The Decline of Stock Mac UI in Modern App Design
Developers and users increasingly favor custom interfaces over Apple's standard UI elements.
1Stock Mac UI limitations
The latest macOS updates introduced Liquid Glass design elements, including full-height sidebars and translucent buttons, which many developers find unappealing. Apps like Things demonstrate that successful Mac applications often abandon stock UI components entirely. These custom interfaces avoid NSToolbar and Liquid Glass elements, opting instead for unique designs that users still find intuitive. The divergence suggests Apple's standard UI may no longer serve as the gold standard for Mac application design.
2User perception shift
Contrary to traditional assumptions, users show no preference for stock Mac UI over custom interfaces. Popular apps like Slack, Craft, and Obsidian prove users can navigate diverse interface styles without difficulty. Most users remain unaware of technical distinctions like Electron apps, focusing instead on functionality. This challenges the long-held belief that familiarity with stock elements improves user experience, suggesting design consistency matters less than previously thought.
3Developer effort paradox
While stock UI promised reduced development workload, reality proves opposite. The NetNewsWire team found implementing Liquid Glass required significant effort compared to custom UI apps. Things' developers demonstrated how custom interfaces can actually decrease update complexity. This inversion of expected effort challenges a core justification for using Apple's standard components, especially when custom designs better serve both developers and users.
4Apple's design leadership questioned
Though Apple boasts world-class designers, recent UI directions like Liquid Glass have drawn criticism. Developers note the guidance seems misaligned with practical application needs. While individual designers execute well, the overarching vision appears disconnected from what makes interfaces truly usable. This design direction gap undermines the argument that Apple's UI choices inherently represent best practices.
5NetNewsWire's experiment
The author's experimentation with removing Liquid Glass elements from NetNewsWire yielded promising results, though at the cost of abandoning NSToolbar. These prototypes demonstrate how even subtle customizations can significantly alter an app's character. The experiments hint at future design directions that might better balance Mac conventions with unique identity, showing the potential middle ground between stock and fully custom interfaces.
6Toolbar customization potential
Early NetNewsWire modifications suggest opportunities to enhance standard UI elements. Adding color to toolbar icons and improving their spacing could bridge stock and custom approaches. Even limited customization options, when thoughtfully implemented, might satisfy users without requiring complete UI overhauls. These tweaks demonstrate how targeted changes can refresh interfaces while maintaining usability.
7The approval paradox
The article highlights how seeking validation from longtime Mac developers creates unnecessary constraints. While veteran developers may prefer traditional UI patterns, most users remain indifferent to these conventions. This disconnect suggests designers should prioritize broader user needs over niche professional preferences, especially when those preferences don't align with actual usability improvements.
8Future of Mac app design
The collective evidence points toward an evolving Mac UI landscape where custom designs become the norm rather than exception. As both users and developers increasingly value unique interfaces over stock components, Apple may need to reconsider its design language. This shift could lead to more diverse, innovative Mac applications that better serve specific use cases while maintaining platform coherence.
Original article: inessential.com — The Decline of Stock Mac UI in Modern App Design