Mood board.

Manifestation board.

Vision Board.

Another word for mood board is Visual Organiser. You are visually representing your hopes and specific desired outcome to the world.

Whilst we are still in the spirit of the new year, let’s talk about manifestations. You might be thinking that sounds like a highfalutin concept but there is actual science to it. Before you start strategizing what your next amazing campaign will be, sit down with your team (or just yourself) and start creating a mood board of your desired outcome - for your brand, your team and yourself. This is a great exercise for team bonding and discovering what success truly looks like to others. You might be surprised and even inspired by what you can come up with.

In an article via The Journal of Business Research Visual Organisation is an aesthetic form of organisation and aesthetics play a huge part in an organisation. The luxury industry is a prime example of a creative industry where the organisation of aesthetics primary influences what and how people purchase. Industries are asked to provide unique customer experiences and mood boards are one way of curating this objective.

#HotFacts:

A mood board does not have to ‘pretty and colourful’.
You do not have to share your mood board with your audience but trust me, they would love to see the BTS.
You can add and remove as you please - there is no one formula for the perfect mood board/manifestation board.

I’m sure you would have heard the term ‘manifesting’ before? It means: ‘readily perceived by the senses and especially by the sense of sight’. By this definition, it means something you can create with your senses; especially your sight. If this is the case then a mood board would be a great example of the process of manifestation.

The key to manifesting what is on your mood board is to have it constantly in sight. To see it as a reminder of the ultimate goal - one you have the power to change at your will. Use this wisely. Have it clearly on your office wall, home wall, as your screensaver - heck, even in your kitchen if it helps!

Mood boards are also a great way to have everyone in your supply chain on the same page:

Fig. 1 via The Journal of Business Research

There is a time and place where words can fail us; especially when working with huge campaigns and design concepts. I may find something soothing; another may find it irritating. Mood boards provide a visual context for your client to see the vision, not just read about it.

Visual communication is just as important as written! A bad picture can take away meaning where a good picture can create worlds.

In another study on Mood Boards as a Universal Tool for Investigating Emotional Experience; researchers state that since emotion is a physiological phenomenon that cannot be directly captured, research on emotion relies on a stimuli-response paradigm that encompasses emotion and elicitation of emotional recognition. For example, a subject might have experienced happiness because the stimuli were funny pictures and the subject also reported happiness. This stimulus-response paradigm has directed most of the contemporary psychological research on emotion, and also influenced other related areas, such as design research on emotions.

In lamens terms that means if you see a funny picture you will manifest a happy response. If you see a bright and fun image it may very well make you feel bright and fun. This is how manifestation can begin with a mood board. Place things in the mood board you would like to see and have come to fruition. The experience of constantly seeing it will provide you with an emotional response that can continue to remind you of the clarity you have with what it is you want.

BEFORE YOU GO! #HotTips:

Digital mood/manifestation boards are easier to use and work with but if you prefer an actual board that is a great idea too (I have an actual board and a digital one).
Start with a theme - you have as many mood boards as you’d like!
THINK BIG! Nothing is too far fetched!
Be mindful of what you want - remember the old saying ‘Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it’? That applies to this situation. Be intentional.
Go in with good intentions. Positivity begets positivity.
Don’t give up! The board is a reference for future accomplishments.
Your mood board is a presentation of your values and priorities; only put that which you value or would like to see happen.

My Mood/Manifestation Board 2020 - 2025

Best places to start your mood/manifestation board:

Canva - a free service with templates and lots of great features. Very user friendly.

GoMoodboard - a free service with no account needed to use. Lots of great templates and great for on-the-fly boards.

Pinterest - Pinterest is the original visual organiser. An OG in the game and great place to start if you are not interested in physically curating your images in one framed board.

StudioBinder - a service with free and premium content. Lots of professional tools.

Mural - great for a team to visually create together.

The Science behind Mood/Manifestation Boards