Choosing the right prompting approach

1. Directive prompting

When precision is important:

This involves giving specific, detailed instructions to the AI when you have a clear and well-defined vision of the outcome you want and allows you to control key aspects of the generation such as subject matter, style, materials, lighting, and context.

By being directive, you're guiding the AI as a tool to execute your vision, rather than leaving room for broad interpretation:

Example:

Scandinavian-style pendant light, natural wood shade, simple conical form, frosted glass diffuser, warm LED light, clean and minimal aesthetic, soft lighting on neutral background

2. Explorative prompting

During early stages of ideation:

Explorative prompting relies on broad, open-ended language to invite the AI to generate a diverse range of creative outcomes. Instead of specifying exact details, you offer general cues like a mood, material, or time period and allow the AI to interpret and build upon them. This method helps surface unexpected ideas, push beyond familiar patterns, and experiment with how different types of input affect the final result.

Example:

innovative pendant light concept, frosted plexiglas enclosure, contemporary design, bright colors

3. Chain prompting

For intentional design iteration

Chain prompting involves making systematic, incremental changes to a prompt in order to explore variations or gradually refine results. This method allows you to tweak one element at a time, such as material, lighting, or style to observe how each change influences the output. It’s particularly effective when honing a concept, comparing alternatives, or identifying the most successful direction. By treating prompting as a step-by-step process, chain prompting transforms exploration into a structured and repeatable design strategy.

This involves making systematic, incremental changes to explore variations or refine results:

1. Start with a base prompt that captures your core concept

2. Change one element at a time (material, lighting, style, etc.)

3. Observe how each change affects the output

4. Build on promising directions

Example:

Base Prompt:
Modern rolling luggage, hard-shell body, matte black finish, 360° spinner wheels, telescopic aluminum handle, product photography on white background

Prompt 1 — Material Variation:
Modern rolling luggage, [hard-shell brushed aluminum body], matte black finish, 360° spinner wheels, telescopic aluminum handle, product photography on white background

Prompt 2 — Color Change:
Modern rolling luggage, hard-shell polycarbonate body, [deep red finish], 360° spinner wheels, telescopic aluminum handle, product photography on white background

Prompt 3 — Lighting Context Change:
Modern rolling luggage, hard-shell polycarbonate body, deep red finish, 360° spinner wheels, telescopic aluminum handle, studio lighting with pink shadows, white background

Prompt 4 — Style Influence:
Modern rolling luggage, hard-shell polycarbonate body, deep red finish, 360° spinner wheels, telescopic aluminum handle, inspired by minimalist Japanese design, studio lighting with pink shadows,product photography on white background