After talking about what is a moodboard and how important it is for your work and know how to use, I thought it was important to give 8 tips to create a moodboard that really works. Today the second part of the guide dedicated to moodboard. Let's start?
Ok, what does it mean “That really works“?
It's very simple, when you work on a project with more people churn out many ideas and often these ideas, when they are not marked with a practical example, disperse into nothing… like grains of sand in the desert. Words may not be enough, you and your team to get lost a brilliant idea on the street just because you have not explained well among you.
Worse happens if with your client attempts to submit the work you've done only in words without a visual aid to show, often it fails miserably when trying to translate words in a design concept.
No fear, a moodboard serves to simplify the work and proceed direct to success, for this simple reason I want to give you 8 tips for presenting your work as effectively as possible.
1. Create moodboards for you
In the first phase of your work, when you met your client and you've picked up his questions, your first move is to seek a “result”. Basically you have to translate thoughts into physical product, collect ideas and start to understand direction it must take on the project. In this first step YOU get an idea of the project, and you need to collect photos, fonts, drawings, fabrics, anything that might be useful to clear your head and keep you from losing time.
For this reason it's essential that you create a moodboard just for you. It does not matter if you don't use it, it doesn't matter if all the elements are not connected to each other. At any time you can change the view of your project and my advice is to create many moodboards, all different and think about in which of these focus your efforts.
2. Focused on project: do research
I add, using a bit of pop psychology. Some elements that make up your moodboard make a big difference when you expose the project and to make sure the board is effective immediately and like the customer requires that you focus on the subject and try to simplify as much as possible. One of these elements is color.
Ok Vale, but what has to do with pop psychology? A quick example: If your client sells houses in the suburbs of Milan, it makes no sense to use a color like yellow to develop promotional material. What does the happy yellow with a building 3 plans that, because urban office, is a gray-mouse color? Nothing. It doesn't have anything to do with it.
Have you ever heard of color psychology?
In psychology, the colors have a specific meaning and can influence our mood and our choices. Look at the infographic place below at the yellow (any fine) and tell me if you think that the color has little to do with the famous "mouse-gray building". It is necessary that you do research on the product and that you include in your proposal something that brings a real benefit to the product.
3. Get help
Work alone is beautiful, I like it, but obviously it has a limit that is expressed in the very definition: you work alone. You don't have anyone that has a positive effect on the project by sharing ideas and suggestions, nobody gives you advice and maybe help you solve a problem. What to do in this case?
The easiest thing is to ask for help from those around you, and if they are not “in the industry” it doesn't really matter, but it is essential that they be as objective as possible in the exposition of their judgment and of any criticism and, especially it's important that they provide you a different point of view .
Believe me, a different point of view is a priceless gift! When you're wrapped in your ideas and you don't know how to get out, a friend who offers a different point of view, allows you to breathe and get away from your obsession, then you can think back to work as you did before.
Naturally choose good to those who ask: someone who possesses an innate aesthetic sense even if is a butcher, or those who already know who is an expert in that particular issue because it falls within the personal interests.
4. Explains what a moodboard is
This is a mega-tip. In 90% cases your customer does not have the foggiest idea of how you will come to produce the service they are paying. For he / she is magic… the computer does it all and you limit yourself to make some “doodles“. This is something you need to know right away and keep it in mind for a lifetime.
Considers that: the mere fact that you know how to do a work does not mean that everyone has the same level of knowledge on the issue, no matter we are talking about of publications, couture, websites or more.
It is crucial that you explain (within the limits of the possible) every phases of your work trying to grasp the possible difficulties that may have your client to understand what you're talking about. In some cases you may want to put down on paper the explanation of your choices so, when the customer will look at the project will always understand what they refer to items that you included. Look at this example made by Fernando Cardo and you'll get an idea of what I mean.
A mood board is a product that serves to you as customer, Don't miss the opportunity to create a fantastic product because you have no time to explain!
If you don't immediately explain the risks that a moodboard is not understood, and that the customer tell you in a funny bad way: “Vabbè cosa sono quelle robe lì, messe così alla rinfusa… non capisco perchè non hai già fatto il lavoro invece di fare ‘sta roba qua (untranslatable... sorry, but it sounds like WTF?)…!!!“. So it ends up "rolling" the feelings. Avoid.
5. Play all your cards
For example, if you are planning the redesign of a website consider to include in your moodboard all items used to define your idea about that website, don't forget details such as social media icons because at that time they do not seem helpful. Enter an example of how you want to be drawn and what colors should be.
During the review will have the opportunity to discuss any changes and avoid being harassed in the following days by mail or phone for each individual pixel to change.
In a moodboard for a website enter examples for: fonts, colors, icons, menu, photographs, responsive version and more that can help such as in the idea by Sarah Albinda below.
6. Same project more moodboards
Produces more moodboards with regard to only one project, give yourself a better chance of success with customer. If you are undecided, about the design to take, try to imagine how can be your customer (as mentioned above) he understands less than you.
By most interpretations to your idea and allow the customer to choose what is closer to his product idea. More offers also give you the advantages:
- Professionalism: come perceived as a professional because you are doing a complete job for customer who feels comfortable working with those who are willing to seek the best solution for his business;
- Flexibility: proves to be a professional who is not afraid of changes and, on the contrary seeks to offer an alternate point of view that can be under discussion.
7. Unifies your style
Always keeping in mind that you are presenting a moodboard to a person who does not understand much, trying to be as clear as possible and do not leave room for misunderstandings of various kinds. If you're designing a website (always to first) Include all items in moodboard coordinated.
Example: you chose to design with flat “style”? Perfect, then avoids putting a sample gallery depth effect. The style that you want to propose answers to the philosophy of “Less is more”? Excellent, then avoids insert graphics that do not match that type of design, insert random lines 2px; dotted; between the menu and the gallery in home page it's not the best solution even if it seems that might be there.
See the example that Jonas Hermann has created for his portfolio, all the elements are co-ordinated, colors return to any part graphic and also palette of photos.
Even the example made by Studio—JQ about LIVING app, in this case they focused on the palette and icon design, all elements suggest the idea of the exploration.
8. Do not fall in love with your moodboard
Ok, I know this sounds a bit like a strange thing but think about one thing: if you “love” too much your project under review and your client doesn't appreciate, it ends up that you take it personal, and your mental health suffers. Theresult is that any changes you asked for, you'll do unwillingly always looking for an excuse to do what you want.
You must always remember that this is a job for which you are paid to achieve a certain result. If your client is so in love with a color that you feel deeply unsuitable (like: old, outmoded and more reminiscent of a Brazilian coffee jar by the 70 rather than a modern brand that sells services for the web) don't go flapping!
Tries to investigate his motives and if appropriate propose a design that enhances the particular color key that best fit his business.
Even this article is finished, This is the second part devoted to the creation of a mood board that works that might worthwhile to finish your work out as quickly as organized. Soon you'll read the third part, in the meantime, if you liked these two articles share on your favorite social help me to reach as many people as possible.
Very interesting. Valentina Brava