BRAND MOOD BOARD: THE SECRET TO BUILDING A COHESIVE AND ATTRACTIVE BRAND

A brand mood board is a powerful design tool that narrates the visual story of your brand. It plays a crucial role in establishing and maintaining a consistent, attractive look for your brand, making it essential for shaping your brand’s visual aesthetic.

Mood boards encompass a variety of elements, including typography, color palettes, textures, and patterns—all of which contribute to your brand’s overall vibe.

Creating a mood board is a vital step in your brand design process, as it lays the groundwork for your visual identity. It streamlines your design decisions and guides you toward achieving the cohesive and consistent brand identity you desire.

What is a mood board?

A mood board serves as the design inspiration for your brand, acting as a curated collection of imagery that captures the desired look and feel. It encompasses colors, fonts, textures, and even words that reflect the company’s personality.

Creatives and designers have long utilized mood boards to steer their creative process, initially developed to convey emotional qualities between designers and clients. Research indicates that viewing images can evoke a sense of both detachment and engagement (Grimshaw and Ravetz, 2005; Taussig, 1993), as well as combine rationality with emotionality (Belova, 2006), promoting both cognitive and emotional engagement.

In essence, mood boards bridge the gap between logical business objectives and the emotional, intangible aspects of design psychology. They provide a holistic view of what you aim to achieve through your design efforts.

Mood board vs brand board

A brand mood board differs from a traditional style guide or brand board in that it serves as an inspirational starting point for creativity rather than a strict guideline for designing your brand.

Your mood board acts as the initial foundation for crafting your brand identity. In contrast, a brand board is the finalized document showcasing your brand logos, sub-marks, icons, complete color palette, patterns, illustrations, typography, and images for visual direction.

For instance, take a look at the mood board I created for Forest Tails. While the brand style guide incorporates elements from the mood board, it also includes the logo suite, sub-marks, icons, the full color palette, and typography.

When should I build a mood board?

While many people mistakenly begin their branding journey with a mood board, it should not be the first step. Before gathering inspiration, it’s crucial to develop your brand strategy, which addresses the “why” behind how your brand should look and feel.

Once you’ve established your brand strategy, you can delve into your brand essence and start collecting visual inspiration that aligns with your desired brand identity.

After creating your brand, mood boards can serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for various creative projects within your business, such as:

  • New product launches
  • Seasonal sales campaigns
  • New courses or programs
  • Brand photoshoots
  • Podcast graphics
  • Online memberships
  • Books, eBooks, and PDFs
  • Office or studio design

You can create different mood boards for specific campaigns, programs, or products, as well as for sales pages, website design, and microsites or apps.

Mood board for brand consistency

Your mood board is a foundational step in creating a cohesive brand identity. It outlines the vision for your visual identity, helping to convey the deeper goals of your business.

While you may be familiar with color psychology and its power to evoke feelings, it’s important to recognize that fonts also have personalities that can influence our emotions and perceptions. A font can convey a sense of happiness, professionalism, or whimsy, impacting how we interpret the text.

Choosing colors, fonts, and patterns in isolation can lead to mismatches. For example, a color you love might not pair well with a font you admire, or a pattern may clash with your chosen photography style. However, by assembling these elements in a mood board, you can more easily assess whether they harmonize and enhance your brand.

Research published in the Journal of Business Research indicates that mood boards facilitate brand coordination by:

  • Setting the scene
  • Directing and aligning activities
  • Establishing a reference point

Rather than constraining creativity, mood boards encourage it by:

  • Allowing room for interpretation
  • Providing inspiration
  • Enabling self-expression and a unique style

When everyone in your organization works from the same design inspiration, it fosters a consistent approach across your brand identity, website design, packaging, and marketing materials, streamlining the branding process.

For small business owners who may be working with multiple freelancers or external suppliers, a mood board serves as a clear communication tool for design concepts.

A mood board is a powerful tool for ensuring your team stays aligned, whether you’re working with in-house designers, new staff members, or external freelancers and agencies. I’ve found that sharing brand mood boards with photographers and copywriters effectively conveys the brand’s look and feel. Sometimes, having both visual and verbal cues can make communication even clearer and more effective.

