How To Create A Good Mood Board

Summary

In this video, the designer shares their in-depth process for creating mood boards that define the direction of a brand's visual identity. They explain how mood boards, particularly through tools like Pinterest and Adobe Illustrator, help clarify the aesthetic and branding choices for clients. The video covers selecting imagery, typography, color palettes, and packaging ideas that reflect the brand’s essence, offering two mood board options for a gin brand. The designer emphasizes collaboration with clients and the importance of explaining design decisions to ensure a successful brand outcome.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mood boards are crucial in defining the direction of a brand and setting the tone for design projects, particularly when working with clients.
• 😀 A Pinterest board from the client serves as a starting point, but it's the designer's job to refine and adjust it to fit the brand vision.
• 😀 Designers should not be afraid to introduce new elements, such as fonts or color palettes, that they feel will better suit the brand, even if the client didn't suggest them.
• 😀 Clients should provide specific items in their Pinterest boards, including photos that reflect the brand's vibe, preferred typography, colors, and packaging inspiration.
• 😀 Mood boards created by designers should incorporate a mix of the client's Pinterest images and the designer's own selections to ensure a collaborative process.
• 😀 When creating mood boards, a designer should consider offering two options if the client’s vision is unclear, providing a choice between two brand directions.
• 😀 In Adobe Illustrator, designers typically use a grid layout (e.g., nine boxes) to organize their mood board images, ensuring a visually balanced composition.
• 😀 It's important to select imagery that clearly communicates the intended mood and energy of the brand, whether it's energetic and colorful or more subdued and premium.
• 😀 Typography plays a significant role in setting the tone for the brand; designers should adjust fonts to create a unique, tailored look that fits the brand identity.
• 😀 Color selection should be strategic, with each color chosen to evoke specific feelings or associations, such as joy, nature, or calmness, depending on the brand’s desired tone.
• 😀 A mood board should be accompanied by a brief explanation of the design choices, helping the client understand the rationale behind each decision and providing clarity on how the brand's direction was developed.

Q & A

Why is creating a mood board so important for a design project?

A mood board is crucial because it helps set the direction for the brand, ensuring that both the designer and the client are aligned on the visual and emotional aspects of the project. It’s the foundation for building a brand identity that resonates with the target audience.

What is the role of the client’s Pinterest board in the mood board creation process?

The Pinterest board serves as a starting point for the designer. It gives insight into the client's preferences, such as desired photography, typography, color schemes, and overall aesthetic. However, it’s not set in stone, and the designer can refine or steer the direction based on their expertise.

How does a designer ensure the client’s Pinterest board aligns with the brand’s needs?

The designer needs to assess the images, typography, and colors chosen by the client and determine if they are suitable for the brand. If the choices aren’t quite right, the designer can suggest alternatives that align more closely with the brand’s goals, ensuring that the overall look and feel will work for the brand’s identity.

What specific elements should a client include when creating their Pinterest board for a designer?

The client should include images that reflect the overall vibe of the brand, color palettes they like, typography they envision for the brand, and examples of packaging or stationery they find appealing. These elements help the designer understand the client’s vision and preferences.

How does the designer decide whether to present one or two mood boards to the client?

If the client’s vision is unclear or there are multiple directions to explore, the designer might present two mood boards with different directions. If the client has a clear vision, a single mood board is usually enough to guide the design process.

What is the importance of explaining the design choices to the client within the mood board?

Explaining design choices helps the client understand the rationale behind each element, such as color, typography, and imagery. It builds trust and ensures that the client is on the same page with the designer, making it easier for them to make decisions and refine the brand direction.

How does the designer use Adobe Illustrator to create a mood board?

In Adobe Illustrator, the designer arranges images into a grid, typically using a 3x3 or similar layout. They place images within the grid using the clipping mask tool and adjust their transparency if needed. This organization helps present a clear, cohesive visual direction for the brand.

Why does the designer sometimes adjust the transparency of colors in the mood board?

The designer may adjust transparency to fine-tune the colors to fit the desired mood or tone of the brand. For example, if a color appears too dark or intense, lowering its transparency can make it lighter and more suitable for the brand’s intended feel.

What is the advantage of using external sources like Unsplash or Pexels for finding images, apart from Pinterest?

Using external sources like Unsplash or Pexels can provide higher-quality or more fitting imagery that might better match the brand’s aesthetic. These platforms often feature a diverse range of curated images, some of which may complement the mood board better than what’s found on Pinterest.

How do color choices impact the mood board and brand identity?

Color choices are vital as they communicate emotions and values associated with the brand. For example, vibrant oranges and greens can evoke a fun, summery feel, while darker colors may convey sophistication and premium quality. Strategic color selection helps create a brand identity that aligns with the target audience’s emotions and the brand’s message.