Every time I complete a collection of my Fashion Design class at the Academy of Art University, I also create a moodboard. Here are three examples. Can you see my customer? Do you sense the style I am working with? Are the colors clear and do they work well together?
The first moodboard is one of my favorites: simple, clean, and modern. The collection's inspiration was futuristic architecture. The customer? A sharp and witty woman, a decision-maker with an edge. The clothes were asymmetrical with folds and zippers to imitate the layers and shapes I found in my research.
Charlotte Perriand, one of my favorite interior designers, inspired the second collection and moodboard. Her work is modern and uses many a straight line. Upon researching of Perriand's life, I discovered a bright woman with a real gumption for life. To marry the inspiration of her modernist furniture and her fun loving attitude, the collection's clothes were more relaxed but explored interesting combinations of fabrics (e.g., tweed and leather, jersey and denim).
I trip to Kenya inspired my third moodboard. I looked into African tribal wear and worked to take the workmanship and tradition to a customer living in a city in the US. I worked with layers and rich colors to honor the inspiration.
Moodboard is sometimes my best friend - I create it as I begin to work on a collection and then it stays with me. Moodboard is sometimes my worst enemy - I create it and then keep tweaking as it just does not feel right. In the end, however, I value it as a great tool to communicate my ideas and fashion design work.