What to include on a brand mood board

While there are no strict rules for creating a brand mood board, following some useful frameworks can help guide your choices. Typically, a brand mood board includes:

  • Brand vibe words: Key descriptors that capture the essence of your brand.
  • Type inspiration: Fonts that align with your brand’s personality.
  • Logo inspiration: Visual references for logo designs.
  • Colour palette: A selection of colors that represent your brand’s aesthetic.
  • Photography: Images that evoke the desired mood and style.
  • Art: Artwork that resonates with your brand identity.
  • Quotes: Inspirational phrases that reflect your brand values.
  • Textures: Material qualities that contribute to your brand’s feel.
  • Patterns: Designs that complement your overall theme.
  • Illustrations: Visual elements that add personality.

Aim for a diverse collection of inspirations to provide a holistic sense of how your brand should be communicated, avoiding an over-reliance on any single element like photos or textures.

Choosing a colour palette for your mood board

Selecting a color palette for your mood board is one of the most vital steps in establishing a brand identity. It’s essential not only to choose colors that reflect your brand’s essence but also to select hues that will inspire and engage your ideal clients.

Color psychology plays a significant role in our daily lives, influencing how customers perceive and interact with their surroundings. People often make choices based on color, whether it’s for their homes, workplaces, vehicles, or even clothing. This impact extends to how they respond to brands.

When crafting your brand mood board, draw color inspiration from the images and elements within the board itself. Ensure that there’s sufficient contrast among the chosen colors to maintain visual clarity; you’ll need colors that work well for both backgrounds and text. A well-thought-out color palette will not only enhance your brand’s visual appeal but also resonate with your audience on an emotional level.

HOW MANY COLOURS TO CHOOSE?

The number of colors you select for your brand mood board should reflect the depth and complexity of your brand identity. To maintain consistency across all branding materials, such as logo design and website themes, it’s ideal to limit your palette. Aiming for five colors is generally a good rule of thumb.

If you’re targeting a high-end or luxury market, consider narrowing your palette even further to 2-4 main colors. This minimalist approach enhances the elegance and sophistication of your brand, making it more recognizable and cohesive across various platforms.

ACCENTS, NEUTRALS AND COMPLEMENTARY COLOURS

When selecting a color palette, begin with your ‘body’ colors, which are the primary colors that will define your brand. From there, choose an accent color to add visual interest and a neutral tone for balance (commonly, black is used in logos).

It’s essential to consider the tones of the colors you choose. Aim for colors that share similar or complementary tones, as this will create a harmonious and cohesive look for your brand. This careful selection will enhance the overall aesthetic and effectiveness of your branding materials.

Mood board for brand identity 

When creating a mood board for your brand identity, it’s essential to first consult your brand strategy to understand how your brand should look and feel. While it’s helpful to be aware of your competitors’ brands, building a unique brand that stands out relies on your distinct energy, skills, and vision.

Begin by identifying 2-3 words that describe how you want your brand to look and 3 words that capture how you want it to feel. Keep in mind that your mood board is just the starting point of your brand identity.

The fonts you select for your mood board may not be the final choices. Small text snippets can appear visually appealing but may not function well in practical applications. Therefore, view your mood board as a springboard for creativity.

You may also need to adjust color selections to better align with your imagery or enhance text readability. Don’t hesitate to experiment with shades and tints of the colors on your board to achieve the desired effect.

Brand mood board examples

The mood board below represents Ayurvedic Mentor, an online health and wellness membership developed by Dr. Sam Watts at Mind Body Medical. The goal was to craft a brand that not only reflects the ancient roots of Ayurveda but also resonates with a sense of familiarity and safety for its audience.

I aimed for a bright and welcoming aesthetic, while also embodying natural warmth. The selected colors, textures, and imagery are designed to evoke a feeling of comfort and connection to nature, inviting members to explore their health and wellness journey with ease and confidence.

The colors are vibrant, while the fonts are kept simple and minimalist to enhance readability. The imagery deliberately shifts focus away from individuals’ faces, fostering a more inclusive atmosphere. This approach allows the brand to resonate with a broader audience, inviting everyone to connect with the principles of Ayurveda and their own wellness journey.

