A mood board is a collage consisting of images, text, and samples of objects placed on a board. That describes what they are, but more than that, they are a wonderful, creative way of physically relating a design theme and using it as a reference point.
It can be based upon a set topic or can be any material chosen at random. They are a way of presenting a general idea of a topic, and how a designer envisages the look and feel of that topic.They may be physical or digital, and can be effective presentation tools.
Graphic designers, interior designers, industrial designers, photographers and other creative artists use mood boards to visually illustrate the style they wish to pursue. Mood boards are not limited to visual subjects, but serve as a visual tool to quickly inform others of the overall “feel” of an idea.
A Mood Board can consist of any imagery that gives you inspiration for the topic you are visualizing. Photos, color swatches, type, fabric samples, sketches, shells – anything that can be stuck down on a board.
In this digital age, this is one area that should be showcased in person if possible. It is a way for a designer to show what ideas are inspiring them which are sometimes difficult to put into words. Presenting a mood board digitally is sometimes necessary but the personal interaction works best.