Designing a new era of visual search
发布时间：2026-08-20 ｜ 浏览：5
We use cookies to deliver personalized ads and experiences, and to analyze traffic on our site. Read our cookie policy for more information.
By Steven Eggert
Most online searches begin with words—but what if you’re inspired by an image, a style, a detail, or an aspect you can’t quite put your finger on? At Pinterest, we know that inspiration often arrives visually, and we wanted to make that starting point as powerful as possible.
In 2025, we set out to redefine the core experience of visual search on Pinterest with new features and upgrades. Our goal: empower people on Pinterest to explore more deeply and broadly than ever before. Whether they’re drawn to an overall image or a specific detail—to move from inspiration, to discovery, to action.
Our vision: Letting images speak
As a visual-first platform, Pinterest’s magic lies in making inspiration tangible, sometimes even before you can describe what you’re looking for. “Our visual search technology represents a shift in how users interact with and discover inspiration. We're not simply delivering search results—we're curating a personalized journey of discovery that empowers individuals to find their unique style, and shop it too,” as Dana Cho, our VP of Design, aptly described.
From the start, we centered our work around four core user values, each guiding every design decision:
1. Search everything you see
We wanted visual search on Pinterest to be truly seamless and omnipresent, letting any image, at any moment, become the starting point for deeper exploration. Our focus was on effortless discovery, where every idea you notice is within reach.
2. Find the right words
The challenge often isn’t finding something inspiring, but describing it or understanding why it matters to you. How do you search for “that style of skirt” or “that bold color palette” if you’re not sure what to call it? Our intent was to bridge that gap, turning what you see into meaningful words and concepts, enabling people on Pinterest to refine and articulate what inspires them most.
3. Seamless refinement
Visual discovery on Pinterest is naturally iterative. We envisioned a fluid journey where users can seamlessly refine, pivot, or combine ideas without losing momentum, keeping inspiration and exploration at the heart of the experience.
4. Uniquely Pinterest
Pinterest has a distinctly visual DNA, and it’s essential our features feel not just functional, but delightful. In launching this flagship, we leaned into moments of surprise and polish: animated, iridescent glows that celebrate interactive objects, a reimagined UX, and a modern, gesture-based interface. We crafted every touchpoint so the experience feels intuitive, fresh, inspiring, and uniquely Pinterest.
Bringing it to life: Key features
When we set out to redesign visual search, our goal wasn’t just a utilitarian improvement. Rather than rely on static boxes and basic croppers, we set out to create a more immersive, layered experience where system intelligence and AI are seamlessly woven into every interaction. We aimed to move beyond just “seeing” and build an experience where discovery feels magical, intuitive, and visually rich.
We elevated technical foundations like object selection, cropping, and detection into moments of surprise and delight. Instead of using generic visual tools, our approach embraces shimmer, glow, and immersive color. Features like glow aren't just decorative—they’re signals of intelligence and a subtle nod to AI working behind the scenes, surfacing possibilities even before you know how to ask for them.
Our system language and even spark elements cue the magic happening below the surface, moving Pinterest past the expected and into something distinct and forward-looking.
Dynamic color sampling
Color brings mood and energy to every Pin. With dynamic color sampling, visual search now surfaces a palette pulled directly from each image, inviting users to chase a color story or follow a vibe as they explore. Color becomes an active, immersive part of discovery on Pinterest.
Keywords
Describing what you love isn’t always easy. “I love this outfit, but what is it?” With visual search, that age-old question is finally answered. AI-powered descriptors called keywords appear right alongside the image, bridging the gap between what you see and what you understand. Whether it’s a style, vibe, color, or product, keywords make visual inspiration actionable and help users instantly identify and explore what catches their eye with a single tap.
Object glow
Pinterest now makes it clear what you can explore in any image. Animated glows highlight interactive objects, turning object selection into an intuitive, inviting experience. The glow is both a visual signal and a touch of magic, revealing new possibilities in every Pin and giving users confidence to dive deeper.
Zoom and pan
Sometimes inspiration is in the details. With improved zoom and pan, users can smoothly focus in on any part of an image—like a pattern, product, or accent—while interactive highlights stay visible. Exploration is fluid and granular, always keeping you connected to what sparked your curiosity without losing the bigger picture.
Hybrid search and refinement
Personal discovery is rarely a straight line. With hybrid search, AI-generated keywords and smart filters like style, color, and occasion make it effortless for users to refine and personalize their results as their curiosity evolves. This fast and flexible refinement always keeps inspiration within reach, helping people discover more of what truly suits them.
Immediate access
With a tap or long press anywhere—whether on the home feed, boards, or a Pin detail page. This seamless entry point means discovery is always within reach, ready to turn inspiration into action wherever it strikes.
These new enhancements were made possible by close collaboration across design, engineering, user research, and product. Fast feedback loops and a shared commitment to polish and usability ensured the final experience is both delightful and powerful. Behind the scenes, advanced ML, AI, and thoughtful UI craft came together through true cross-functional teamwork. This work is also part of our ongoing evolution of Pinterest’s visual language, where even the smallest shimmer or layout detail reflects our pursuit of product excellence.
Just the beginning: Visual-first
Working on visual search has been a chance to rearticulate what makes Pinterest special: it’s not just about showing results, but giving people that serendipitous feeling of finding something they didn’t even know they were searching for, and then making it possible to act on it.
Our role as designers is to bridge technical capabilities with user needs, imbuing every touchpoint with the Pinterest spirit. The shimmer, the entry animation, the way results feel personal, these are all purposeful choices to make the journey feel magical, meaningful, and Pinterest through and through. This visual search launch raised the bar for our design system—one built on clarity, delight, and the endless power of inspiration.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue deepening what’s possible in visual exploration at Pinterest. The work is never done; we’re learning every day, refining what works and what doesn’t, and we’re always striving to create the best, most inspiring experience for our users.
Product design
No Related Posts found