Mood board for personal brand

When I began my career in branding and marketing, I inadvertently crafted a strong personal brand that caught the attention of the directors at the large FTSE 100 company where I worked.

My secret? Leopard print, high heels, boundless ideas, and unwavering confidence.

At that time, I was young, naïve, and bursting with enthusiasm for marketing. During the day, I focused on point-of-sale strategies for our 400+ stores, while at night, I embraced my role as a singer. The confidence I exuded on stage naturally carried over into my daily work.

Admittedly, my choices raised a few eyebrows, but they also brought some much-needed brightness to the grey boardroom, sparking conversations. Even though my 6-inch glitter heels were impractical for the countless steps I took daily, they positioned me front and center when anyone mentioned the 300-strong marketing department. I became known as “the new girl with the shoes.” Influential people remembered me, and because I excelled in my work and was eager to share my ideas, I left a positive impression.

The key to establishing a personal brand is to be distinct and consistent while considering your unique strengths and the value you offer. My style mirrored my energy, creativity, and passion, but yours may look completely different. Think of Steve Jobs, with his minimalist aesthetic of polo necks, jeans, and an unwavering commitment to perfection.

Creating a mood board is an excellent way to visualize your desired brand identity or personal style. If I were to design a personal brand mood board for my 22-year-old self, it would capture the essence of my boldness and individuality.

Journal prompts for creating a personal brand

If you want to create a mood board for your personal brand, start by defining your style inspiration. Consider the following questions to guide your thoughts:

  • How would you (or others) describe your vibe?
  • What do you want to be known for?
  • How do you want people to feel around you?
  • What impact do you want to create?
  • If you could leave everyone you meet feeling one thing, what would it be?

Creating a personal brand mood board can help you communicate a consistent message for lasting impact. Remember, personal brands, like business brands, grow, change, and evolve over time.

Here’s a mood board I made to inspire my personal brand last year. As you can see, things have changed quite a bit in the last 20 years!

conclusion

In conclusion, crafting a cohesive and beautiful brand hinges on the strategic use of a mood board. This powerful tool not only helps you visualize and articulate your brand’s identity but also serves as a guiding framework for maintaining consistency across all touchpoints. By integrating elements like color palettes, typography, textures, and imagery, a mood board encapsulates the essence of your brand and communicates its personality effectively.

Whether you’re starting a new venture or refreshing an existing brand, investing time in creating a well-thought-out mood board lays the groundwork for a compelling visual narrative. It fosters clarity and alignment among team members and collaborators, ensuring that everyone works toward a unified vision. Ultimately, a thoughtfully crafted mood board can inspire creativity, enhance decision-making, and elevate your brand’s presence in the marketplace, making it a vital component of successful brand development.

26 STUNNING OMBRE AND BALAYAGE STYLES FOR EVERY SHADE OF BLONDE

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll showcase 26 gorgeous hair color ideas tailored specifically for blondes, featuring a range of ombré and balayage techniques. From soft rose-gold roots to striking blue highlights, each look is crafted to elevate the natural beauty of blonde hair with vibrant hues and eye-catching contrasts. Whether you’re after a subtle refresh or a bold makeover, these styles offer endless inspiration, ensuring there’s a perfect option for every shade and personality.

Featuring styles from elegant dark roots to fun and flirty pink balayage, this article offers a wealth of inspiration for anyone looking to revamp their look or explore fresh color trends. These stunning options prove that blonde hair is anything but boring, offering endless possibilities for creativity and self-expression.

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL BLONDE WITH ROSE GOLD AND DARK ROOTS

Blending rose gold with dark roots on blonde hair results in a striking and chic look that’s both captivating and sophisticated. The bold contrast between the dark base and warm metallic hues creates a stunning effect, offering a perfect balance of edgy and timeless beauty. This versatile style suits a range of occasions, making it a fashionable option for those who love to combine daring color choices with classic elegance.

Luxurious Long Blonde Hair with Pink Balayage

If you’re drawn to a touch of whimsy, adding pink balayage to long blonde hair could be the ideal refresh. This technique gently weaves pink tones throughout the hair, resulting in a playful yet luxurious look that remains effortlessly wearable. The soft pink hues infuse a romantic charm into the blonde, making it a perfect choice for those looking to add a hint of color while maintaining a softer, more feminine style.

