Big data on the back, small data on the front
It’s all in the thumb. Mobile devices are frequently used on-the-go, which makes the probable instrument of your body stearing the wheel limited to one. Yep, the Big One.
With over 800 million swipes per day, it is hard to say that Tinder is not about big data, like some do. Combining the simple user stats with geography, keywords or age, the data becomes truly informative.
But to us, the real learning part is the simplicity of the interface creating the immense story. Looking at other major players, like Tumblr or Pinterest, it has become clear that navigation by the thumb is most effective when simple. And Tinder wins.
Most of our clients keep trying to put too much information and interaction into their apps. Developing brand-apps is about the art of keeping it simple. Past learnings have tought us that enriching can always be done while becoming an infant growing out of the status of app-baby. And hey, almost every start-up application brings a few developments that weren’t predicted, so give yourself time to learn and pivot.
Looking at Pinterest, did you predict that this would become a strongly female-used platform? Or that info-graphics by far would become the most shared genre? And Pintrest turns out to give the best possibilities for advertising and linking-out compared to all their competitors.
Linking-out is a feature that Instagram is lacking, which limits its (already fewer) options for inter-action. Like the restricted hash-tag culture, the only way to search and find what you are looking for on Instagram. A method that feels like looking for a coin on the floor with a telescope.
The simple effectivity of Tinder is again a conceptual lesson learned. It’s a matter of time until updates with extensions and more social platform functions will be introduced, with such a firm and simple base. According to Tinder co-founder and CEO Sean Rad, inspiration for Tinder’s format did come from piles of photos and playing cards. So you might have to get to your attic for inspiration for the next game-changing smartphone application. Keep your thumb lined up.