Creating a Pinterest Mood Board for Your Website
Creating a Pinterest mood board can be one of the most enjoyable and inspiring steps in the website design process. Think of it as a way to visually communicate your brand's unique personality and vision without needing to know the ins and outs of design terminology.
It's like a visual roadmap that guides both you and your designer toward a shared vision, making the entire design process smoother and more aligned with your brand goals.
But let's be honest — gathering design inspiration can feel overwhelming, especially if you're not sure where to start. You might find yourself scrolling through hundreds of images, only to feel more confused about what you want.
Or perhaps you have ideas in your head but struggle to express them in a way that makes sense to someone else.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many of my clients have felt the same way at the start of their website journey. They know they want something "modern" or "calm" but aren’t sure how to translate those feelings into specific design elements.
This is where a Pinterest mood board comes to the rescue. By curating images, colors, fonts, and layouts that resonate with you, you create a visual collection that tells a story about your brand.
Why is a Pinterest Mood Board Essential for Your Website Design?
Creating a Pinterest mood board allows you to gather images, colors, and styles that speak to your brand's identity. Instead of trying to describe a "calm and inviting" atmosphere, you can show it through a collection of serene color palettes, soothing imagery, and minimalist design elements.
From my experience, clients who come prepared with a mood board often have a much smoother design process. It gives us a concrete starting point, ensuring we're on the same page from the very beginning.
The mood board essentially becomes a visual reference that guides the entire design journey, making it easier to capture the exact mood and style you want for your website.
Mood Board Helps Bridging the Gap Between Vision and Execution
One of the biggest challenges in website design is bridging the gap between your brand's vision and the final design. You might have a clear idea of what you want your website to feel like, but translating that vision into tangible design elements can be tricky.
This is where a Pinterest mood board becomes invaluable.
For example, a Pinterest mood board with elements like crisp, white backgrounds, clean typography, and minimalist product displays, you give your designer clear cues about what "fresh, clean, and professional" means to you. It acts as a bridge between your initial ideas and the final website design.
In my experience, clients who use mood boards tend to be much happier with their final website. It reduces the back-and-forth and ensures that the design process is collaborative and aligned with your brand's vision from the start.
This step not only saves time but also helps you feel more confident and excited about the design journey ahead.
How to Set Up Your Pinterest for Mood Boarding
Step #1: Creating a Pinterest Account (if you don't have one)
If you're new to Pinterest, don’t worry—setting up an account is straightforward and only takes a few minutes. Head over to pinterest.com and click on the "Sign Up" button.
You'll be prompted to enter your email address, create a password, and a birthdate. Once you’re in, you can start personalizing your profile.
Create a free business account on Pinterest.
If you want to create an account for you business, you can swith to it at the bottom of the registration form. But beware of the fact the right now (September 2024) you can create create pin boards for business account from mobile device. You cannot do it on PC.
So I recommend using personal account because there you can create boards from your computer.
But if you still want your personal account look professional you can follow these tips:
Use Your Business Name: Make sure your profile name matches your business name. This helps maintain brand consistency and makes it easier for your designer to find and follow your boards.
Profile Picture: Use a professional image, such as your logo or a high-quality photo that represents your brand.
Description: Write a short, clear description of your business and what you do. This helps anyone who visits your profile understand your brand at a glance.
Optimizing your profile in this way not only creates a professional appearance but also gives anyone viewing your mood boards—like your website designer—a clear sense of your brand from the start.
Step #2: Organizing Your Boards
Once your account is set up, it’s time to start creating boards. On Pinterest, boards are where you’ll collect and organize all the visuals that inspire you. As a website designer, I recommend creating dedicated boards for different aspects of website design to keep things organized and focused. Here's how to do it:
When you are saving a pin, you can create a new board, or save it to an existing one.
Create Separate Boards for Key Elements: Start by setting up individual boards for specific design elements. For instance, you might have boards titled "Color Schemes," "Typography," "Website Layouts," and "Imagery." This way, when it comes time to discuss the design, you and your designer can quickly reference specific aspects of your vision.
Color Schemes: Collect images that showcase color palettes you love. Pin anything from website screenshots to nature photography that captures the essence of the colors you envision for your brand.
Typography: Gather examples of fonts and text styles that resonate with your brand's voice.
Website Layouts: Save layouts that reflect the structure and flow you want for your site. Do you like websites with a lot of white space, or do you prefer a more dynamic layout with multiple sections?
Use Secret Boards for Privacy: If you prefer to keep your inspiration private until you’re ready to share it with your designer, use Pinterest’s "Secret Board" feature. Secret boards are only visible to you and anyone you invite, so you can gather inspiration without worrying about others seeing your ideas before they’re finalized.
How to Create a Secret Board: When creating a new board, simply toggle the "Secret" option. You can always switch a board to public later if you decide to share your inspiration more broadly.
Invite Collaborators: You can also invite others to contribute to your secret boards. For example, if you have a business partner or a trusted friend whose input you value, invite them to pin ideas that align with your brand.
Organizing your boards in this way not only streamlines the mood-boarding process but also makes it easier for your designer to understand the specific elements you’re drawn to.
Gathering Inspiration for Your Mood Board is Important
Step #1: Identifying Your Style and Aesthetic
Getting started with your mood board can feel a bit daunting, especially if you're unsure about what your brand's style truly is.