Edgy Short Blonde with Reverse Ombre and Dark Tips

Give your short blonde hair an edgy update with a reverse ombre featuring dark tips. This modern take flips the classic ombre for a striking look that begins with light roots and gradually deepens towards the ends. The bold contrast creates a standout effect, perfect for those with a daring personality who want to break away from conventional blonde styles.

Stunning Balayage Highlights for Straight Long Blonde Hair

Straight long blonde hair provides the ideal canvas for gorgeous balayage highlights. This technique allows for personalized highlight placement that mimics natural sunlight, resulting in a beautifully sun-kissed look. It’s a refined option for those who want to add a touch of dimension and personality to their sleek, straight hair, while also highlighting the smooth, polished texture of their locks.

Classic Shoulder-Length Blonde with Delicate Dark Roots

Achieve a classic yet updated look with shoulder-length blonde hair accented by soft dark roots. This timeless style offers a subtle contrast, balancing the brightness of the blonde with just the right touch of darkness at the roots, adding dimension and depth. It’s a versatile, low-maintenance look that remains effortlessly chic, making it perfect for everyday wear while always appearing polished.

Medium Length Blonde Ombre with Rose Gold Overtones

Rose gold isn’t just for jewelry—it’s a stunning choice for elevating medium-length blonde hair with a hint of luxury. This ombre style, infused with rose gold tones, adds warmth and a modern edge to traditional blonde, offering a chic and trendy update. The soft transition of color creates a rich, multi-dimensional effect that catches the light beautifully, making it a flattering and luminous choice for anyone looking to refresh their style with something unique.

Bold Dark Roots with a Purple Ombre Twist for Short Blonde Hair

Stand out with a daring blend of dark roots and a purple ombre on short blonde hair. This bold look is perfect for those who love making a statement while keeping a fun, playful vibe. The dark roots bring depth and a hint of intrigue, while the vibrant purple adds an eye-catching pop of color. It’s a striking, head-turning choice for anyone wanting to showcase their unique style and personality.

Sublime Long Blonde Ombre with Balayage Technique

For those who appreciate the natural gradient of classic ombre but desire a touch more sophistication, incorporating balayage into your long blonde ombre can yield a beautifully subtle yet striking effect. This technique allows for a softer, more organic transition of colors, enhancing the flowing lengths of your hair. It’s a popular choice for those who want to maintain their base color while elegantly lightening the ends, consistently producing stunning results for clients.

Playful Short Blonde with Pink and Rose Gold Tips

Short blonde hair takes on a new level of excitement with the addition of pink and rose gold tips. This fun and playful style is ideal for those who love to infuse a bit of color into their look. The pink and rose gold tips offer a trendy, metallic finish that can effortlessly transform your overall appearance, adding a touch of whimsy while still allowing for versatile styling options.

Chic Reverse Ombre for Medium Length Blonde Hair

A chic reverse ombre for medium-length blonde hair is a contemporary twist that will help you stand out. This style begins with darker roots that gradually transition to lighter ends, adding depth and intrigue to the classic blonde ombre. It’s a popular choice for clients seeking a unique yet entirely wearable look, perfect for both office settings and nights out on the town.

Long Blonde Hair with Blue Eye-Enhancing Balayage Highlights

This style is designed specifically for blondes with blue eyes, utilizing balayage highlights to enhance the natural brilliance of your eye color. By strategically placing lighter highlights around the face, we can bring attention to your eyes, making them pop. This personalized technique has become a favorite among my clients, as it beautifully accentuates their natural features and adds a radiant touch to their overall look.

Blonde with Dark Roots and Shoulder Length Straight Cut

For a refined look that embraces contrast, try blonde hair with dark roots paired with a straight, shoulder-length cut. This style highlights the face while showcasing a sleek, straight texture that makes the transition from dark to light incredibly striking. It’s the perfect choice for those who prefer a polished appearance but still want to incorporate a touch of edgy style into their everyday look.

