iPhone Apps Launch Screens Guidelines and Showcase

January 18th, 2010 in Blog

First impressions are important. So, it comes with App design that the launch screen the user will see first becomes your first impression (or second if you count the App’s icon) over and over again every time the user launches your app.

Apple’s iPhone Human Interface Guidelines

“To enhance the user’s experience at application launch, you should provide a launch image. A launch image looks very similar to the first screen your application displays. iPhone OS displays this image instantly when the user taps your application icon on the Home screen. As soon as it’s ready for use, your application displays its first screen, replacing the launch placeholder image.
It’s important to emphasize that the reason to supply a launch image is to improve user experience; it is not an opportunity to provide:
An “application entry experience,” such as a splash screen
An About window
Branding elements, unless they are a static part of your application’s first screen
Because users are likely to switch among applications frequently and quickly, you should make every effort to cut launch time to a minimum, and you should design a launch image that downplays the experience rather than drawing attention to it.
If you think that following these guidelines will result in a very plain, boring launch image, you’re right. Remember, the launch image is not meant to provide an opportunity for artistic expression; it is solely intended to enhance the user’s perception of your application as quick to launch and immediately ready for use. The following examples show you how plain a launch image can be.”

Apple also suggests that you“Avoid including elements that might look different when the application finishes launching, so that users don’t experience a flash between the launch image and the first application screen.

Guidelines, not Rules or Requirements

It’s important to remember that these are guidelines and not requirements for your app to get approved for the App Store. Apple isn’t actively policing your launch screens and does leave this area completely up to you.