Start by asking yourself some key questions: What emotions do you want your brand to evoke? Is your brand modern and edgy, or calm and nurturing? If you have existing brand elements like a logo, product packaging, or even a physical space like a shop, salon, or clinic, use these as your starting point.
Another helpful exercise is to look inward at the values that your brand stands for. Are you all about simplicity and minimalism, or do you celebrate vibrancy and luxury?
If you’re a holistic health coach, you might identify with words like "natural," "organic," and "tranquil." This translates into a visual style that uses soft colors, natural textures, and serene imagery.
On the other hand, if you run a modern skincare clinic focusing on advanced treatments, your aesthetic might lean toward "sleek," "clinical," and "sophisticated," which can be expressed through clean lines, neutral color palettes, and professional photography.
My free workbook will walk you through the questions about your brand. Once you answer them you will have a deeper understanding and be better prepared for curating the mood board.
Step #2: Searching on Pinterest Effectively
Once you have a clearer sense of your brand's style, it's time to dive into Pinterest to gather inspiration. Pinterest is a goldmine for design ideas, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of content. To make your search more efficient, use specific keywords that align with your brand's aesthetic and goals.
Here are some strategies to help you find relevant design inspiration:
Use Specific Keywords:
Instead of broad terms like "website design," try more targeted phrases that match your brand style.
For example, if you're looking for a calming and natural vibe, search for "organic website design," "wellness website layout," or "earthy color palette." If your brand is more modern and sleek, try "minimalist website design," "modern typography," or "clean website layout."
Search by Elements:
Break down your search into specific elements you're interested in.
For example, if you're focused on finding the right colors, try terms like "neutral color palette" or "serene color schemes." If you're looking for layout inspiration, try "one-page website design" or "interactive website layout."
This focused approach helps you find exactly what you're looking for without getting sidetracked.
Explore Related Pins:
Pinterest’s algorithm is great at showing you related pins once you start searching. When you find an image that resonates with you, click on it and scroll down to see similar images.
This can lead you to discover ideas you might not have thought to search for.
Step #3: Pinning with Purpose
As you start pinning, it's crucial to do so with intention. The goal of your Pinterest mood board isn't to accumulate hundreds of random images, but to curate a collection that truly resonates with your brand. Think of it as building a visual narrative for your website.
Here’s how to pin with purpose:
Focus on Key Elements:
Pay attention to the specific elements that catch your eye. Is it the color palette, the layout, or the overall mood of the image?
For instance, if you're drawn to a website layout that features a lot of white space, pin it with a note on why you like it. This helps both you and your designer understand what aspects of the image align with your vision.
Look Beyond Websites:
While website designs are an obvious choice for your mood board, don't limit yourself to just that. Explore related visuals like typography, photography styles, graphic elements, and even fashion or interior design.
If you’re aiming for a natural and holistic aesthetic, you might pin images of organic textures, botanical illustrations, or calming nature photography. These visuals help convey the mood and style you want, even if they’re not directly related to website design.
Edit and Refine:
It's easy to get carried away and pin everything that looks even remotely interesting. After your initial round of pinning, take some time to review your board and remove any images that don’t quite fit.
Aim for a cohesive collection that tells a clear story about your brand.
When done thoughtfully, your mood board becomes more than just a collection of inspiration—it’s a roadmap that guides the entire design process.
It helps your designer understand not just what you like, but why you like it, allowing you to translate that into a website that feels cohesive, intentional, and true to your brand.
Your mood board is a powerful storytelling tool that, when curated with purpose, ensures your website design reflects the heart of your brand.
Using Your Mood Board to Guide Your Website Design
Once your mood board is curated and tells a cohesive visual story, it's time to share it with your website designer. This step is crucial because the mood board acts as a visual brief that guides the entire design process.
Here’s how to communicate your Pinterest mood board effectively:
Share Your Board Directly: The easiest way to share your mood board with your designer is to grant them access directly on Pinterest. You can use Pinterest’s "Send" feature to share the board via a link, or invite your designer to view the board if it's set to 'Secret.' This allows them to see not only the individual pins but also any notes or comments you’ve added.
Highlight Specific Elements: When presenting your mood board, take the time to highlight specific elements that are most important to you. You can use the board’s description or add comments to individual pins to indicate why you chose them.
Be Open to Discussion: Your mood board is a fantastic starting point for a deeper conversation with your designer. Be open to discussing why certain elements appeal to you and how you envision them translating into your website. Remember, this process is collaborative.
Creating a Pinterest mood board for your website design is a fun and empowering process that brings clarity to your brand's visual identity. By following the steps outlined in this guide — setting up your Pinterest account, gathering and curating inspiration, and presenting your mood board to your designer — you can effectively communicate your brand's aesthetic and vision.
This will ensure you have a website design that truly resonates with your business.
This process simplifies the sometimes daunting task of visual communication, helping both you and your designer align on the direction for your website.
Remember, you don't need to be a design expert to create an effective mood board. It's about exploring what resonates with your brand, choosing elements that tell your unique story, and expressing your vision in a way that feels true to you.
By focusing on what feels right for your brand, you'll end up with a mood board that serves as a powerful tool in the design process.
Ready to start your Pinterest mood board journey? Download the workbook to dive deeper into gathering inspiration and preparing for a successful website design collaboration.
Let's make your vision come to life, one pin at a time.
