macOS User Interface

Inside

What I Need to Get Started

Both ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and drawing software and the macOS User Interface solution can help creating the software engineering diagrams you need. The macOS User Interface solution can be found in the Software Development area of ConceptDraw STORE application that can be downloaded from this site. Make sure that both ConceptDraw DIAGRAM and ConceptDraw STORE applications are installed on your computer before you get started.

How to install

After ConceptDraw STORE and ConceptDraw DIAGRAM are downloaded and installed, you can install the macOS User Interface solution from the ConceptDraw STORE.

Start Using

To make sure that you are doing it all right, use the pre-designed symbols from the stencil libraries from the solution to make your drawings look smart and professional. Also, the pre-made examples from this solution can be used as drafts so your own drawings can be based on them. Using the samples, you can always change their structures, colors and data.

HelpDesk

How to Design a Mockup of Apple OS X UI

Mac OS X User Interface

The reputation of Apple Inc. was founded by the Macintosh computer, the first mass-market home computer featuring an integral graphical user interface (GUI) and mouse. It's popularity was not instantaneous however — it was an expensive product in a competitive market where systems such as the Commodore 64 were already selling well. Despite this, various iterations gained a loyal fanbase throughout the 90s, and demand would expand dramatically after Apple's rebranding process around the turn of the century. The current Mac lineup includes three versions of desktop computers, and four laptops, referred to as MacBooks.

Since that first Macintosh, Apple have always developed and used their own hardware specific operating system, originally known as the Classic Mac OS. From 1984 to 2000, there were versions 1 to 9; in line with the companies rebranding, the next release was OS X, with subsequent updates to the system referred to as 10.1 Puma, 10.2 Jaguar, and so on. The last two released were 10.10 Yosemite, and 10.11 El Capitan, and have shown a continued focus on the trend towards multi-touch functions and integrated app technology.

Using the Finder menu on a Mac OS X desktop, a view designed using ConceptDraw DIAGRAM

A hallmark of Apple is their device and app integration, allowing for seamless interaction between various mobile devices, laptops, cloud services and proprietary apps such as text and email services. This achieved by keeping a common visual theme and icon representation throughout all operating systems — it is normal to see OS X updates following trends started with iOS (Apple's mobile operating system), and vice versa.

The fundamental style and layout of the Mac OS X user interface has remained largely in place since the earliest versions, but there have been obvious aesthetic enhancements, and elements of icon redesign to match branding across devices. Along the bottom of the screen is a customizable bar of the most common apps, including Finder (the Mac hard drive search tool), Safari, Messages, Calendar, and the App Store, that launch a window straight on to the desktop. A range of system operations can be located along the bar at the top of the screen.

Common glyph elements; one of the icon libraries from the Mac OS X User Interface solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM

To design an effective user interface, graphic designers will create visual GUI prototypes, that focus on maximising the user experience — searching for the most functional layout that attends to core user needs, while retaining an appropriate aesthetic. It is important to know how the user will interact with the UI, and how functionality and appearance will change, depending on the features being used at any one time. By using specialist drawing software, a designer can visualize numerous graphical models, and present their ideas for feedback or collaboration.

An ideal tool for this type of design is ConceptDraw DIAGRAM, now enhanced with the Mac OS X User Interface solution. This solution offers libraries containing the distinct Mac app icons, menu bar graphics, glyph elements and other Mac OS X features — everything necessary to create high standard, professional UI graphic designs for new Mac applications.

Icons from the Mac OS X User Interface solution, in the classic Yosemite window menu style

For users who don't want to start from scratch, the solution also offers a range of samples and templates featuring common Mac OS views — from desktop arrangements to window menu features.

The Mac OS X User Interface solution is part of a range of graphic and diagramming solutions for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM, and users can find help manuals, how-to guides and video tutorials for each of them on the ConceptDraw website.