Shimona Bhansali captures the essence of space with mood boards that distill atmosphere and aesthetic

For Shimona Bhansali, Founder & Principal Designer of Design Hex, a mood board is more than a collection of images—it is a distilled representation of the envisioned space. Every element is thoughtfully placed to encapsulate the atmosphere and aesthetic, ensuring that the board serves as a tangible preview of the final design. In our February 2025 issue, we took a deep dive into her process of crafting mood boards. Read on for some insightful excerpts!

How has your mood board creation process evolved with digital tools, and what balance do you strike between physical and digital elements in your conceptual phase?

The adoption of digital tools in mood board creation has revolutionised the process, offering both efficiency and sustainability. Digital platforms enable faster concept development and flexible presentation, allowing for real-time adjustments and easy collaboration. The balance between physical and digital elements lies in recognising the strengths of each medium. Visual components like colours, shapes, and compositions are best explored digitally, offering versatility and swift iteration. However, tactile aspects—such as textures and materials—retain their value in physical form, where their sensory qualities can be truly experienced. By distinguishing between what should be visual and what needs to be tactile, we can seamlessly combine both approaches, optimising the creative process while maintaining a sense of materiality and authenticity.

Walk us through your thought process when you begin a new mood board – what elements do you consider first, and how do you layer colours, textures, and materials to build your narrative?

When embarking on the creation of a mood board, our foremost consideration is that it must encapsulate the essence of the envisioned space. The board serves as a scaled-down representation, where each element reflects the intended atmosphere and aesthetic. For instance, if a space is defined by a dominant feature such as lime plaster, we allow that material or colour to occupy a substantial portion of the board, setting the tone for the rest of the composition. Layering follows a deliberate hierarchy, where textures, colours, and materials build upon this foundation, each element enhancing the others to form a cohesive narrative. While mood boards are undoubtedly about exploring combinations, they also function as an artistic interpretation of the final design, allowing us and stakeholders to visualise the space with greater clarity and precision. The result is a visual dialogue that conveys both intention and ambiance.

How do you use mood boards to communicate with clients, and what techniques have you developed to help them understand your vision through these visual tools?

We use mood boards as a visual narrative to convey our design vision to clients, ensuring that each board is thoughtfully curated to reflect the essence of their space. Rather than presenting materials and products in a disjointed or linear manner, we compose them in a cohesive, layered arrangement that mirrors the intended flow and atmosphere of the final design. This method allows clients to immediately recognise how the individual elements relate to one another and to the broader concept. Additionally, we tailor the mood board to resonate with the client’s existing space, incorporating elements that they can easily envision within their environment. By creating a tangible connection between the design and their own surroundings, we foster a deeper understanding, helping them visualise the transformation and ensuring alignment with their expectations.

Can you share an example of a project where the mood board played a pivotal role in shaping the final design outcome? What were the key elements that translated most successfully from concept to reality?

For The Zephyr project, the mood board was essential in shaping a design that captured the essence of Greece without resorting to clichés. Our goal was to highlight Greek elements in a fresh, modern context, and the mood board served as the perfect tool to explore this vision. By combining minimalist white backgrounds with unexpected pops of colour, we reflected both the timeless beauty of Greece and its vibrant culture. This contrast not only defined the aesthetic but also added an exciting, contemporary edge. The mood board allowed both our team and the client to align on key design choices early in the process, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious outcome. Ultimately, it helped translate an abstract concept into a fully realised space that felt authentic, yet refreshingly modern, striking the perfect balance between tradition and innovation.

Looking ahead to 2025, what emerging materials, technologies, or design philosophies do you anticipate will dominate mood boards? How are factors like biophilic design, smart home integration, and climate-responsive architecture influencing your conceptual process?

Looking ahead to 2025, mood boards will increasingly reflect a more harmonious fusion of nature, technology, and sustainability. We anticipate a shift towards integrating elements that evoke a stronger connection to the natural world, with organic textures and materials becoming key visual components. At the same time, functionality will take on a more intuitive, adaptable dimension, with design choices that cater to evolving lifestyles and environmental considerations. Mood boards will also evolve into dynamic, interactive platforms, offering more immersive, real-time visual experiences, where clients can engage with 3D renderings and explore a range of design possibilities. As new materials emerge, boards will feature an expanded range of innovative, eco-friendly finishes, encouraging the use of materials that respond intelligently to both the environment and user needs. The result will be mood boards that not only capture aesthetic vision but also reflect the evolving priorities of the built environment.

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