Challenge
Pinterest's Moodboard feature can feel redundant unless it’s made easier and more intuitive, since most people don’t actually come to Pinterest to manually build collages. So why would they use this feature? Humans don't just do things unless they have a motivation that needs to be fulfilled.
Pinterest was perfect to implement this because it already has a great collection of aesthetic images, giving it a different value from existing AI image generators like ChatGPT etc. when it is used as a generative media tool, cuz it's taking from its own database
My solution is aimed at the everyday user, not professional designers – people who may lack design skills but still want a collage that feels personalised, niche, and aesthetically cohesive. They would rather not invest a lot of creative effort; they just want to describe the vibe they’re looking for and instantly get a polished, shareable result. You will see that I conducted extensive research to identify the potential users.
Research
I chose a communications major because she wants to communicate her ideas effectively through a collage, but lacks the design skills and the motivation to spend so much time on the aesthetics.
She was a good placeholder for me to plan the success criteria of the product, keeping in mind who we were building it for, so that I didn't end up building for myself. It also gives an idea of what research to do next, quantitative or qualitative.
Empathy mapping was used to gain valuable insights. A good insight is both a new discovery and something people can also relate to. Users should also feel empathetic towards the product and how they feel when using it, which only comes when we build it with empathy.
I used the Triangulation Method;
Users- onboarding, comfort and desirability
Business- more users for the collage feature
Tech- how much tech involvement vs creative control do they want
I also applied Norman’s three levels of design (Visceral, Behavioral, Reflective) to guide my decisions: visceral for the aesthetic appeal of the creation, behavioral for usability and flow, and reflective for how the experience builds meaning and long-term value.
Ideation
Wireframes
Final Designs
