Descriptive Words

Use these words to identify the desired mood before the piece takes form. Once you start to settle on form, you can get locked in and become blind to other, potentially better, alternatives. Words are listed in pairs of opposites.

• cool — warm
• conservative — progressive
• stable — dynamic
• traditional — innovative
• calm — energetic
• sophisticated — rough
  
• timeless — trendy
• serious — playful
• formal — casual
• masculine — feminine
• classic — contemporary
• enduring — fresh
  
• subdued — aggressive
• simple — complex
• hard — soft
• geometric — organic
• muted — bright
• sweet — spicy
• dependable — unpredictable
• secure — provocative
• spiritual — scientific
• enlightened — primitive
• natural — engineered
• majestic — humble
• pure — wise
• delicate — robust
• relaxing — exciting
• passionate — clinical
• credible — mysterious
• crisp — lush
• hot — cold