First App.
Your learning space A little progress, every day
CHAPTER 05Lesson 15 of 36

Improve the design

Make the app feel as comfortable as the iPhone apps you already use.

In Codex6 min read & do
By the end of this lesson

Improve readability and the main journey without adding clutter.

Let’s do this

  1. 1
    In Codex

    Choose one screen to improve

    Run the app and look at it as a new user. Can you tell what it does and what to tap next? Pick the most confusing screen first.

  2. 2
    In Codex

    Describe the change in ordinary words

    Try “Make the main action easier to find”, “Give the text more breathing room” or “Use a familiar iPhone list”. You can attach a screenshot of your app. Use other apps as references for a pattern, not as something to copy exactly.

  3. 3
    In Codex

    Use Apple’s standard controls

    Ask Codex to prefer native navigation, lists, buttons and text styles. These work with larger text and accessibility tools more naturally than drawing every control from scratch. Apple’s design guidance is a useful reference.

    Apple’s design guidance (opens a new tab)
  4. 4
    In Xcode or on your iPhone

    Check bigger text and both appearances

    Try larger text in the simulator’s accessibility controls or your iPhone’s settings. Check light and dark appearance where your app supports them. Labels should still fit, controls should stay usable and the main action should remain clear.

Device Hub window showing an iPhone simulator running Apple’s Landmarks app in landscape.View larger
Apple’s example of an app in the simulator. The guide illustrates iOS 27; use the current stable simulator you installed, which may look different.Screenshot source (opens a new tab)

A message for Codex

Review the current screen of my first iPhone app for someone who understands iPhones but is not technical. Make the next action clear, use native SwiftUI patterns, improve spacing and support Dynamic Type and VoiceOver labels. Keep the existing behaviour. Explain the design change first, implement the smallest useful improvement and tell me how to check it with larger text.

Make this message fit your idea.

What you should see

You can find the main action quickly, read the screen comfortably and still use it with larger text.

A couple of words, explained

Dynamic Type
Apple’s system for making app text follow the size a person chooses.
VoiceOver
The iPhone feature that reads out the screen and lets someone navigate by touch and sound.

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 guidanceRun on a simulator or device