Prompt guide
A well-crafted prompt is the difference between a vague output and a credible architectural visual. Here is how to frame your instructions so the AI understands exactly what you have in mind.
What is a prompt?
A prompt is the instruction you give the AI to describe the visual you want it to generate. It is how you communicate an intention: the clearer it is, the closer the result comes to what you envisioned.
A prompt guides the AI on:
- building type
- architectural style
- concept
- mood
- lighting
- materials
- visual context
- important details
Good prompts, bad prompts
Good example
villa, modern architecture, golden light, stone façade, floor-to-ceiling glazing
Why it works: concise, clear, precise, visual, and directly usable by the AI.
| Element | Role |
|---|---|
| villa | building type |
| modern architecture | architectural style |
| golden light | lighting / mood |
| stone façade | primary material |
| floor-to-ceiling glazing | architectural feature |
What to avoid
Draw me the villa please
Too vague: no style, material, lighting or context.
I want a beautiful design
Too subjective: 'beautiful' gives the AI no visual direction whatsoever.
As a designer, I need the villa to follow a concept emphasising a minimal and warm aesthetic, in order to present a clear and concise architectural vision.
Too verbose and abstract: a general intention, not a concrete description.
In short, a poor prompt tends to be vague, subjective, overly long, abstract, and insufficiently visual or specific.
How to write good prompts
01
Start with simple keywords
No need for a long sentence: precise, visual keywords are enough. Define the building type, style, context, mood, lighting and materials.
civic building, parametric design, city center, daylight
02
Be clear and specific
State directly what you want to achieve. Avoid vague or redundant phrasing: an overly wordy prompt dilutes the intention.
03
Describe what you want, not what you don't
Describe what you want to see, not what you want to avoid. To exclude an element, describe the desired alternative instead: rather than 'no straight lines', write 'curved, fluid forms'.
04
Iterate and refine
A good prompt is often built over several attempts: write, generate, observe, adjust what isn't working, and try again.
05
Adapt your prompts to the tool
Each tool has its strengths. Focus on what truly matters for your visual and stay concrete: you will get results that are far more faithful.
Tip: Order from general to specific: type → style → materials → lighting → framing.
Keyword bank
Ready-to-use keywords to combine in your prompts.
Materials
Mood & lighting
Framing & viewpoint
Pro tip
Prompting is an art of experimentation. The more phrasing you test, the better you understand how the tool interprets your words, and the more accurate your visuals become. Keep your best prompts to hand: they become your personal library.