PinReal. — where authenticity meets creativity, with phone mockups of the app

CASE STUDY 07 · UI/UX DESIGN · APP MASHUP

Pin

Real.

where authenticity meets creativity

PinReal. is a concept app uniting the spontaneity of BeReal. with the creative exploration of Pinterest.

Users share unfiltered moments in response to surprise prompts during a randomized daily posting window. Pin inspiring content to personalized mood boards.

PROJECT

UI Concept & Visual Exploration

CREATOR(S)

Sharanya Vijayan

DATE

Nov - 2024

TOOLS

Figma
Miro

PinReal is a concept app developed as part of a design exercise, blending inspirations from BeReal and Pinterest. All UI, branding, and assets are original and created solely for educational use. They and do not represent or affiliate with the respective companies.

PinReal. homepage feed

A fun twist to “being real” by sharing creativity and exploring others’ authentic expressions in fashion, travel, lifestyle, and beyond.

PinReal. unlocked friends feed with a daily prompt
PinReal. camera with a daily prompt
PinReal. homepage feed
PinReal. splash screen

01

USER PERSONAS

01 / 06

USER PERSONAS

Behaviors

  • up to date on all socials to keep in contact with friends and other peers in school
  • in the marketing team for student counsel board
  • enjoys engaging with fashion and lifestyle content

Motivations

  • likes staying connected with peers and up to date on fashion and makeup trends
  • posts content for student counsel, bringing attention to academic programs, school events, etc.

Usage Habits

  • can spontaneously share moments of her day in school
  • good publicity for student counsel board

Priya, 16

high school student

Portrait for the persona Priya, 16

Behaviors

  • avid Pinterest user, curates numerous mood boards
  • enjoys sharing “behind the scenes” of her design process on socials
  • enjoys interacting with peers in creative field

Motivations

  • always looking for inspiration for graphic design portfolio

Usage Habits

  • can share workspace, recent sketches, and follow other users content
  • feel a stronger sense of community within the design world

Maya, 22

undergraduate graphic design student

Portrait for the persona Maya, 22

Behaviors

  • loves curating personalized mood boards for clients to understand their vision
  • actively posts on socials to advertise his services (event setups, client meetings, etc.)

Motivations

  • wants to share raw and authentic snapshots of his day to show that not everything needs to be edited
  • likes sharing his creative process and expertise to motivate others in the same/similar spaces

Usage Habits

  • can share multiple moments in his day and look back on this almost “creative journal”
  • consistently seek inspiration from other creators and follow their content

Xavier, 28

Event Coordinator

Portrait for the persona Xavier, 28

02

USER FLOW DIAGRAM

02 / 06

USER FLOW DIAGRAM

PinReal. user flow diagram: from opening the app to posting, retaking, exploring and engaging with friends' PinReals.

03

BRAND & TONE MAPPING

03 / 06

BRAND VOICE

Playful

Authentic

Creative

expressive

informative

structured

spontaneous

daily prompt theme tags

captions + theme tags

comments, reactions, sharing, pinning

mood board naming

organizing mood boards

organizing mood boards

system status visibility

error messages

cancel/edit actions

filter search

daily prompts

real-time post countdown

posting window notification

number of retakes allowed

TONE MAPPING

Playful

Authentic

Creative

expressive

informative

structured

spontaneous

daily prompt theme tags

captions + theme tags

comments, reactions, sharing, pinning

mood board naming

organizing mood boards

organizing mood boards

system status visibility

error messages

cancel/edit actions

filter search

daily prompts

real-time post countdown

posting window notification

number of retakes allowed

04

DESIGN SYSTEM

04 / 06

TYPOGRAPHY

Pacifico

Accent Font

Accent font inspired by Pinterest to bring creative and playful feel to app.

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz

Palanquin

Main Font

Main font inspired by BeReal., bringing modern and clean touch to app. Echoes simplicity and legibility.

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz

#F1CDD2

#F695A4

#E60023

#FFFFFF

#D9D9D9

#858585

#000000

Pin

Real.

Pin

Real.

Pin

Real.

Primary Logo

Highlight Logo

Monochrome Logo

Main

Light

Dark

LOGO & APP ICON

Pacifico

Accent Font

Accent font inspired by Pinterest to bring creative and playful feel to app.

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz

Palanquin

Main Font

Main font inspired by BeReal., bringing modern and clean touch to app. Echoes simplicity and legibility.

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz

#F1CDD2

#F695A4

#E60023

#FFFFFF

#D9D9D9

#858585

#000000

Pin

Real.

Pin

Real.

Pin

Real.

Primary Logo

Highlight Logo

Monochrome Logo

Main

Light

Dark

COLOR PALETTE

Pacifico

Accent Font

Accent font inspired by Pinterest to bring creative and playful feel to app.

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz

Palanquin

Main Font

Main font inspired by BeReal., bringing modern and clean touch to app. Echoes simplicity and legibility.

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz

#F1CDD2

#F695A4

#E60023

#FFFFFF

#D9D9D9

#858585

#000000

Pin

Real.

Pin

Real.

Pin

Real.

Primary Logo

Highlight Logo

Monochrome Logo

Main

Light

Dark

05

ICONS & COMPONENTS

05 / 06

ICONS & COMPONENTS

Nature

Nature

OOTD

OOTD

Food

Food

Song Choice

Song Choice

Vibes

Vibes

Filter

Filter

SAVE

SAVE

POST

Edit

UI ELEMENTS

Boards

Nature

My Style

Cars

Home Decor

Pinned

Name

Make collaborative

Make Public

SAVE

New Board

Make collaborative

Make Public

SAVE

Name

New Board

Shoes

“The”

the

to

space

return

ABC

z

x

c

v

b

n

m

a

s

d

f

g

h

j

k

l

q

w

e

r

t

y

u

i

o

p

Filter by:

APPLY

PinReal Post Successful!

View

06

UI SCREENS

06 / 06

FLOW 01 / 08

Splash Screen

FLOW 02 / 08

Posting a PinReal.

Users can choose to post a PinReal to unlock their friend’s PinReals. or scroll through their feed.

FLOW 03 / 08

Retaking a PinReal.

Users have up to 2 retakes for posting the PinReal and 10 minutes in total to post “on time.” After the first attempt, the remaining time and retakes are displayed.

FLOW 04 / 08

Editing a PinReal.

Users can resize, write a caption, and select theme tags relevant to their PinReal.

FLOW 05 / 08

Posting the PinReal.

Users will see the display of their final PinReal. and can successfully post it.

FLOW 06 / 08

Pinning a PinReal.

Users can pin a post to an existing board or create a new one to organize their “pinned” into different categories.

FLOW 07 / 08

Filter Pinreals.

Theme tags on each post let users filter PinReals. by interest.

FLOW 08 / 08

Final Feeds

Homepage and unlocked friends & following PinReal. feeds

9:41

All

Interior Design

Fashion

Makeup Trends

Vacation Spots

Recipes

Jewelry

Pin

Real.

hotel.milton

skyviews

katie_bowen

autosport.bmw

ketowheato

homey.spaces

jacobcooks

mealprep.cooking

howtostyle

its.audrey

tree_lover

My Friends

Following

Prompt: Show something fall themed!

Filter

9:41

Pin

Real.

autumn in cham-bana

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OOTD

Nature

layla.poe

it’s finally s’mores season

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Vibes

Food

its_mavis

Curtis Orchards ;)

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Vibes

cooperrr.v