#dashboard layout

right now i have this layout:

ok, now compare it to this layout:

and this one:

all of these have the tabs on the left sidebar, a few options on the very top, and content in the middle.

versus tumblr's old layout:

which has all the stuff on the right, the navigation tabs at the top right to make them easier to access (less scrolling), and generally less busy/cluttered.

In staff's guiding principles post, you mentioned that you wanted to make tumblr 1) easier to use and 2) better for creators, so as an artist, i would like to say that the new layout is less intuitive and harder to use.

With the new layout, the account tabs (drafts, queue, activitiy) are in a place where I have to scroll down to access them. Tumblr Mart is all the way at the bottom, so I have to scroll even more to browse the shop. The activity badges are disjointed from the main activity/messages/inbox button, and the activity popup gets in the way of the main dash instead of staying unobtrusively on the side. In the main dash, the dash tabs are all the way at the top instead of comfortably around eye level, and the tumblr "t" is poking out instead of sitting neatly in the corner.

Generally with the new layout, I have to look around more (if i'm scrolling, i'm looking up and down, then i have to either go all the way up and lose my place or look all the way down to create a new post. To check tags I have to go to the left again, and then I can't read it while scrolling because the popup covers my dash. If i want to go find something in my drafts or queue, I have to go left and scroll down a bunch before I find it, meaning I'm constantly looking left and right and up and down with the new layout.

but i get it, maybe some people might want it, and anyways you need to do something to show your boss you're at least trying to make the site somewhat profitable. so i'm not posting this all just to complain about the layout.

instead, can I propose something like this:

You could have it automatically off if you're worried about new users, while still giving people the option to "Curate [their] Dashboard" and customize their experience!

In fact, you could probably add a few more options & toggles for various features, such as rearranging dash tabs, blog link in header vs url, or auto pause ads (they can still be there, just paused for accessibility)!