How to Design Moodboards from Scratch ?, by Ashwin on YouTube. 5 min 41 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 41 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Read the design brief and write down the keywords it repeats: audience, tone, colours and the words the client uses about the brand. Keep that list beside your board as you work.
Decide what goes on the board before you open Figma: photos, type samples, colour swatches, textures and a short line of explanation for each section.
Search for references outside Pinterest. Try Behance, Dribbble, Are.na, font shops, stock photo sites and real packaging, and save only images that match your keywords.
Open Figma and create a frame at 1920 by 1080 pixels for a screen presentation, or 1080 by 1350 for a portrait PDF. Give it a plain background colour.
Place your strongest image first and build a loose grid around it. Leave clear white space between images so each one reads on its own.
Add a row of colour swatches with hex codes and two or three type samples showing the heading and body fonts.
Write one short sentence under each section saying why that reference fits the brand. Clients read the notes, not only the pictures.
Check the board for the usual mistakes: too many images, mixed styles and no explanation. Cut anything that does not support the keywords.
Export the finished board as a PDF or PNG and present it section by section.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep to roughly 10 to 15 images. A crowded board looks messy and slows the client's decision.
Stay consistent with image treatment: similar tone and lighting, and avoid mixing photos with flat illustrations unless that contrast is the point.
Name each section on the board so the client can point to it and talk about it in the meeting.
Save your references in one folder as you find them, so you are not searching again while you design.
Questions
How many images should a moodboard have?
Around 10 to 15 strong references are enough for one visual direction. Fewer, well-chosen images read faster than a crowded board.
Do I need Figma to make a moodboard?
No. Figma helps because you can move images freely and share a link, but any design tool that lets you place images and text side by side works.
How do I explain a moodboard to a client?
Add a short note under each section that ties the image back to the brief keywords, then walk through the board section by section in the meeting.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
