Creating a Design Story Board

Remember creating collages in art class as a kid?  The conglomeration of words, images and elements selected and assembled became works of art that told a story of sorts.

Designers utilize the same concept to develop a new design plan and illustrate their ideas and concepts to their clients, and it’s called the design story board. You can use this same creative exercise to discover your design style, decorate a room or design your new home.

How to Create a Design Story Board

Creating a design story board is much like making that childhood collage.  No rules apply.  The goal is to find elements that inspire you, gather up a collection of items, then put them all together into one, big design collage.  When complete, your design story board will ultimately translate into the design plan for your room or new home. 

As you start the process, keep your creative eye open at all times and turn off your internal filter.  Be open to whatever appeals to you on a visceral level - the sheen of a beautiful silk fabric, the mood conveyed in a piece of artwork, the patina on an old penny or a color in your child’s crayon box.  If you can’t take it with you, or it’s too large to use in your collage, take a photo of it.  

Where do you begin this creative exercise?  Get out there and explore!  Stimulate your creative side!  Here are some ideas for gathering the elements that will ultimately inspire the design of your room or new home. 

• Capture inspiration with your digital camera.  Take your camera with you on outings and shopping trips.  Snap photos of anything that catches your eye - be it an eggplant at the market, the color scheme of your neighbor’s flower garden, the shape or form of a vase or the texture of a woven basket at the home goods store.  These images can provide color inspiration, or simply capture a mood you wish to convey in your new space. 

• Visit the book store.  Peruse books on architecture, interior design and travel.  Make note of any designers, rooms, styles, and places that appeal to you.  Then thumb through some home decor magazines and select and buy two or three that appeal most to your sense of style.  

• Surf the web.  Google a designer, design style or locale you discovered on your book store outing.  Visit home and garden websites, like HGTV.com and its Designer Portfolio and BHG.com slide shows.  Go to image sites like flickr.com or search on the term “design blogs” for a wealth of inspiration at the click of your mouse.

• Clip and collect.  Collect swatches, samples, photos and clippings of any items that speak to you, including fabrics, specialty papers, wallpaper, gift wrap, finishes, paint chips, textures or overall design schemes.

Once you’ve assembled a good-sized collection of elements, you’re ready to build your design story board.  Purchase a foam core board from the local office supply or craft store.  Spread your swatches, clippings and objects of inspiration out on a large surface and let your creativity flow.   Arrange the elements to create a pleasing display, then attach them to the foam core.   Keep your design board somewhere out front and center where you can see and enjoy it every day.  Feel free to it add to it if you come across something that moves you (or remove elements as your preferences evolve). 

Study the design board with a discerning eye.  Notice any similar colors, textures, styles, finishes and lines?  These are your style cues - the elements and images that speak to you and tell your personal design story. 

When you have a good sense of what your room should be, you’re ready to start shopping.  Now grab your design story board, take it with you, and refer to it often as you make the design, color and style choices for your new room or new home.  Before long your vision will come to life in a new space, uniquely inspired, designed and created by you! 

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