Mood Board — Definition

What it is

A mood board is a visual collage of images, colors, textures, typography, and design references that communicates the intended look and feel before any design work begins.

Why it matters

Words mean different things to different people. "Modern and clean" in your head might look completely different than your designer's version. A mood board aligns expectations visually.

The mistake most people make

Treating the mood board as the final design. It's a direction, not a destination.