Instagram, the photo-sharing app that’s revolutionising photography online, has surprised everyone this week with the launch of ‘web profiles’.

With businesses keen to exploit the growth of mobile, Instagram’s latest move has already created a stir. Launched in October 2010 Instagram is a relative newcomer to the photography and social world, but in the space of two years it has managed to gain over 100 million users. What’s more, the experience, which was initially supposed to be offered for iOS and Android-powered smartphones and tablets only, is now being extended to desktops and laptops.

It’s not the first time Instagram has surprised the digital world. In April users were shaken by the news that their favourite app was bought by Facebook for $1bn (£625m). Being swallowed by Facebook was unpopular with Instagram users who feared the worst. However, it appears that the move is actually bringing benefits.

The new Instagram web profiles take design, content and layout cues from Facebook and Pinterest, adding neat new touches like the use of a rotating collage of your recent Instagram uploads (in reverse-chronological order) as the main profile image.

Social media and Instagram fanatics like me are delighted to see that Instagram has taken these evolutionary steps to become more accessible. Facebook didn’t forget about the visual components of the app while adjusting it to the wider-frame format ideal for desktop viewing, and other elements seem to be well thought through as well. Such as the ability edit profiles, follow other users, and comment on and like photos. Admittedly, there are a few features I’d still like to see, like ability to upload images from the web, but hopefully that will follow soon.

All in all, it’s very exciting news. I’d even go a step further and suggest that it’s the answer to users’ prayers as the vastly improved accessibility means we can reach more people more easily.

So don’t waste any time, simply go to instagram.com/[username] to see your profile or your friends’ profiles. Or even better, contact us via @markmaking1995 on Twitter so we can have a look at your insta world and spread the word about it.

If that’s not enough to intrigue you, take a look at the web profiles of two of our team: senior designer Nick Edginton (@nicedg) and digital designer Shannon Young (@mkmkrshannon).

See you there!

By Kasia Piekut