Apple has announced the winners of the 2026 Apple Design Awards, and the maritime community has a clear standout: ‘Tide Guide: Charts & Tables’. Developed by the U.S.-based studio Condor Digital, this tide-tracking tool has won the prestigious award in the Visual Effects and Graphics category, an area that recognizes design mastery, beautiful imagery, and seamless animations.
Historically, marine weather apps have prioritized raw data over the user experience. Tide Guide breaks this mold by combining highly accurate technical information with a sublime interface. Through its Liquid Glass design, full-screen graphics come to life with custom animations that flow organically, even adapting their palette of sky-blue hues to match the exact shade of the sky throughout the day.
Beyond its stunning design, it’s an indispensable tool for modern skippers, anglers, and surfers. It offers detailed hour-by-hour forecasts, water temperature maps, and accurate swell estimates in a clear and easy-to-understand format. In addition, the app takes full advantage of the Apple ecosystem, being available from the Apple Watch to visionOS, and includes powerful home screen widgets that allow sailors to check sea conditions at a glance before casting off.