mood board

noun

variants or less commonly moodboard

ˈmüd-ˌbȯrd 

plural mood boards also moodboards

: a collection of objects, images, etc. that is assembled often on a flat surface and used as inspiration for something (such as a design or goal)

Anna Sui treats her mood boards a bit like shrines. A focal point in her new studio …, four separate panels, each bordered in a trompe l'oeil Art Nouveau frame, set off photographs, fabric swatches and illustrations by Mary Blair …

—Ruth La Ferla

Oftentimes clients give him a lot of creative freedom, he said, because they like the style of other projects he has done. He will then create a mood board, with images and phrases to inspire his creation.

—Rachel Spacek

The producer came to London to my house to have a meeting with me. They brought me the script and this strange kind of moodboard with pictures and drawings …

—Noomi Rapace, quoted at yahoo.com

Examples of mood board in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When Jennifer Lawrence steps out in a new outfit, I’m almost guaranteed to add it to my style mood board. —Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024

For Fanning, though, a timeless take will do—and her blunt and rounded midi bob is officially on our spring beauty mood board. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2024

Six months after that mood board, the first full-size model was shown to the client, still a full four years ahead of the late-2023 delivery date. —Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

Scroll on for a lot of aspirational and inspirational moments for your mood board. —Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2024

While costume designers may not have whole fashion and beauty teams behind them, their creativity and mood boards give any professional squad a run for their money. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024

From the rounds of mood boards, sketches, swatches, fittings, and process. —Lindsay Kimble, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024

On Monday, Lopez walked USA TODAY through his mood board, featuring photos of men in powdered wigs, runway moments mixing femininity and masculinity, plus the famed 2000s unofficial metrosexual spokesperson David Beckham. —USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2024

Creative director Ian Griffiths’ mood board included silken teddies, Belle Epoque’-inspired boule coats and photos of the French novelist Colette, whose spare style, the British designer said, inspired the collection’s simplicity. —Colleen Barry, Quartz, 22 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above