Nowadays, social media plays an important role on people’s lives, whether they use it to enhance their online persona or to boost their business. Therefore, we cannot deny that taking advantage of these fairly easy to use platforms is one of the most cost-effective ways to build a brand, regardless of our field. The same applies to design and architecture, being Instagram in particular an essential tool for any firm wanting to showcase their portfolio and stand out from the crowd. Ignoring it and remaining offline isn’t an option anymore, and here are some of the reasons why.
First and foremost, we need to acknowledge the visual nature of the platform, which makes it the perfect match for any designer, architect, and visual artist looking to promote their work. Besides, the interactive features of Instagram also allow professionals to build and grow an audience, but not only that, as it has been greatly used to market their work, promote new ideas, and even find commissions and job offers. This is also thanks to the massive popularity that this social media has managed to attract, since it boosts more than 1 billion active users every month.
It’s important to mention that, since the app started back in 2010, Instagram has grown into a very respectable platform for artists and designers alike to share their work. As the app has evolved and improved, so has the quality of the posts that get shared there. This is mainly because the vast majority of us have access to very powerful cameras via our smartphones, and the quality of the content we can produce on the go is incredibly higher than it was 5 years ago. This leaves more room for creativity and inspiration, and also less tolerance toward mid-to-low quality content, something that architects and urban designers should be well aware of.
In order to fully take advantage of the platform so that it can benefit our brand, we should understand how Instagram is being used by the architecture and design community. Learning about all the features available on the platform should always be the very first step to take, as knowing what tools and resources we have available will help us come up with creative, interesting, and effective ideas. For example, many firms use the platform to provide behind-the-scenes from their current and future projects, while others use it to create a conversation about design and architecture with their audience. Sharing ideas, transmitting on-site visits live, and having “tours” at their studios can be quite effective strategies we should consider.
We believe that every business regardless of their field, should consider giving back to their communities as one of their top priorities. Instagram can be a great way to do this, since it is already giving the opportunity to connect with people from our area and from any other part of the world. Using this platform to work on different campaigns that will benefit the community is another example of how we can take advantage of these tools. Therefore, we must give it the time and resources that it deserves, as any firm or freelance architect has the chance to make a long-lasting impression, which will attract more business, and eventually help us reach the level of success we always wanted to.
