Pinterest — Optimizing Exploration
Pinterest — Optimizing Exploration
Pinterest — Optimizing Exploration
Optimizing a visual discovery platform to display relevant, discoverable, and diverse content.
Optimizing a visual discovery platform to display relevant, discoverable, and diverse content.
Optimizing a visual discovery platform to display relevant, discoverable, and diverse content.
My Role
User Research, Wireframing,
UX Design, Mockup
UX Research, Wireframing,
UX Design, Mockups
"It makes me go on other apps cause I can't find what I'm looking for on Pinterest!"
- Disappointed Pinterest Lover :(
"It makes me go on other apps cause I can't find what I'm looking for on Pinterest!"
- Disappointed Pinterest Lover :(
Over the years, I've noticed a concerning trend with platforms like Pinterest. Instead of improving, they seem to be progressing backwards in terms of their UX. Pinterest was once a go-to platform for winding down in comparison to more socially-centric platforms, but it has turned into a dreaded experience that has become more frustrating to use.
This got me thinking: why are people so tempted to abandon an app they once loved, and what can be done to turn things around?
Over the years, I've noticed a concerning trend with platforms like Pinterest. Instead of improving, they seem to be progressing backwards in terms of their UX. Pinterest was once a go-to platform for winding down in comparison to more socially-centric platforms, but it has turned into a dreaded experience that has become more frustrating to use.
This got me thinking: why are people so tempted to abandon an app they once loved, and what can be done to turn things around?
What Is Pinterest Supposed to Be?
What Is Pinterest Supposed to Be?
Pinterest is a visual inspiration platform, acting as a one-stop destination for people to explore various interests through visuals such as recipes, home decor, and fashion inspiration.
Pinterest's mission is to bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love through discovery + emotion + action.
Pinterest is a visual inspiration platform, acting as a one-stop destination for people to explore various interests through visuals such as recipes, home decor, and fashion inspiration.
Pinterest's mission is to bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love through discovery + emotion + action.
Science Behind Human Motivation and Action
Science Behind Human Motivation and Action
I began by researching what motivates people to take action, aiming to align with Pinterest's goal of inspiring people to take action and create the life they want.
The findings led me to conclude that: Motivation = Emotional inspiration + Convenience
Currently, Pinterest has approached this in a way that creates obstacles on their platform. This prompted me to explore which aspects within the platform were hindering both emotional inspiration and convenience?
User Reviews & Interviews: Defining the Problem
After reviewing recent feedback on Pinterest, I recognized a recurring trend of problems within the app related to its core purpose, specifically the difficulties faced in finding inspiration for interests. To dig deeper, I conducted interviews with a diverse group of users who use the platform for different purposes to gain deeper insights into what the underlying issue was.
What I found was that the problem all boils down to:
Pinterest functions as a visual discovery platform. But currently, users can’t find what they’re looking for due to a lack of relevant, discoverable, and diverse content.
To brainstorm potential solutions for the pain points identified by my interviewees, I developed "How Might We" statements for each of their concerns. Following this, I documented common features that could effectively accommodate the diverse reasons each interviewee uses Pinterest.
After reviewing each of the 'How Might We' statements, I identified common solutions that addressed most, if not all, of the pain points mentioned by the users I interviewed.
Idea #1: Discover Page
Rather than an explore page, which users rarely use because the content is often irrelevant to their interests, a discover page featuring pins uploaded by boards or users that are followed ensures that the content shown is directly related to user's interests.
Idea #2: Optimized Search Bar
To address the difficulty in finding boards, users, and products on the platform, a search bar with filtering capabilities makes searching for content more accessible.
Idea #3: Additional Similar Boards Tab
As users often struggle to discover original and diverse content related to their searches, an "Additional Similar Boards" tab enables users to explore a selection of pins directly related to their interests, created by other users.
Testing…Testing…Testing…
Implementing User Testing Feedback
I conducted user testing with the participants I initially interviewed, using my mockups of the possible solutions. Apart from minor flaws they noticed, I received positive feedback with the new additions to the app. But, the filter feature was a key aspect that required iteration.
Icon Used ≠ Action
The icon I initially used for the additional feature caused confusion because it did not clearly indicate the intended action.
To improve clarity, I included symbols to represent the associated search along with a dropdown menu, making it clear which search option is enabled.
My Optimized Version of Pinterest
A solution to Pinterest's current lack of relevant, discoverable, and diverse content.
Curated Content by Similar Users
Pins are curated by other users who have created boards with similar themes, ensuring original and diverse content tailored to the users' preferences.
Previous Solution
Only similar pins were shown.
Accessible Content from Followings
A page that show pins uploaded by the users and boards that the user follows.
Previous Solution
An "Explore Page" with general trending daily inspiration. Additionally, there is no existing page to view the content from users or boards that the user is following.
Optimized Search Bar
A search bar with a dropdown that displays the type of content intended to explore.
Previous Solution
Only pins are shown when using the search bar.
My Takeaways
This project originated from a curious thought I had and I'm quite happy with the solutions I was able to create. One significant lesson I learned from completing this case study independently was the importance of organizing user research effectively. Given the tight deadline, I found myself jotting down notes and sifting through them to pinpoint the core problem. In hindsight, utilizing a method like card sorting would have streamlined the process, allowing for a more efficient method to organize my user research.
