1. Fresh Digital Group
Tablet App Design Tips
WE STRATEGIZE. WE EXECUTE. WE DELIVER. ON ALL SCREENS.

2. 1. Simplify Functionality!
Good tablet apps are about simplicity and
doing a few things very well. This requires
being selective about the functionality you
include for the app.!
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Consider following a goal-oriented
approach to figure out what functionality
you need. Brainstorm all of the functionality
that someone might want in order to
accomplish that task.!
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With a sizeable list of ideas, keep what is
necessary for what is needed to help the
user succeed in those tasks. Add a few
features that make you stand out from the
rest to complete the package.!
Fresh Digital Group

3. 2. Create a Fully Personalized Experience!
Leverage as much of what the tablet and
other websites know about your users as
possible (with their permission, of course).
Could you use the user’s location,
calendar, Twitter feed or contacts list to
make the app smarter and more
personalized?!
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In cases where your user will be out and
about when using your app, how do
different locations change the list of goals
you’ve put together? For example, a user
browsing recipes, are their needs different
on the sofa than in the kitchen, or in a
restaurant? !
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When your app can address those kinds
of needs, it makes for a more personalized
experience.!
Fresh Digital Group

4. 3. Consider Multi-User and Multi-Device Cases!
Assume that multiple members of a
family will be sharing a tablet or viewing
the device at once. Unlike a personal
computer, a tablet is not necessarily a
personal device but could be treated
more like a coffee-table book or
magazine that multiple residents share. !
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In addition to allowing users to switch
accounts, indicating who is currently
logged in is also important. An added
benefit of accounts is that they facilitate
syncing between devices (for example,
an iPad and an iPhone).!
Fresh Digital Group

5. 4. Simplify Navigation!
Use standard navigation for frequently
used apps, such as news readers. Leave
the more out-of-the-box interactions to
games and one-and-done apps. If you do
want to do something innovative, make
sure it supports the task at hand and is
extremely usable.!
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Think about how you yourself use
features, and notice when something is
usable. When you have to move your
hand awkwardly or do something that
disrupts your flow, it creates an
unpleasant experience. Look at apps
similar to yours and assess their usability
to determine whether being consistent or
doing something different would make
more sense.!
Fresh Digital Group

6. 5. Provide a Home Page, Use a Light Splash Screen!
From the home page, users can
easily browse content, having plenty
of space to view the large thumbnails
and article descriptions to see what
interests them. Selecting an article
will collapse the navigation so the
user doesn’t lose any context.!
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If you need a splash screen because
something has to load, display it for
the minimum amount of time possible.
Better yet, display useful content
while the rest of the app loads to give
users a head start on the interaction.
When the app is ready, the content is
in place, making for a nice welcome
interaction.!
Fresh Digital Group

7. 6. Make Gestures Clever and Accessible!
Clever gestures are a mainstay of tablet use
but the line between effective gestures and
gesture overload is thin. For example, don’t
provide two different swipe gestures on the
same screen, because this would put
competing gestures at odds with each other. If
a gesture is not obvious, give users a hint.!
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Also, keep an eye out for “read-tap
asymmetry,” where the font may be legible in
size, but the tappable areas are so small that
users are prone to missing the targets or are
unsure whether the areas are even tappable. !
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If you’re going to go make more content
available, it should be clear where to tap and
what gesture should be used to access it.!
Fresh Digital Group

8. Summary!
Simply Functionality!
• Tablets are about doing tasks in a simple an efficient manner. Use a goal-oriented approach to
figure out what functions are absolutely essential and what other features will make your app stand
out.!
Create a Fully Personalized Experience!
• With the user’s consent, leverage what information you have like their location or contacts, which
can help make their experience more personal and seamless with each use.!
Consider Multi-User and Multi-Device Use!
• The ability to support different account logins and multiple device syncing will ensure that everyone
engaging with your tablet app will have their own unique experience.!
Simply Navigation!
• Use standard navigation for news reading apps and more innovative features for games and one-
and-done apps. Make sure that the navigation isn’t awkward or disrupt the flow for the user.!
Provide a Home Page, Use a Light Splash Screen!
• Utilizing a home page will leave the user with more choices and the option to dive deeper into other
content. If using a splash screen, be sure to keep the page light and the load time to a minimum.!
Make Gestures Clever and Accessible!
• Gestures on your app should be implemented nicely but shouldn’t conflict with other generic
gestures on the page. The text and tappable areas should always be legible and noticeable for ease-
of-use.!
Fresh Digital Group

9. Fresh Digital Group!
111 East 77th Street!
New York, NY 10075!
!
www.freshdigitalgroup.com!
!
info@freshdigitalgroup.com!
Fresh Digital Group