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Pinterest has ascended meteorically in the social-network space, launching in January 2010 and rising quickly to the third most-visited network behind Twitter and Facebook. With its focus on the highly visual, it appeals to those who love design, fashion, food and decorating. Since Pinterest makes it supremely easy to share content, users can recommend anything from a clothing item to a new recipe.

Here are three pinners who carved out spaces for themselves by adopting the platform early and using it effectively.

Jennifer Chong, a graphic designer living in Long Beach, Calif, has 2.2 million followers. Her pinboards feature a Pinterest-typical mix of food, travel, style and art. Chong makes it a point to give credit where credit is due, clearly marking where she pins items from in the description, rather than just the link.

Mike Dew, a designer living in Philadelphia, PA, brings a distinctly masculine vibe to his boards, down to their names (K9 for dogs, ABV for drinks, Threads for apparel). On a network that’s drawn more women than men, Dew has found his own niche. He also keeps it simple with 16 boards.

Leah Dent is an Australian designer who clearly has fun with her boards, naming them things like “gadgets and geekery” and “ingest and imbibe.” By personalizing her boards and placing them in the right categories, she can draw a wide audience.

Check out more tips on how to get the most out of Pinterest at CNET’s Five Pinterest tips to heighten your pinning addiction.

How do you use Pinterest? Tell us in the comments or on Facebook.