Modern Mid-Length Blonde with Rose Gold Balayage

Mid-length blondes can embrace a modern and chic look with a rose gold balayage. This color choice is incredibly flattering, blending the warmth of rose gold with the brightness of blonde for a smooth transition. It’s an ideal style for anyone wanting to add warmth to their overall appearance, and I’m excited to see how it will enhance your complexion and bring a fresh vibrancy to your hair.

Pale Blonde Waves with Shadow Roots

Achieve a show-stopping look that turns heads by blending vibrant color with beautiful curls. This hairstyle is stunning, feminine, and effortlessly chic, making it perfect for long hair.

Silvery Blonde Blended Highlights

Don’t settle for dull long hair—choose a trendy ice gray hue instead. This striking color instantly enhances your overall style and remains suitable for business casual settings.

Blonde Caramel Balayage

With the right layering, you can let your hair air dry to achieve effortlessly seductive loose curls. This beautiful and easy look is an ideal for the busy woman on the go, combining style with minimal effort.

Icy Blonde Balayage with Lowlights

While some balayage styles feature multiple shades of blonde for a dramatic effect, this isn’t the only option. In this particular style, the hue transition is quite subtle. If you adore light blonde tones but prefer a more understated approach, this look beautifully lightens your hair while maintaining a natural appearance.

Platinum Balayage Ombre

Platinum blonde ends create an instant cool-girl vibe for layered haircuts, especially when paired with deep brown roots. Piecey light brown highlights woven throughout add a stunning touch, seamlessly blending these contrasting colors for a cohesive and stylish look.

Beachy Blonde Highlights

This stunning back-skimming mane exudes beachy vibes with its beautiful bleached hue and wavy texture. A balayage hairstyle like this captures the effortless beauty of sun-soaked days by the shore, allowing you to carry that relaxed, carefree feel with you wherever you go.

Vanilla Blonde Blended Balayage

Customize your hair color to reflect your personal style and enhance your face shape by requesting your hairdresser to dye the lightest strands around your face. This approach allows you to embrace the hair trend while maintaining a simple look that brightens your overall appearance.

Bronde Hair with Beige Ribbons

One advantage of blonde hair is its ability to reflect light, creating a beautiful sheen and luster. When paired with dark blonde roots and voluminous curls, you achieve a sultry look that’s full of body. With a hairstyle like this, you can effortlessly transition from the office to a night out on the town.

Sugar Blonde Money Piece Balayage

Sometimes, simplicity makes a bolder statement than extravagant cuts and colors. Embracing a two-tone blonde and brown hairstyle is totally on-trend and embodies the essence of Tumblr-worthy hair. This high-contrast palette is ideal for those seeking a striking change while maintaining an effortlessly chic style.

Cashmere Blonde Melted Balayage

Silver highlights interspersed with honey strands create a beautifully dimensional color that has an ethereal quality. Medium-length waves serve as a lovely foundation for these divine shades of blonde, enhancing the volume and body of the cut. White blonde is the ideal choice for adding shine, as its brightness reflects light beautifully off the strands.

Butterscotch Blonde Highlights

When it’s time for a change, consider a balayage. A fresh look can be both subtle and refined, as exemplified by the golden blonde tresses shown here. The brown lowlights blended throughout the blonde strands add a natural dimension to this back-skimming mane. With its incredible shine, this hairstyle is a stunning choice for anyone seeking a refreshed coif that retains an understated elegance.

Scandinavian Blonde Coloring

Enhance your color by incorporating flirty layers that allow the sun to catch your highlights, adding movement to your style. A bit of tasteful teasing at the crown can also bring fullness to flat locks, resulting in a vibrant and lively look.

Warm Blonde Caramel Color Melt

This style beautifully transitions from rich brown to light caramel, incorporating some of the darkest shades for depth. With blonde highlights woven throughout, this golden mane is further enhanced by voluminous curls, creating a stunning and dynamic look.

CONCLUSION

Ombre and balayage are versatile techniques that can transform any shade of blonde into a stunning masterpiece. By considering your hair color, skin tone, and desired level of drama, you can choose the perfect ombre or balayage style to enhance your natural beauty and boost your confidence.