Overview
In 2018, Pinterest engineers built and scaled their platform for a global audience exceeding a quarter billion users. The article highlights significant advancements in product features, including improvements in visual search, accessibility, and the introduction of new technologies like PinSage.
What You'll Learn
1
How to implement a three-day no-meeting schedule for engineers
2
Why accessibility is crucial for product design
3
How to enhance visual search relevance using machine learning
4
When to utilize graph convolutional neural networks for recommendations
Key Questions Answered
What were the most significant engineering advancements at Pinterest in 2018?
In 2018, Pinterest focused on scaling its platform for over a quarter billion users, enhancing visual search relevance, improving accessibility for the visually impaired, and rebuilding the Product Pins system to include up-to-date pricing and stock information.
How did Pinterest improve its visual search capabilities?
Pinterest improved its visual search capabilities through the introduction of Lens, which helps users discover ideas using their phone's camera, and by enhancing the relevance of search results.
What is PinSage and how does it benefit Pinterest?
PinSage is a new graph convolutional neural network developed by Pinterest for web-scale recommender systems, enabling hundreds of millions of Pins to become more shoppable and relevant for users.
What practices did Pinterest adopt for inclusive product design?
Pinterest adopted best practices for inclusive product design, focusing on accessibility for visually impaired users and incorporating skin tone ranges for beauty searches, making the platform more inclusive.
Key Statistics & Figures
Global audience size
quarter billion people
This reflects the scale at which Pinterest operated in 2018.
Number of shoppable Pins
hundreds of millions
This indicates the impact of the rebuilt Product Pins system on the platform's commerce capabilities.
Technologies & Tools
Machine Learning
Pinsage
Used for web-scale recommender systems to enhance the relevance of Pins.
Key Actionable Insights
1Implementing a no-meeting schedule can significantly enhance productivity among engineering teams.This approach allows engineers to focus on deep work without interruptions, leading to better project outcomes and employee satisfaction.
2Incorporating accessibility features is not just a compliance issue but a way to expand your user base.By designing for inclusivity, companies can reach underserved markets and improve overall user experience.
3Utilizing machine learning for visual search can greatly improve user engagement and satisfaction.As users find more relevant results, they are more likely to continue using the platform, increasing retention rates.
Common Pitfalls
1
Neglecting accessibility in product design can alienate a significant portion of potential users.
This often happens due to a lack of awareness or resources, but it can be avoided by integrating inclusive design principles from the outset.