Description

This task covers design-led updates required to adopt Apple’s Liquid Glass design language across the Wikipedia iOS app. The work focuses on updating foundational UI elements (color, typography, motion, and component behavior), defining defaults and fallbacks across OS versions, and validating alignment with Apple’s platform guidance.

The outcome of this task will inform downstream engineering implementation and help ensure the app feels modern, platform-native, and stylistically consistent.

Must Haves

• • Update visual foundations
    • Update color roles, typography, and motion to align with Liquid Glass while staying in bounds of brand guidelines
    • Account for dynamic tints, translucency rules, and system-driven effects
  • Component defaults & fallbacks
    • For each affected component, document:
      • New default behavior (Liquid Glass vs. native system component)
      • Fallback behavior for older OS versions
  • Navigation behavior
    • Redesign tab bar behavior to support shrink/expand on scroll for iPadOS and macOS
  • Design validation
    • Validate that designs are visually “on-style” and consistent with platform conventions
  • Cross-functional alignment
    • Consult with Engineering and Product Management on any items that may shift between must-have and nice-to-have based on feasibility
• The file handed over should make it clear what are optional enhancements or refinements and what is most urgent to adopt
• Create Liquid Glass–ready icon variants (light / dark / clear) using Icon Composer
• Regenerate widget and notification assets using updated depth and transparency guidance

Nice to Have

• Conduct a design review by comparing updated designs against:
  • Apple examples from the Liquid Glass announcement
  • Relevant first-party or well-aligned reference apps

Deliverables

• Updated visual system spects
• Component level mapping of liquid glass defaults vs legacy fallbacks with clear indications for priority adoption
• Updated tab bar interaction designs for iPadOS/macOS with iPhone
• Design review notes and references used for validation with review from Brand

Notes

(Tais added this, from Carolyn) When testing (during implementation stage) do some testing with Anthony on older devices with a focus on lag time before going live.

Due date: January 28 2026