Hey there, fellow surface pattern designers! One of the most essential tools for our creative process is a pattern design mood board. You’ll know why if you read last months post – it helps us visualise our ideas as well as define and stay on track with our vision.
So, let’s dive into the steps on how to put together a mood board for surface pattern design.
1. Define your project and pattern design mood board:
Before you start, it’s important to define your project’s scope and purpose. Are you designing for a specific client or event? What’s your theme? Is there a preferred style you want to create? Or colour palette? Knowing this information will help you gather the right images and inspiration for your mood board. But equally it might be something you define as you put your mood board together.
2. Gather inspiration:
Start gathering images, colours, textures, and patterns that align with your project’s vision. You can find inspiration in magazines, books, online galleries, and even nature. Collect more images than you think you’ll need, so you have plenty of options to choose from, and if you are taking photos, don’t forget to capture things from different angles.
3. Organise your images:
Now that you have a collection of images, it’s time to organise them into groups. Group your images by subject, colour, theme, style, or texture to help you see patterns and trends in your design choices.
4. Edit your selections:
Go through everything you have collected for your pattern design mood board and remove any images that don’t fit with your project’s vision. This is the time to really refine where your collection or project might be going. Make sure each image speaks to your project’s style and aesthetic.
5. Layout your mood board:
This is where you’ll start to see your vision come to life! You can create a digital or physical mood board. Arrange your images in a way that feels cohesive and balanced. Band similar things together. You can also include swatches and notes to help convey your design choices.
6. Refine your mood board:
Now that it is all together in a ccohesive way, take a step back and look at your mood board from a distance. Do the colours and patterns work together? Does it convey the right mood and aesthetic? Make any necessary tweaks to ensure your mood board accurately represents your project’s vision.
7. Share your mood board:
Your mood board is a powerful communication tool. Share it with your team or clients to help them understand your design choices and get them excited about your project. It’s also a fun thing to share on social media so that people can see what you are working on. You don’t have to show the whole thing, just give them a glimpse and get them excited for what’s to come!
Finally, remember, your mood board is a reflection of your creative process and your inspiration. It’s also just a guide, not a rigid thing to be followed, so enjoy the journey and have fun with it! Why not tag me when you share your moodboard @willowandwoodsdesign so I can see and share your boards!
P.S. If you’ve missed my other surface pattern design tips or my guides to brand photography for surface designers, you can find them here.
Also, don’t miss my 22 page ultimate guide to brand photography for creatives! It will guide you through all things brand photography with bonus worksheets to help you on your way!