Pinterest – the Facebook-killer for Creatives?

Is Pinterest more than random collection of beautiful and colorful pictures? How do we as a design agency use Pinterest as a creative and marketing tool? These are questions we take a look at in our today blog post.

While many are still pondering which of the social networks they should devote their attention to—Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn—a bright new star shines through the social network’s plethora of dull offerings. A truly exciting social network called Pinterest.

Created back in 2010, Pinterest developed the idea of a virtual pinboard that users could pin pictures to from the wider internet. A mere two years later Time Magazine, an active member of the community, had already included the site in its list of 50 best websites of the year. According to alexa.com, the site has already reached a respectable position as the 29th most visited homepages in the World Wide Web. Certainly enough to raise a level of curiosity in most people. What we’re witnessing here is the “next big thing”, “the Facebook killer for creatives” as some are claiming. Either way, one thing we’re certain of at WILDDESIGN: Pinterest is hot!

But is Pinterest only for creative types?

Definitely not! As the site has matured, all relevant consumer groups have found value in the site’s simple service. Consumers, brands, and companies have all found a way to make Pinterest their own. The main reason for this is Pinterest is simple and easy to use. After creating a profile, a user can pin any photo they like to their own pinboard. Once pinned to a certain category, these pictures can then be seen by other users in the community. From a snapshot of a passing moment, breathtaking architecture, product design, graphics, packaging right through to fine art, there seems to be no limit to Pinterest’s range of categories. Any picture that can be found throughout the Internet can be pinned. Charmingly simple. Simply charming.

A powerful creative tool for us, an effective marketing tool for our clients as well?

While global mega brands like Starbucks have long had presences on the site, tech brands seems to being dragging their heals a bit. Apple, Siemens and Panasonic are all underwhelmingly represented, particularly surprising in Apple’s case. Brands whose consumers are most likely to be inspired by powerful imagery. Of all the social networks available; Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and XING, Pinterest is definitely our favorite platform. A medium seemingly made for designers, marketing types, trend analysts, and for the engaged amateur. This mix is what seems to add a level of attraction to the whole concept. The level of interaction with our own pin walls is astoundingly high. An average of 2,000 repins per month, a figure which we see steadily increasing.

Pinterest – The fastest growing social network!

While the larger social networks are reaching points of saturation, Pinterest has taken over as the fastest growing social network. Although or perhaps especially because a picture seems to say a thousand words, Pinterest by contrast to its word heavy compatriot Twitter, a virtual avalanche of letters, seems to have found an advantage. For creatives, Pinterest is without a doubt a quarry of visual inspiration that is not to be underestimated. A well of new ideas, which are often only found in the connection and organization of previously unrelated concepts. But isn’t it exactly this what denies creativity itself? To present already existing concepts in a new and unusual way.

A strong tool in the design process.

At WILDDESIGN we have long been using Pinterest as a value adding tool in our own design process. It’s simply a practical tool! Moodboards, a long standing tool of the design process have been made so much easier to collect together. Presenting trends and their resulting effect on design strategy has become simpler to present and organise for client presentations. We have even organized each one of our design trends into a board which our world wide scouts can contribute too. Health-Interior, Eco design, and Flat&Minimal UI are jut a few examples of the type of names we give our boards. At first glance these titles may seem abstract, but therefore the content is all the more exciting. With our ears to the ground, always listening out for the latest trend, both our Gelsenkirchen and Shanghai offices making sure to stay ahead. If for nothing else but this reason Pinterest is a great value to us.

A commercial future?

Whether or not featured advertising will be commercially viable in the future has not yet been proven, yet surely considered by those interested in turning a profit from the concept . Despite this Pinterest can add the higher click through rate than Google+, LinkedIn, and Youtube combined, to its growing list of accolades.

Here some of our design trend pin boards, which we had already mentioned in our article 14 Design trends for 2014:

Design Trend 1 | Stealth Design
Inspired by military stealth technology and early 3D computer graphics, this trend is moving out of the shadows and becoming ever more visible in the design industry. Designers like Zaha Hadid and Konstantin Grcic are pioneering this trend with minimized design constructions, expressing the power of the triangle, and celebrating raw surfaces.
-> Discover Stealth Design
-> To the article

Design Trend 2 | Wearable Design
With the introduction of the Google Glass, this trend moved from concept to reality and is finding applications in many fields as technology intertwines with the user’s body. The competition for the small amount of usable surface area available is only winnable through carefully crafted, emotional, and aesthetic designs.
-> Discover Wearable Design

Design Trend 3 | Stacking Design
An old topic newly revived. The stacking and organization of products and packaging can have a dramatic effect on the overall design. An interesting trend which holds both aesthetic and practical value for design. An interesting trend which fits well with the flat & minimal UI trend (No.7).
-> Discover Stacking Design

Design Trend 4 | Minimal Design
A classic idea which continues to dominate the world of product design. Not only focused on the removal of superfluous elements the trend sees a move towards abstract and unconstrained forms. High quality materials, finishing, and a keen eye for detail are the key to success in this style.
-> Discover Minimal Design

What do you think of Pinterest? Has it changed your creative process? Why not leave us a comment below.

Interested in reading related articles, or searching for tips, we have a number of things you might find interesting:

-> Visit our Pinterest board, for daily posts and updates.
-> Read our Design year 2013 article for retrospective look at some of the topics discussed here.