Define the New Year with a Mood Board
Mood boards are a curation of physical or digital visuals. Think of a collage of imagery, typography textures, colour palettes and descriptions. They help evoke certain feelings and emotions that words can’t do justice. Believe it or not, mood boards are not just for designers. Mood boards are a popular tool used for developing and defining ideas and directions. Think of mood boards as a means of visual communication and organization.
How does creating a visual mood board help define your brand’s New Year?
It doesn’t always call for a complete rebrand, but a mood board can help guide the direction for your digital marketing strategy. Have a visual board that you and your team can reference to make sure you’re staying on track. As the year goes by, your visual mood board will evolve as well.
Still not convinced that a visual mood board is worth your time?
Here are reasons why a mood board will set your brand up for success:
It provides a strong starting point for your New Year
Having your plans and goals laid out visually will keep you motivated as your business progresses through the year. Let the mood board assist in envisioning what your brand can accomplish within a year.It gives clarity to initial ideas and directions
While it may be clear in the beginning what your direction is, the mood board will help keep your brand consistent for future decision-making. Keep your brand direction clear in order to yield the best results.It makes collaborating more efficient
Show your brand’s mood board to internal and external contacts so that everyone understands the goals and directions you are envisioning. A picture is worth a thousand words and more effective at that!
Now that you’re on board, choose how you want to create your mood board.
The possibilities are endless. Here’s a list of methods we suggest you choose from:
The good old physical and manual method
Get scrapbooking! Print out and cut out materials for your mood board. A physical mood board will help you manifest your ideas and plans psychologically as they feel more permanent. Only use this method if working in a small team or for personal projects. It is difficult to share your mood board accurately to a large audience.
The online digital curation platform (Pinterest, Tumblr, etc)
Platforms like these make curation quick and easy with a click of a button. They work well for finding external inspiration. Make sure you add your brand’s personal touch to keep the board on brand and original.
The customized approach
Gather all your content and have a designer organize it in the most visually effective way. Your mood board will be one-of-a-kind, unique and interesting piece that can be repurposed in different ways.
Things to add to your visual mood board
Take pictures from your phone - inspiration is all around us, don’t limit your board to things found online.
Use colours to express emotions - read our blog post: Colour Psychology Master List to understand how colours work.
Build around a larger image - have primary content influence the other content you add to your board for cohesiveness.
Add quotes or short descriptions that aid in the visual storytelling - quotes are often statements that your brand can align with and build off of.
Add content from brands that are killing it in the digital marketing world - use this content to go above and beyond.
Use your brand’s visual assets to tie the whole mood board together (e.g. logo, icons, photography, branding)
Try to answer the following questions:
Define your brand voice - How do you want to communicate to your audience?
Define the mood of your brand - How do you want them to feel about your brand?
Define your brand style - How does your brand look visually to your customers? What makes your brand stand out from the rest?
Define goals - What does your brand aspire to become? Are there examples from competitors?
Once you have your visual mood board for the New Year, don’t forget to share it! This way you can gather feedback and see how you can further improve your ideas and direction. Having multiple perspectives and opinions will help refine your brand. Before you know it, your brand will be heading into a strong New Year!