Prompt Skill Building
Building a prompt vocabulary
Building prompt fluency through visual analysis and practice

How to build a prompt library
Effective prompters don't just guess their way through the process. They develop a working language over time. This "prompt vocabulary" is a collection of keywords, descriptors, and references that consistently produce strong results. Like any design skill, good prompting takes practice, experimentation, and reflection.
Here are some key categories to build out as you develop your own prompting system:
Material Descriptors
These define how your object looks and feels on the surface.
Examples: brushed aluminum
, distressed leather
, frosted glass
, matte ceramic
, polished stone
TIP: Try pairing material descriptors with specific forms to see how they influence the output. For example, folding knife with carbon fiber handle
will generate very different results than folding knife with wood inlay
.
Style References
These describe the aesthetic or historical context of your design.
Examples: Scandinavian minimalism
, Memphis-inspired
, mid-century modern
, industrial aesthetic
, Art Deco
Use these references to guide the AI toward a visual language.
TIP: If you’re unsure what style terms to use, look into design movements, furniture catalogues, or curated design platforms to discover relevant language.
Rendering Approaches
These control how the final image is visualized.
Examples: product photography
, technical illustration
, hand-drawn sketch
, conceptual rendering
, photorealistic rendering
Experimenting with these terms can shift the tone of the output significantly, from presentation-ready visuals to early-stage conceptual ideas.
Environmental Settings
These establish the context in which your design appears.
Examples: studio lighting
, natural outdoor lighting
, exhibition space
, retail display
, on-body fashion photo
Lighting and background heavily influence the tone and readability of your render. Try rendering the same object in different environments to see how perception changes.

Practical Tips for Learning How to Prompt Better
1. Keep a Prompt Journal
Use a sketchbook or digital notebook to document your design process.
Pair each sketch with the prompt you used and the resulting image.
Write down what worked, what didn’t, and which terms gave you unexpected or useful results.
Over time, this will become a valuable reference tool.
2. Test Variations Intentionally
Choose one object, such as a bag, chair, or light fixture, and sketch it once.
Write three different prompts using varied materials, styles, or environments.
Compare the outputs and make note of what changed.
This helps you understand how different terms influence the results.
3. Gather Inspiration from Design Platforms
Explore sites like Pinterest, Behance, or design-focused blogs to see how professionals describe their work. Pay attention to material names, aesthetic terms, and lighting language. Then incorporate those references into your own prompt experiments.
Here are some websites you might reference for design inspiration:
Website | Focus / Use Case |
---|---|
Multi-disciplinary portfolios (product, fashion, UX, illustration, architecture) | |
Moodboards, aesthetic inspiration, material and style references | |
UI, product mockups, stylized graphics, clean presentation techniques | |
Experimental design, architecture, product innovations | |
Architecture, product design, materials, and contemporary aesthetics | |
Industrial design news, tools, and student/professional case studies | |
Packaging design, sustainability, color palettes, and branding | |
Industrial and transportation design, sketching, materials, and forms | |
Architectural reference, environmental context, material combinations | |
High-aesthetic graphic, branding, product, and motion design | |
Trend forecasting in fashion, art, interiors, and design culture | |
Web and interactive design, layout inspiration, and typographic styles | |
Curated visual content from across art and design disciplines | |
Conceptual product design, speculative tech, and futuristic everyday objects | |
Portfolios for creative professionals, often experimental or self-initiated projects | |
Contemporary design, culture, and creative storytelling across media | |
Minimalist design in fashion, architecture, and product; great for style keywords | |
Design news, marketing, pop culture, and visual commentary |
4. Build a Word Bank of Proven Terms
Keep a running list of terms and phrases that consistently give you good results. Organize these by category, such as materials, styles, lighting, or environments, so you can quickly reference them when building prompts in the future.
5. Study Reference Imagery Critically
When you encounter a compelling render or photo (whether AI-generated or not), try writing the prompt that could have created it. Ask yourself: what materials, lighting, and camera angles are present? This sharpens your ability to describe visuals with precision.
6. Collaborate and Compare
Work with classmates or friends by sketching the same object and writing different prompts for it. Share your results and discuss how language changed the outcomes. Comparing interpretations is a great way to learn new vocabulary and see diverse prompting strategies.
Learning by Doing
Prompting is not just a technical step. It is a form of creative communication that connects your ideas to visual form. The more you integrate it into your design workflow, sketch, prompt, review, refine, the more confident and expressive you will become. With consistent practice, you will develop a personal prompting style that reflects your design sensibility and creative direction.