What Clients Need to Know About Design Boards

Previously, I shared some insight around Mood Boards and the necessity of a Design Project North Star. (If you would like to learn more about each of those, you can click here and here.) In the design process, once the client and designer agree on the Mood Board, the Design Board is created.

You may be thinking, what’s the difference between a Mood Board and a Design Board? I want to demystify these terms so that clients can discuss them confidently and feel empowered to focus on making the best decisions possible during their projects. Where a Mood Board simply communicates a general concept or idea, a Design Board features the exact selections I recommend for my client’s projects. 

So, once my clients and I agree on the overall feeling, vibe, and inspiration on the Mood Board, we move on to the part where I begin the work researching and sourcing the perfect product selections for the project. 

Sometimes, there might be a finish, fabric, or sample that was used in the Mood Board that the client falls in love with and asks to have in their finished room. In that instance, I research and analyze that item to see if it will work in terms of size/dimensions, finish, price point, and lifestyle needs. If it does, it goes on the Design Board. If it doesn’t, I find another item that they love just as much but will work within their criteria, and that goes on the Design Board instead.

During the Initial Consultation we determine the exact products or items we need to create the room. The Design Board showcases my preferred choices for each of those products/items. And by favorite, I mean it checks all of the client’s boxes and will create an amazing room.

The primary goal of the Design Board is to allow the client to see how these amazing selections work together. And in the process, it becomes so much easier for clients to confidently make decisions about their project. Seeing all of these items together also helps reduce decision fatigue, because you’re making selections in a group versus one at a time. (You can read a little bit more about how and why I reduce decision fatigue for my clients in this way here.)

It can be really intimidating for clients to wade through the design process. My goal is to share as much as I can with clients about what design work entails and what they can expect while working with my firm so they can enjoy the process as much as possible.

If you are interested in working with my firm on your upcoming design project, I’d love to hear from you! Click here to get started.

Until then

MB