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What is a Mood Board?

Sheri Cyprus
Sheri Cyprus

A mood board is a tool used by designers to help them get a good idea of what their clients are looking for. Mood boards are basically collages of items such as photographs, sketches, clippings, fabric swatches and color samples. These boards can be actual or virtual. A mood board is used by many different types of designers such as those in fashion and interior design.

A decorating board often contains magazine clippings of furnishings that inspire the design concept. Sketches and a floor plan are also usually included on the board. Paint chips and other color swatches are also featured on a decorating board. The client can view the mood board and decide whether he or she likes the main design concepts the board represents.

Sketches are often included on mood boards.
Sketches are often included on mood boards.

A fashion mood board usually has sketches of garments as the main focus of the board. Fashion boards may also have magazine clippings or other sketches of what inspired the designer such as pictures of ocean waves for the design of a dark blue silk gown. Trimming details and ribbon could also be on a fashion board.

Mood boards are a great way for designers to present their take on a theme to clients. For example, if a client tells a designer that he or she wants something cozy or airy those feelings could be created in many different ways. By putting the ideas on a mood board first, the designer can make sure the client likes the ideas. You don't have to be a professional designer to create a board. It's possible to make your own board and get in touch with your own moods and tastes in the process.

Creators of mood boards use pictures from magazines that inspire them.
Creators of mood boards use pictures from magazines that inspire them.

You could start your personal mood board with a stack of magazines. Just tear and cut out anything that touches you in some way. Don't rationalize your choices, but pick colors, shapes, words and pictures that you feel drawn to. You can do theme boards such as "What I want my life to be like" or "Career ideas for me" or "How I want to decorate the baby's room." Anything goes and creating your own board can help your learn more about your self and your style.

Discussion Comments

anon311406

Could you make a mood board all about yourself?

anon304841

What is the difference between a mood board and a lifestyle board?

anon249586

So basically a mood board is like a collage?

anon230962

I want to know how to make a mood board. Please, can you help me?

claire68

Can you help me please? I need to create a mood board using color relationships in regards to a color wheel. It's for a floristry course.

anon186409

I want to create a mood board and an inspiration board on different themes. Can you please help me out.

anon132289

how do you create a mood board on someone, e.g james dyson? Please help me.

anon114311

i am sravani and in my college they asked me to think of a theme to do a mood board and i am struggling hard for ideas. I couldn't get a good one. Can you please give me some themes by tomorrow morning?

anon101648

how big are these mood boards?

i must make one and scan it so i can send it digitally.

anyone know if Kinkos or someplace similar has a giant scanner?

anon98453

thank you so much.

anon78334

i think that this information was a great help. it helped me to understand what a mood board was and what it was used for, so thank you so much for this help for my project.

anon78201

yes it necessary to do a mood board in fashion designing, to project your idea of making a collection in a particular process before they get manufactured.

anon76433

Thank you very much for giving us the useful information. if possible please tell me about what is a color board and difference between a color board and a mood board.

anon69819

can you give me some ideas on the mood board topics of child labor?

anon67855

Please give me a idea on how to do a mood board in fashion designing.

anon63720

can you give me some ideas on the mood board topics of home?

anon62623

please help me to make a mood board for multimedia design to target are designer, public, administration, developer etc.

anon61456

Please give me an idea on how to make a guns and roses fashion mood board. Thanks.

anon60850

Please give me an idea, how to make a gothic fashion mood board. Thanks.

anon60521

Please help me to define the mood board for textile design. what is mood board, and its need and its importance?

anon56211

yes, it's like that. it's so easy to put everything that could inspire you on the mood board and also you could put the colors, fabrics and the materials that you will use.

anon52195

Please help me out to make a mood board of fashion designing. The topic is new silhouette with old chikankari.

anon47265

Please help me because i do not get how to do a mood board. it's for cooking. i need pictures of cakes and that has it about putting information and a collage around it or what?

anon39199

is it necessary to do a mood board in fashion designing? please help

anon30097

How is a mood board made? I'm still not sure about the purpose of a mood board. Plz help me with this confusion.

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    • Sketches are often included on mood boards.
      By: delux
      Sketches are often included on mood boards.
    • Creators of mood boards use pictures from magazines that inspire them.
      By: matka_Wariatka
      Creators of mood boards use pictures from magazines that inspire them.
    • Design mood board.
      By: @resultsjunkie
      Design mood board.
    • Fashion mood boards may be used as part of the inspiration process to create clothing.
      By: PhotoSG
      Fashion mood boards may be used as part of the inspiration process to create clothing.
    • Pushpins may be used to attach ideas to a mood board.
      By: jojje11
      Pushpins may be used to attach ideas to a mood board.