Project
N°001
Name
Detail Matters
Year
2025–2026
Type
User Interface Design
About
As a senior designer working on Apple’s native apps, every detail matters—from complete user flows to the smallest elements, like a notification badge. This example shows how design decisions at the smallest scale are guided by system evolution, brand intent, accessibility, and visual balance.
The Apple Store app serves as Apple’s primary commerce platform, supporting product purchases, services, and in-store appointments.
Despite being used less frequently than everyday utility apps, it is among Apple’s most revenue-critical experiences, where every interface decision must communicate clarity, trust, and precision.
With the transition from iOS 18 to iOS 26 and the introduction of Liquid Glass, many tab bar icons changed from outlined to filled. In the Apple Store app, the solid blue badge now blends with the filled Bag icon, reducing contrast and affecting visibility.
To address this, we first examined how other Apple native apps handle notification badges across the system. Some use red badges to signal urgency, while others rely on outlined or more muted treatments.
However, red badges felt overly alarming for a shopping context, while outlined badges lacked sufficient visibility—especially in quick-glance scenarios.
Ultimately, we explored a new approach in which the badge color aligns with the tab bar’s icon palette and reverses based on the Bag icon’s selected and deselected states. This keeps the badge visible without being distracting, creating a solution that feels subtle, intentional, and native to the system.
In light mode, the badge switches between black and blue depending on the Bag icon’s state. This dynamic interaction maintains contrast and integrates seamlessly with the tab bar—showing how thoughtful micro-decisions can enhance both usability and visual balance.
In dark mode, it adapts accordingly, switching between white and blue.
Dark Mode Badge Color Transition.
Seamless Transition from Blue to White.
Light Mode Badge Color Transition.