Understanding the Apple Design Kits
Ever stared at a blank screen, trying to design a mobile app, while your coffee goes cold? Yep, I’ve been there too. Luckily, Apple’s iOS and iPadOS 26 design kits are here to help. They’ve packed in everything you need—icons, new color choices, and layout templates—so you can build an app that looks and feels like a real Apple product.
Why does this matter? First, using the kit helps you follow Apple’s design rules, which can make getting your app into the App Store easier. Second, it saves you loads of time. You don’t have to build everything from scratch—you can just jump straight into designing.
Figma and Sketch Kits: A Closer Look
Figma and Sketch have been go-to design tools for years. On July 17, 2025, both got shiny new updates with the iOS and iPadOS 26 kits (Adobe users got theirs earlier on June 9). Open one up, and you’ll notice the difference right away: better text sizes, smarter layout tools, and colors that work in both light and dark modes. It’s like you got a backstage pass to Apple’s design studio.
Even better, everything’s neatly organized. Navigation bars, tab icons, and widgets are grouped and labeled so you’re not hunting around at midnight. You can add or switch things with one click—your preview’s done before your playlist even repeats.
Implications for UI/UX Designers and Developers
So what does this mean for you? Designers and devs now have a strong base to build on. Whether it’s a quick mockup or a full-on app, every screen can look polished and consistent. That means fewer last-minute design changes and more time to test with users.
Developers benefit too. Everything’s named clearly and sized right, so handoffs are smoother. And those never-ending questions—“Is this the right border size?”—start to disappear.
For students or self-taught builders, the kit also acts like a hands-on teacher. You learn by doing, and that’s way more fun than flipping through a rulebook.
Streamlining Workflows (and Sanity)
Since most of the boring setup is done for you, your team can move faster, launch quicker, and tweak things based on feedback. One designer even said her project timeline dropped by almost a week. That’s more time for real testing—or hey, maybe even a day off.
Just a heads-up: don’t let the kit do all the work. Make sure your app still feels like yours. Otherwise, it might look too plain or just like every other app out there.
Wrapping Up
Apple’s iOS and iPadOS 26 kits for Figma and Sketch aren’t just helpful—they change how we design. They give you structure without cramping your style, speed without sloppiness, and help you build confidently on a solid base.
So... are you ready to dive in, or will that empty screen win again?
