Exercise

InDesign Mood Board 




Assigned: Class 15 (October 22)
Due: Class 16 (October 27)

Learning Goals

This exercise builds InDesign competency through practical application of layout principles. Students practice working with grids, managing multiple design elements (images, typography, color), and developing systematic iteration skills.

Instructions

Part 1: Mood Board Content Research and CollectionBefore opening InDesign, gather your materials based on your visual interest: This is your opportunity to explore what genuinely interests you visually. What aesthetic are you drawn to? What visual culture fascinates you? What do you want to spend time looking at and arranging? This could be:
  • A music genre or subculture you love
  • A design movement or style that inspires you
  • A specific photographer, illustrator, or artist whose work resonates
  • A place, time period, or cultural context you find compelling
  • An aesthetic you want to understand better through curation
  • Anything that excites you visually and makes you want to explore deeper

Required Content Elements:
  1. Title: Create a 2-4 word title for your mood board that captures your visual interest
  2. 5 Images: Collect at least 5 high-quality images that represent your aesthetic exploration
    • Save images to a dedicated project folder on your computer
    • Ensure images are at least 1000px on the shortest side
    • Can include any mix of photography, illustration, or graphic elements
  3. 2 Typefaces: Select 2 contrasting typefaces from Adobe Fonts that go with your title and images
    • One for your title/headlines
    • One for any supporting text or labels
  4. 3+ Colors: Define your palette using specific color values
    • Document HEX codes or RGB values for each color
    • Consider using Adobe Color (color.adobe.com) to create a cohesive palette
    • Consider extracting the colors from one of your images
Part 2: InDesign Document Setup
Create Your Document:
  1. Open InDesign and create a New Document
  2. Settings:
    • Size: Letter (8.5" × 11")
    • Orientation: Your choice (portrait or landscape—consider which works best for your content)
    • Margins: 0.5 inches on all sides
    • Pages: 5 (you'll create one design per page)
    • Facing Pages: UNCHECK this option

Set Up Your Parent Page Grid:
  1. Double-click A-Parent in the Pages panel
  2. Go to Layout → Create Guides
  3. Create a grid system to organize your content:
  4. This grid will appear on all pages and help you align elements consistently

Part 3: Design Iteration Process
Create 5 different layout variations of your mood board, one per page.

Your Goal: Explore different ways to organize and present your visual content. Each iteration should feel distinctly different from the others. Push yourself to try approaches that feel unfamiliar or unexpected.

As you create your iterations, consider exploring and experimenting with these layout concepts:
  • Balance: Symmetrical arrangements vs. asymmetrical compositions
  • Scale: Dramatic size differences between elements, or more uniform sizing
  • Grid Alignment: Strict adherence to your grid vs. intentional rule-breaking
  • Hierarchy: What draws the eye first? How do you control viewing order?
  • Figure/Ground Relationships: How do images and text interact with negative space?
  • Overlap and Layering: Elements contained separately vs. overlapping and interacting
  • Text Treatment: Typography as the dominant element vs. supporting role
  • Image Dominance: One large hero image vs. grid of equal images vs. collage approach
  • Color Application: Bold color blocks vs. subtle accents vs. image-only compositions
  • Edge Relationships: Bleeding off the page vs. contained within margins

Approach Each Iteration Differently:
  • Don't make all 5 iterations minor variations of the same idea
  • If one feels safe and comfortable, the next should challenge you - take creative risks!
  • Try at least one iteration that feels "wrong" or uncomfortable—that's where learning happens
  • Use the grid as a foundation, but don't be afraid to break it intentionally


Technical Requirements for Each Page Every iteration must include:
  1. Title
    • Set in your chosen headline typeface
    • Experiment with size, position, and treatment across iterations
  2. 5+ Images
    • Use File → Place to link images (or drag and drop from desktop)
    • Use the Selection Tool (V) to move image frames
    • Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to adjust image content within frames
    • Remember: Frame vs. Content—you can resize the frame separately from the image inside
  3. Color Application
    • Apply your 3+ colors through:
      • Background fills on shapes
      • Text color
      • Frame fills behind images
    • Use the Swatches panel to create and save your colors
  4. Shape Elements
    • Include at least 1-2 geometric shapes (rectangles, circles, etc.)
    • Use shapes to create color blocks, frames, or compositional elements

Grid Usage:
  • Reference your Parent Page guides to align elements
  • You can break the grid, but should use it as your organizational foundation
  • Experiment with how elements align or intentionally break alignment

Submission


Upload your work to the InDesign Mood Board Exercise Figma file in your designated frame:
  1. Export Process:
    • In InDesign: File → Export
    • Format: PNG
    • Settings: High Quality (300 PPI)
    • Export every page
    • DO NOT UPLOAD SCREENSHOTS!!
  2. Upload to Figma:
    • Create a 5-column layout in your frame in Figma
    • Place one iteration per column
    • Label each iteration (Iteration 1, Iteration 2, etc.)
  3. Include Brief Annotations:
    • 1-2 sentences under each iteration explaining your design approach
    • Note which iteration you feel is strongest and why

InDesign File

Save your InDesign file as: lastname_firstname_moodboard.indd
Keep this file—you may reference these layouts when developing your Conference Poster.

Today is

Prof. Jesse Seegers
NYU | Tandon | TCS | IDMDM-UY 1123 INETFall 2025
Mondays & Wednesdays 8am-9:50am EST