What is it?
An inspiration board or mood board is used to gather ‘inspiration’ for the design process. Designers use it to find the style for branding a client’s business.
A lot of designers, including myself, create a Pinterest board and have client’s pin images that fit their brand. Then we use that as a reference to create designs consistent with the brand style.
The Cons of letting the clients choose their own images
1. Client’s don’t know what an inspiration board is
Most people don’t know what an inspiration board is used for. I know that I always have to go through the process of explaining what it is and how it helps the design process.
2. Client’s don’t know what images to choose
I had a client who didn’t understand what images to pick for their brand. She just started randomly picking images or dragged her feet with this process because she didn’t know what to do. In the end, I had to choose all the images.
3. Client’s might choose the ‘wrong’ images
You’re thinking, the client is always right, right? This isn’t always the case. I’ve had a client choose images by her own style instead of by her target audience’s style. You have to think about your brand and who you want to attract, not about your personal likes and dislikes.
The Pros of letting the clients choose their own images
1. Sometimes, they know what their audience wants
Some clients know exactly what their target audience want. They also know what direction their company is going.
2. They are part of the process
For me, this is the biggest pro. I like that the client is part of the process. Personally, I like to be a part of the process. If I had a stylist or a personal trainer, I would want to add input for my likes or dislikes.
My opinion
I think in the future, I will definitely start choosing the images myself. Even though I want the clients to feel like they are part of the process, I know that I would save a lot more time doing it myself. Not only that, but they are still part of the process because I want their input when I give the client brief.
What do you think? Are you for letting the clients choose their own images or do you choose the images yourself?
-Paigon | Natasha Lane Design Co.
