For Richard Liao, creating a mood board for the first time became more than a creative exercise. It gave him a chance to slow down, clear his mind and translate his love for nature into a personal vision of calm.

“I found it really calming,” Liao told the DAILY TRIBUNE during a Japandi-inspired mood board workshop held on 19 September at Lexus at Mitsukoshi BGC.

Before the creative session began, participants took part in a meditation session — an experience Liao said helped him settle into the activity.

“I found that the meditation session before we started helped me calm my mind and clear my brain,” he said.

Liao was among the guests who joined Lexus Philippines’ “Elevated Wellness: A Pursuit of Sanctuary,” a two-day experience held on 19 and 20 September that explored the relationship between design and well-being.

Through the workshop, participants selected colors, textures, materials and images to create mood boards reflecting their own idea of a calm and intentional lifestyle.

For Liao, the choice of imagery came naturally.

His mood board featured mountains and other nature-inspired elements — a reflection of the activities he enjoys outside the workshop.

“I love nature. I do a lot of hikes. I go for trail runs, swimming and free diving,” he said.

“So, when I saw the postcards that are very nature-inspired, it immediately spoke to me.”

The workshop was led by artist and creative wellness coach Anina Rubio, who guided participants through the process of creating their mood boards after the meditation session.

The activity drew from Japandi, a design approach that brings together Japanese simplicity and Scandinavian warmth. The style commonly emphasizes natural materials, uncluttered spaces, restrained colors and functionality.

Rather than simply learning about the design style, participants were given the opportunity to interpret it through their own preferences and experiences.

For Liao, the invitation was particularly appealing because of the workshop’s focus on mindfulness.

“I was actually just invited to participate, and when I found out it was related to mindfulness and wellness, I immediately said yes,” he said.

The experience also showed how a design activity can become personal. Instead of producing identical compositions, participants built mood boards around the colors, textures and images that resonated with them.

In Liao’s case, that meant turning his connection with the outdoors into a visual representation of what feels restorative to him.

Asked whether he would participate in similar activities again, Liao said he would welcome experiences that allow him to pause from the pace of everyday life.

“Yeah, for sure. Anything that is meant to slow me down and calm my mind, I’m very much open to it,” he said.

That idea lies at the heart of Lexus Philippines’ “Elevated Wellness: A Pursuit of Sanctuary” experience: creating a space — whether physical or visual — that reflects an individual’s own sense of stillness and balance.

For Liao, it took a collection of postcards, textures and images of nature to discover that sense of calm.