The Tumblr app for iPhone is actually pretty simple to use. When a person opens the app they are taken to their homepage or what Tumblr calls it, the dashboard. Within the dashboard there are various posts ranging from text to videos from people that a users’ blogs has decided they want to follow. The user can scroll with their finger to other posts in their dashboard. If the user sees something they would like to have on their blog or just something that they like they have the ability to do a couple of different things to get that content on their blog. For example if the user wants to reblog something they can either tap the arrows and will be a pop up with their blog name and picture with the ability to add a caption to it. They also have the ability to tap and hold the arrows for easy reblog without out being asked if they want to add a caption. If a user wants to like something they have a couple of options as well. They can either double take the post or they can tap the heart next to the arrows. The bottom of the app has 5 buttons, the first one being the house, which is the user’s dashboard. The user can tap on the house to bring them to the top of their dashboard as well as refresh it for new posts. The second being the magnifying glass, the user can tap that and search for just about anything and the app will find posts that people have tagged regarding the thing the user has searched for. The middle icon being the pencil, this is the button when tapped brings up all the things that a user can post if they choose to. The fourth one being the person, this is where the user can see all the things about them. They can see their likes, who they are following, change their settings, and all the blogs they have. If the user taps on any of the blogs they have it will show that content from that particular blog. Lastly the lightning bolt, this is where all the activity is shown from the user’s blog. It will show who has reblogged or like what post as well as when.
The interface of the Tumblr app’s interface is pretty straightforward. If the user is familiar with Tumblr’s website version of their popular social media site then they are going to be able to use the Tumblr app. The two are pretty much the same in the functions that they do; the only real difference is the position of the functions. If the user knows the symbols that Tumblr uses for their functions then they should be able to find the function they are looking for with ease.
The design and aesthetics of the Tumblr app are also very similar to the Tumblr website version. The background is a steel blue color, the same color as the app icon, with the areas of the posts being white. This is a good choice so the color doesn’t overwhelm the user with a lot of colors when looking a their content and it also wont distract the user. This also makes text type posts easier to read. The app is very monotone with various shades of blue and the only real color is the content, which as mentioned before is a smart idea. The navigation at the bottom has its own blue bar that stays static when the user is scrolling for easy and constant access to those functions. There are a few other pops of color that are used kind of as a reminder that a user has liked or reblogged something. The reblog arrows are green and the liked heart is read. This is also a good idea to let users know they have already liked or reblogged a certain post.
Flow Diagram
Personas
