A Phone-Free Festival Experience
at Coachella
At a festival where everything is photographed, filmed and posted, Pinterest did something unexpected. We asked people to put their phones away.
For Coachella 2026, we created a bold, phone-free experience that challenged festival-goers to stop documenting life and start living it. Launching Pinterest's brand positioning, the best thing you can find online is a reason to go offline, at one of the world's most photographed cultural events.
As one of the most talked-about moments at Coachella, Pinterest’s phones-free experience generated significant earned attention and proved that an experience designed to resist social sharing could become a cultural talking point in its own right.
Guests locked away their phones before entering a colourful world designed for creativity, self-expression and genuine human connection. From custom charm-making and styling sessions to beauty experiences with e.l.f. Cosmetics, every interaction was inspired by trends emerging on Pinterest and designed to be enjoyed in the moment. Personalised Joy Guides, postcards and physical keepsakes gave guests something more meaningful than another camera roll to take home.
The experience was a playful but provocative piece of brand storytelling. By deliberately removing the very thing most festival activations depend on, we demonstrated what makes Pinterest different: a platform that inspires people to get out into the world and actually do the things they discover online.
Making it possible.
As Director of Global Brand Experiences and ECD, I provided overarching creative leadership and direction, guiding the talented House of Creative team who brought it to life. From experiential strategy, creative and design to programming and production, the team translated a bold brand idea into a distinctive, culturally relevant experience, working alongside our marketing partners and external collaborators.
Pinterest, House of Creative
VP, Global Creative: Xanthe Wells
Executive Creative Director: Seán Doyle
Creative Director, Michelle Bablo
Experiential Production, Amy Raven-Reilly
Creative Director, Copy: Leah Gordon
Senior Creative Producer: Aly Lund
Senior Writer: Abby Adesanya
Senior Art Director: Kit Neuschatz
Designer: Ainsley Romero
Experiential Programming, Kelsey Lemons
Senior Art Director, Photo: Julia Sabot
VP, Consumer Marketing: Sara Pollock
Director, Consumer Marketing: Michael Whitten
Integrated Marketing Lead:Vanessa Rupp
Integrated Marketing Manager: Valerie Furgerson
Director, Social: Stephanie Ocampo
Social Marketing Lead: Khylie Heins
Director, Brand Partnerships: Liz Nugent
Brand Partnerships Lead: Ellen Corsaro
Director, Communications: Marie-Joelle Parent
Senior Communications Manager: Javier Soto Moraleda
Agency + vendor partners
Experiential Production: NVE
Pinterest, Marketing + Comms