Did Apple abandon its own design heuristics & accessibility principles?

Apple's introduction of Liquid Glass at WWDC 2025 breaks key design rules and principles, potentially hurting usability and accessibility. For years, Apple's Human Interface Guidelines were a bible for software designers, built on solid design principles and usability heuristics. The guidelines made Apple's interfaces intuitive, accessible, and popular. However, with iOS 26, Apple is shifting away from refined and user-friendly design. The new design seems driven by the need to appear innovative, rather than responding to real user needs. The Liquid Glass design is visually impressive but lacks a clear goal, disrupting habits and creating friction. The design also steals attention away from the task at hand, going against Apple's own Human Interface Guidelines. Furthermore, the design regresses in usability and accessibility, with hidden interactions, lack of clarity, and accessibility issues. Overall, Apple seems to have lost direction, chasing trends and reacting to the market rather than focusing on user-centered design.