A mood board in brand design is like a big picture collage that shows what a brand or project should look and feel like. It’s made up of pictures, colours, typography samples, textures, patterns and other visual elements that captures the brand’s personality. Designers use mood boards to make sure everyone agrees on how the brand should look, and they use it as a guide when they’re designing. So how do you go about creating a mood board?
Step 1: Define your brand's vision and values
Before jumping into the fun part of creating a mood board, it’s important to lay down the groundwork. Spend some time thinking about what makes your brand unique, who you’re trying to connect with, and the feelings you want your brand to evoke. This solid foundation will shape your choices as you gather inspiration for your mood board.
Step 2: Gather inspiration
Let’s start with gathering loads of inspiration. Grab images from magazines, snapshots, Pinterest or other websites. Don’t limit yourself to just your industry – think art, nature, fashion, and architecture too! The goal is to collect a colourful mix of visuals that really vibe with your brand’s personality and style.
Step 3: Curate your selection
Now that you have some ideas, it’s time to sort through them and make your mood board. Look for things that stand out, like similar colours or feelings. Think about how each picture makes you feel and if it fits with what your brand is all about. Arrange everything in a way that looks nice and makes sense, balancing colours, shapes, and sizes.
Step 4: Establish colour palettes and typography
As you work on your mood board, think about the colours and fonts you see the most. Find colours that match the vibe you want for your brand, and try out different styles of writing to see what fits best. Don’t forget to add colour samples and font examples to your mood board to show off these important elements.
Step 5: Review and refine
Once you put your mood board together, give yourself a break and look at it again later with a fresh perspective. Think about whether it really shows off your brand’s personality and brings out the feelings you want people to have. If something doesn’t quite fit, don’t worry, you can always tweak things and make changes until you’re happy with how it looks.
It’s worth noting that you can create your mood board in various ways. You could opt for a traditional approach using a cork notice board, or you can go digital with online tools like Canva, Illustrator, or Milanote.
Making a mood board is a must for brand design! It’s like a roadmap that helps both designers and clients see where they’re headed. By putting effort into creating a great mood board, you’re setting the stage for a brand identity that really connects with your audience and sticks in their minds.
