How to Make a Mood Board
Tags: webdesign, tutorial, design, moodboard
Published: 2023-03-31 17:45:06

Learn how to make a mood board with this easy, step-by-step guide. A mood board can help you capture your ideas and inspirations for your next project.


## Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make a Mood Board

Creating a mood board can be a great way to express your creative vision and bring your ideas to life. Whether you’re designing an interior space, Creating a mood for a photo shoot, or just getting inspired and motivated, a mood board is a perfect tool. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through creating a mood board that will spark your inspiration.


## What is a Mood Board in the Design, and Why Do You Need It?

A mood board is a collage of images, colors, textures, and other design elements. It’s an effective way to create a mood or atmosphere for a space, project, or event. It can be used to communicate ideas and concepts visually without relying on words alone.


![What to include on mood board](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ck0c05d6ifidzzyud3gt.png)


Mood boards are also helpful in gathering ideas and exploring different options. They are a great place to start if you feel stuck or overwhelmed. 

Mood boards include:


- Visual elements – photos, illustrations, textures,
- Color palette – hues and shades,
- Fonts – typefaces or hand lettering,
- Typography – contrasting sizes and styles of text,
- Material samples – fabrics, wallpapers, materials,
- Other details like quotes or mood phrases.


## Physical vs Digital Moodboards: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to visualizing design ideas, mood boards are a great way to start. They provide a space to brainstorm ideas and refine concepts before bringing them into reality, but there is a question that often arises: What’s the difference between physical and digital mood boards?

**Physical mood boards** are the traditional kind of board in which you physically cut out images and assemble them together on a poster board or wall. This type of board is best for when you want to get creative with your arrangement as well as when you want to be able to move around elements of the board without having to redo everything from scratch.

**Digital mood boards** are created digitally, typically using software such as Photoshop. This type of board is great for when you need to quickly build up concepts and edit them since you don’t have to physically cut out material. Additionally, digital boards can also be easily shared over the internet with a team or collaborators.

Whether physical or digital, mood boards are an important part of the creative process in bringing ideas to life. With either type of board, you can bring your vision into reality faster and more efficiently. So next time you’re looking to create something special, consider creating a mood board!


## What Should Not Be in the Mood Board Design?

While mood boards are a great way to get creative and explore ideas, some things should be avoided:

1. Too many visuals and elements – mood boards should be simple and focused
2. Cluttered designs – keep it organized and easy to read
3. Unrelated imagery – make sure all images, colors, and other elements relate to your mood board theme
4. Unclear objectives – make sure your mood board clearly communicates the mood or atmosphere you’re trying to create.



## Step-by-Step Guide on How to Make a Mood Board

Mood boards are a great way to bring your ideas to life. Here are some tips on how to create a mood board that’s sure to inspire:  

**Step 1: Set the direction of your project**

Start by brainstorming the purpose of your mood board for web design or [mobile app design](https://gapsystudio.com/blog/how-to-design-an-app/). This will set the tone for the visuals you’ll be collecting. Consider defining a color palette, theme, or even a specific message that this mood board should communicate.

With your project underway, kick it into gear by charting a course for where you want to take the visuals. Brainstorm what you'd like this mood board to capture and look at ways of using color palettes, themes or even messages that define its focus. Then get ready -you’re off on an exciting design voyage!

**Step 2: Collect visuals**

Collecting visuals is an important step in any creative endeavor, and the possibilities are nearly endless. Start by researching different sources of inspiration to come up with ideas such as magazines, blogs, online image searches, and social media sites. Keep track of those that spark your interest so you can easily reference them later.

Assemble a wide range of images to generate a cohesive collection to work from or off of for your own design. Referencing photos that others have taken or collected can provide valuable insight on how to create your own visuals. With the vast amount of resources available online, don’t be afraid to investigate and explore!

**Step 3: Arrange the visuals**

Once you have gathered your visuals, arrange them on a blank canvas in an interesting way. Try playing with different layouts and arranging elements in various sizes to create a unique look.

Arranging visuals on a canvas could be an exciting creative journey. It allows you to blend different elements, textures, and colors from the visuals to create a powerful aesthetic experience that draws the eyes. Look for opportunities to break free of traditional arrangements and explore your own visual expression instead. Experiment with shapes, sizes, and configurations to craft something meaningful and captivating. Don't forget to take advantage of blank spaces too, as they can enhance the impact of your visual art if used correctly.

**Step 4: Finalize the mood board**

Finally, it’s time to add text and any other elements you want to include in your mood board. Be sure to keep the overall theme and message of your project in mind as you do this.

Once all of your visual elements are put together, it is time to add words for a richer and more meaningful experience. Make sure the text that you include can help enhance the message of your project and the overall theme of your mood board. As the final step in creating your stunning design, ensure that you save a copy, so it can be used as a reference in the future. You will be proud to have such an aesthetically pleasing vision board that accurately portrays exactly what you are striving for.

**Step 5: Share your mood board**

Sharing your mood board is the perfect way to let everyone involved in a project know the overall vision and aesthetic that’s in mind. Post it online—use hashtags to target your audience, or create a custom link to share with others. It’s also an effective way to get feedback from a wide variety of people quickly, helping ensure your project will be as successful as possible. If you're sharing it with colleagues or clients directly, be sure to include descriptions and explanations whenever needed, so they truly understand what you are trying to accomplish.


## Types of Moodboards

Mood boards come in many shapes and sizes. Here are some of the most popular mood board types:

**1. Digital Mood Boards** – Digital mood boards are mood boards that are created electronically, usually on a computer or phone. They’re great for sharing online and collaborating with other people.


![What is a digital mood board](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/js3ndutnjyb7cjaazu4r.png)

**2. Physical Mood Boards** – Physical mood boards are mood boards created with physical materials like paper and scissors or mood boards printed out. This is an excellent option to create something tangible or have the mood board as a reference offline.


![Physical mood boards example](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8s0b97ippdszk52uq06j.png)

**3. Visual Mood Boards** – Visual mood boards are mood boards that focus primarily on visuals, like imagery and colors. If you’re looking to create a mood board that communicates the mood without words, this is the option for you.


![Visual mood boards example](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/3gjmvaa0pnjduxu4iq64.png)


Creating mood boards for [website design](https://gapsystudio.com/services/website-design/) can be a fun and creative way to bring your ideas to life. With the right mood board materials and techniques, you can easily create mood boards that express your mood and vision.

**Conclusion**

Mood boards are a great way to visually communicate moods and ideas. With the right mood board materials, techniques, and tools, you can easily create mood boards that communicate your mood and vision. Whether you’re creating a digital mood board, physical mood board, or visual mood board, mood boards are a great way to bring your ideas to life. So get creative and start creating mood boards today!