So you just started working with a brand designer on a new brand identity for your business, but they’ve asked you to create a mood board with inspiration and you have no clue where to start. Don’t worry, creating a mood board can be an easy and fun process that helps you and your designer align on the visual direction for your brand! It is incredibly important that you and your designer are on the same page- and most designers are not mind readers, so creating a mood board that reflects what you like visually is a great way to make sure that you and your designer are both on the same page!

A mood board is a visual representation of your brand’s identity and style. It’s a collection of images, colors, textures, and typography that convey the mood and atmosphere you want to create for your brand. A mood board is an essential tool in the branding process as it helps you and your designer communicate and visualize the overall style and aesthetic of your brand. Without creating a mood board for your designer to follow, there is a much greater chance of your designer misunderstanding what you were picturing for your brand visually. This is why it is extremely important to not only create a mood board to share with your designer but also to put a lot of thought and care into your mood board, as it will be the visual guide for your designer to build a brand identity that you love and that accomplishes everything your business needs it to.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you create an effective mood board for your brand:

1. Start with your brand values and mission

Before you dive into the visual aspect of your brand, it’s essential to understand your brand’s values and mission. What is the purpose of your brand? What do you stand for? What emotions and feelings do you want to evoke in your audience? If you are working with Kait Merryman Art on your brand’s identity, you will have received a Google Form link with your welcome packet that will guide you on all of these questions so that both you and Kait are fully aware of what your business goals are and what your brand stands for. Once you have a clear understanding of your brand’s values and mission, you can start selecting images and colors that align with your brand’s identity and your own personal design taste.

2. Collect inspiration from a variety of sources

Don’t limit yourself to one source of inspiration. Look for inspiration from a variety of sources, including social media, magazines, books, and even nature. Through Kait Merryman Art, we recommend that our clients utilize free sites like Pinterest or Canva to start with- but in reality, you can use images from anywhere to build your mood board. It’s also important that you collect images and colors that evoke the emotions and feelings you want to convey in your brand, so as long as you do that it doesn’t really matter where they come from.

3. Use color psychology to guide your color selection

As we discussed in our previous blog post, color plays a significant role in the branding process. Use color psychology to guide your color selection and make sure to choose colors that align with your brand’s values and mission. The colors you pick should be seen everywhere in your mood board, from typography to photos to patterns and it should provide a clear visual color direction for your designer to go in.

4. Consider typography and fonts

Typography and fonts play an essential role in the branding process. They can convey a sense of personality and style, and they can also affect the readability and legibility of your brand. Consider choosing typography and fonts that align with your brand’s values and mission, and also typography that will attract your ideal client. The most important aspect of an effective brand, is that it’s attracting the right people, so before you add type to your mood board be sure to think, “Will my ideal client love this?”

5. Use textures and patterns to add depth and interest

Textures and patterns can add depth and interest to your mood board, patterns are super important for making your brand look more visually compelling. They can also evoke a sense of personality and style in your brand. Consider using textures and patterns that align with your brand’s values and mission. By the end of the process, once your brand identity is complete, your brand will have its own brand pattern(s), so it is very important to choose good visual inspirations of patterns that are similar to what you would want for your own brand.

6. Keep it simple and focused

When creating a mood board, it’s important to keep it simple and focused. Don’t overload your mood board with too many images, colors, and textures. Instead, choose a few key elements that represent your brand’s identity and style. In this case, quality is most definitely better than quantity so make sure that only the best of the best makes it onto your board before sending it to your designer. You don’t want to overload them with subpar images that don’t truly convey the energy you would want for your brand.

7. Be open to feedback and collaboration

Creating a mood board is a collaborative process between you and your designer. Be open to feedback and collaboration, and don’t be afraid to make changes and adjustments along the way. Remember, the goal is to create a visual representation of your brand’s identity and style that resonates with your target audience. If you are here because you are working with Kait, she will often send you a refined mood board back for you to approve before moving on to the design process, as will many other brand designers.

In conclusion, creating a mood board for your spiritual brand can be an easy and fun process that helps you and your designer align on the visual direction for your brand. Use these tips and tricks to create a mood board that represents your brand’s values and mission and resonates with your target audience and provides solid and helpful design direction to your designer so that you end up with a brand that you truly love. Remember, a mood board is an essential tool in the branding process, and it can help you set your brand apart from the competition!