3 steps on how I start creating a mood board

I love to show you today how to create a mood board or give you some insights on my workflow with a few mood board examples I did for a client earlier this year. BOEN is a Norwegian based company specialized in wooden flooring with the most amazing variety of colors and styles in their product catalog.

They have decided together with style expert Helle Tjaberg to address their products to four different client profiles, and I have been asked to create a corresponding mood board that reflects that style. These boards were then presented to their clients through different workshops I gave on a trade show.

In my experience, the creation of a mood board is an excellent creative method to help anyone visualize and communicate ideas so when working on a new board,

1// I  ask for a briefing to understand the main concept of the message to reflect.

2// I decide on the rational and emotional keywords (with an underscore in the texts below) I’d like to stress on, and

3// search for the corresponding images repeating that process on all four boards.

All picked keywords will be translated into images and materials. I use to work with a mind-mapping program that makes it very easy. These 3 steps are fundamental for all my creative mood board processes.

The one above belongs to the Pure Nordic style. Since this Nordic style finds much inspiration in nature and landscape I chose an image to reflect that savage unfussy nature style and added a few dried plants. Pure Nordic embraces colors that are light and clear providing a more minimal look. As a paint translation of this trend, the palette points towards neutral colour nuances of off-white, ivory, linen and light slate gray. Cotton and wool are fabric samples that match just perfect and a ceramics gris relates to the love for handcrafts.

The next style is named Modern Rustic and rooted in a rather laid-back and cosy style. Rustic charm has been reloaded in a more countryside environment where past and present are celebrating being reunited. Modern Rustic floors are recognized by their ‘lived-in’ appearance or used-look, lively patterns and individual character reflected by the three chosen wood examples.

This style is constantly evolving and though having a rustic appeal, a flirt with industrial and ethnic elements makes it temporary and inviting to discover an own personality. Concrete elements, as you can see on the image above combined with decorative objects are often displayed as a still life. Being authentic where masculine and feminine elements merge, is one another keyword to observe.

Urban Contrast talks about finding a very own expression where different styles can be blended, all serving the idea of living with authenticity and personality.

Contrasting on occasion bold design with more classic pieces, combined with colorful accents and sometimes graphical elements; these are some of the most common features of Urban Contrast. There is a feeling of a rather urban asphalt and very contemporary look. Vintage letters, posters or cardboard letters are a few popular interior design elements that can help you feel at home within its definition. The floors of this style have been designed to adapt to a modern habitat shaped by concrete, brick and stone.

Finishing up for all who are interested in this creative technique: it is essential to translate your gathered keywords into images, colors and different tactile materials in a way the overall look&feel will be consistent and harmonious. Images are powerful and easy to retain, however, tactile materials make your mood board so much more interesting and always invite to touch and discuss.  G, x

PD: If you want to see another former commissioned mood board, Scanned! has been developed for a German online magazine and published a few days ago.