Contract - May 2012 - (Page 148)

tooLs continued from page 146 Pinterested, by Design Designer Charlton Hutton created this mood board (left) using his digital pins. Architect Lira Luis, AIA, collaborates with peers using Pinterest (below). That ease of communication provides a more transparent experience for the client, says Charlton Hutton, a senior designer at M. Moser in New York. “The client feels like he is part of the design team and we want him to be happy and feel like he contributed.” he says. The transparency goes both ways, by helping the designer connect with the client effectively. “Their input helps us understand who they are and what they are looking for.” Architects are using Pinterest to collaborate with colleagues as well. Lira Luis, AIA, an architect with her own firm, Atelier Lira Luis in Chicago, pins products that she feels may be of interest to her peers and is currently experimenting with functionality for professionals. “I’ve posted a 3-D plan of a condominium project I’m designing and asked those in my social network to help me find the most cutting-edge building materials and finishes they could find,” she explains. Unique materials can be pinned to Luis’s board from “pinners” of her choosing, creating new design synergies from her social media community. A time saver for visual inspiration One unanimous merit of Pinterest is the time digital pinning saves. For example, Epstein was able to construct boards for a surprise client visit with only 15 minutes notice. Sources of visual inspiration for many designers, like blogs, can be compiled in one place with Pinterest, saving countless hours of preparation for presentations, says Samantha Georgio, a designer with M. Moser Associates in New York. While designers are still learning how to generate direct business it has grown the scope of their work and led to a direct uptick in business-related activity. “It has generated new opportunities for speaking engagements for me as people see boards I have where I pin my upcoming and prior conference speeches,” says Luis. Ultimately, designers can utilize Pinterest to save time without compromising visual creativity. “In the design industry, this is a very modern and useful research tool and it allows designers to express their own style, inspire others, and promote business,” de Villa says. —Emily HoopEr 148 contractdesign.com May 2012 http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - May 2012

Contract - May 2012
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Coming Events
Exhibition: Coverings
Exhibition: Highlights from Salone Internazionale del Mobile
Product Focus: Enlivening the Flexible Office
Product Focus: A Collection to Define 21st Century Herman Miller
NeoCon® Preview
Hospitality’s Influence in Workplace Design
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Campus
Steelcase Office and Work Café
Shlemmer Algaze Associates
Red Bull Amsterdam
THQ
Grey Group Roof Deck
Knoll, East Greenville Headquarters
The Metrics of Distributed Work
Tools: Pinterested, by Design
Exhibition: Hallingdal 65
Designers Select: Office Furniture
Sources
Ad Index
Exhibition: Lasvit Liquidkristal by Ross Lovegrove

Contract - May 2012