Pinterest is all the rage right now. But many are still saying "who cares?"
Brides are planning their weddings on it. Homeowners are decorating their homes. Even big brands are using it for consumer engagement.
As a design company, we've struggled with trying to figure out what a client means by terms like 'clean design' and 'web 2.0' when we give them what we think they mean and find that they really mean 'cluttered design' and 'old school'. We put together a whole design scope worksheet and our clients loved it. The last question gets overlooked as something they don't think they need but we've found that the ones who take the time to do it are the ones we are able to please the most.
The last part of the worksheets says: Check out www.pinterest.com and start pinning things to a board that will help me figure out your style, ideas and thoughts. Be as visual as possible. Send me a note & I'll invite you!
Using Pinterest as an idea board has been a fantastic way to really SEE what the client is thinking their words mean. We've used Pinterest for logo design, laying out websites, finding photo ideas and getting a general look at all of the things they have in mind in one place instead of multiple links. A couple of the boards our clients gave us with the final logo and website designs are shown here:
Faithful Grain: My dad and a friend of his design furniture out of reclaimed wood. I was tasked with creating a logo that fit their style of woodworking and their personalities. Working with Jessica Menk (more on her below), I put together a Pinterest Idea Board of logos (see left area) that reflected what I thought it should visually come together like and she made it happen (see final logo on right).
Core72: Sisarina was asked to create a brand and website for an upcoming Bethesda adventure clothing store for women. The client used Pinterest Idea Boards (see left) to let us know what she liked and what she wanted everything to feel like. We created her logo, business cards and website (see right) based on these and they feel just how she had hoped. Site launching soon.
Capital Honey Co: Sisarina was approached to do a logo for a new honey company that was hitting the district. The first of its kind. Knowing it wouldn't need more than just a logo until the honey started flowing, we put together something that could captivate investors and buyers (see right) based on his Pinterest Idea Board (see left).
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After reading Mashable's 5 Ways Brands Use Pinterest for Customer Engagement yesterday, one of our freelance designers, Jessica Menk, said: "Wait, you forgot #6!
6. Creative communication between visual designer and client
Pinterest is the visual representation of what's going on in your mind. It's a creative explosion of ideas all curated into one area. Even better, people can comment, repin and get inspired from your Pins.
What's not to love about that?
I have seen Pinterest evolve into something even better though...
It's a NEW way for clients to communicate to visual designers. Pinterest can serve as a powerful medium between visual designer and client. Let's consider this scenerio:
You're on a new client call and they are trying to describe their company vision, what inspires them to grow, etc... You on the other hand are taking in all of this information like a sponge, waiting to explode with ideas. The client says, "I can pull together a few links of some sites, brands we think are successful and send them to you." Perfect.
In the meantime, you send them your Pinterest board that you created earlier that week based on research of their brand, brand in the marketplace and sites from their competitors. On that board you have pinned successful elements from other brands and you explain why in the comment box on Pinterest. You send that fabulous pin board along to the client and in return they get excited. You explain Pinterest to them, including all its bells and whistles, and have them create a pin board on what inspires them.
One of Pinterest's many +'s is that it's a visual translator between client and designer.
Check out Jessica (AKA @jamgal2010) on Pinterest
Check out Sisarina on Pinterest
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How are YOU using Pinterest in a way that's outside-the-box?
