First App.
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CHAPTER 02Lesson 5 of 36

Choose the main screens

Think about the places someone needs to go inside your app.

On paper or in Notes5 min read & do
By the end of this lesson

Sketch the smallest useful journey through the app.

Let’s do this

  1. 1
    On paper or in Notes

    Draw the starting screen

    Use paper or Apple Notes. Sketch what a person sees when the app opens. A box for a title, a list and one main button is enough. Decide which action matters most.

  2. 2
    On paper or in Notes

    Draw what happens after the main tap

    If the person taps Add, do they fill in a short form? If they tap an item, do they see details? Draw that next screen and label the button that saves or goes back.

  3. 3
    On paper or in Notes

    Keep the first journey short

    Aim for one to three main screens to start. Your first version could show a list, add an item and show its details. The point is a useful journey, not a fixed screen count for every app.

  4. 4
    On paper or in Notes

    Say what each button does

    Use ordinary action labels such as Add plant, Save recipe or Cancel. Write what the person sees after each tap. If a button has no clear job, leave it out for now.

The First App worksheet filled with a sample gardening app idea and three small features.View larger
This guide’s worksheet with a made-up gardening example. Use your own app idea; you can change it later. Captured 7 September 2026.Screenshot source (opens a new tab)

A message for Codex

For my first iPhone app, the main job is [describe the problem my app should solve]. Help me choose one to three main screens for the first version. For each screen, list what the person sees, its main button, what that button does and how to go back. Use familiar iPhone patterns. Do not write code yet.

Make this message fit your idea.

What you should see

You can talk through opening the app, doing its main job and returning to the starting screen.

If you get stuck

Go at your own pace. There is no test to pass.

Checked 7 September 2026. Screens can change; the official guides below have the latest steps.

Apple’s design guidance