | Complications | HIGH | | 5 | Always On Display | MEDIUM | | 6 | Workouts & Health | MEDIUM | | 7 | Notifications | MEDIUM | | 8 | Accessibility | CRITICAL | ## Priority Reference | Level | Meaning | |-------|---------| | CRITICAL | Glanceable design, accessibility -- violations make the app unusable on Watch | | HIGH | Digital Crown, navigation, complications -- core Watch interaction patterns | | MEDIUM | Always On, workouts, notifications -- important but context-dependent | ## Never Do - Never place primary information off-screen (requires scrolling to see) - Never ignore the Digital Crown for scrollable or value-picking content - Never override system Crown behaviors (volume, Time Travel) - Never support only one complication family - Never use deprecated ClockKit APIs -- use WidgetKit complication families - Never show sensitive health data in the Always On dimmed state - Never omit accessibility labels on image-only interactive elements - Never use laggy or batched responses to Crown rotation { "version": "1.0.0", "organization": "Platform Design Skills", "date": "February 2026", "abstract": "Apple Human Interface Guidelines for Apple Watch. 40+ rules across 8 categories covering glanceable interfaces, Digital Crown, complications, Always On display, workout tracking, wrist-optimized interactions, and accessibility.", "references": [ "https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines", "https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/designing-for-watchos", "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/watchkit", "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/widgetkit" ] } # watchOS Design Rules -- Section Index All rules organized by category with stable IDs for cross-referencing. --- ## Section 1: Glanceable Design [CRITICAL] | ID | Rule | Priority | |----|------|----------| | W-GL-01 | Primary info visible without scrolling | CRITICAL | | W-GL-02 | Target 5-second interaction sessions | CRITICAL | | W-GL-03 | Large, high-contrast text (min 16pt body, 18pt+ titles) | CRITICAL | | W-GL-04 | Minimize text; use SF Symbols over labels | CRITICAL | | W-GL-05 | Respect wrist-down (inactive) state | CRITICAL | | W-GL-06 | One primary data point per screen; clear visual hierarchy | CRITICAL | **Rationale**: The wrist is the most constrained display surface. Users raise their wrist for a glance, not a reading session. Every pixel must justify its presence. --- ## Section 2: Digital Crown [HIGH] | ID | Rule | Priority | |----|------|----------| | W-DC-01 | Crown is prim