> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.philmorton.co/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # A style guide for generating concept designs with AI - URL: https://www.philmorton.co/a-style-guide-for-generating-concept-designs-with-ai/ - Published: 2025-09-30T09:50:39.000Z - Updated: 2025-09-30T09:50:38.000Z - Description: Part 2, following on from last week’s guide to using ChatGPT/Sora for creating storyboards, early-stage concepts and research stimulus. - Author: Phil Morton - Tags: Product design, AI 💡 There are a lot of images in this week’s newsletter, so it might be easier to view on a larger screen. [Last week](https://www.philmorton.co/how-to-prompt-ai-to-generate-images-for-concept-design/), we looked at how to prompt AI to **generate images for concept designs, storyboards and research stimulus**. To reiterate, there are two core elements to any image prompt: - **The scene:** *What* is being shown in the image, e.g. a woman looks at her phone on a train - **Visual style:** *How* the image should look, e.g. a watercolour or sketch. This week, I’ll share **a selection of visual styles that you can use in your prompts**, so you can skip the time consuming trail-and-error in finding one that works. ## Scene prompts Below, I’ll share the same scenes with different styles. For reference, the first parts of each prompt are: > *A wide-angle shot of a railway station.* > *A woman in her mid-30s is standing on a railway station platform, using a smartphone.* > *A close-up of a smartphone, which fills most of the image. It is held in one hand by an adult. The smartphone screen shows train times. The UI is a blocky concept wireframe with no detail and no text. In the background, there is a railway station platform. We only see one of the user’s hands holding the phone.* **To replicate any image**, take the first part (above) and add the style (below). ## Black and white illustration > *Minimalist black-and-white grayscale illustration with clean, precise linework and smooth tonal shading. Fewer sketch lines, with a flatter, more elegant aesthetic. Rendered like a concept illustration — calm, modern, and sophisticated, with natural light and subtle depth. Not cartoonish, but polished and design-focused. No text or writing in the scene.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250909_1720_Elegant-Station-Illustration_simple_compose_01k4qmd4d0eh6vjct08r3vc31b.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250909_1223_Modern-Commuter-Elegance_simple_compose_01k4q3dha9fmptwj68ahjthn5y.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250909_1722_Sleek-Train-Schedule-Display_simple_compose_01k4qmh382f1vrhsastmz8pya1.png) ## Sharpie > *Minimal sharpie pen style. Black and white with thick outlines and block shading. Not too detailed.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250909_1726_Minimalist-Railway-Station_simple_compose_01k4qmrc7fezevtzs7b94em75t.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250909_1727_Woman-at-Train-Station_simple_compose_01k4qmtefsf3b9qz448rasxada.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250909_1728_Smartphone-at-Station_simple_compose_01k4qmx77afjq80gz0s0e6g6x1.png) ## Sketchnote > *Sketchnote style with hand-drawn black ink lines, uneven strokes, doodle-like forms, simple icons, and plenty of white space.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250918_1710_Sketchnote-Railway-Station_simple_compose_01k5esce1zescrbcjfh165dxax.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250918_1707_Woman-at-Station-Sketchnote_simple_compose_01k5es853bf6fb3838psm2vz74.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250918_1713_Train-Schedule-Sketchnote_simple_compose_01k5esgq2cfknak4y9gw6dgcke.png) ## Pencil sketch > *Pencil sketch style with light graphite shading, soft lines, and visible pencil strokes. Minimal detail, loose and informal.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250918_1425_Railway-Station-Sketch_simple_compose_01k5efz6a2ew0s4pz4htcpzvcm.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250918_0932_Woman-on-Railway-Platform_simple_compose_01k5dz6d2hf6zs90skeffprdx4.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250918_1426_Smartphone-Train-Schedule-Sketch_simple_compose_01k5eg12tne68tqd6r5harhfh6.png) ## Character design > *Simplified character design style with flat shading and clean lines. No outlines.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/assets-task_01k4sh6sx7ertbx84aqxrr4r5g-1757498606_img_1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/assets-task_01k4sh1e1ffy2sm9rzj4tjhtx2-1757498431_img_1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/assets-task_01k4shfgemf0v8y1va6j6y5js2-1757498848_img_1.webp) Note that on this one, the colours are not consistent because we haven't specified a palette. ## Isometric vector illustration > *Isometric vector illustration at a consistent grid angle, flat colours with restrained shading, clean edges and controlled depth cues. Minimal background clutter, limited palette. No text.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250910_1139_Isometric-Railway-Station_simple_compose_01k4skajwjfm19t94623cpgn99.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250910_1136_Woman-on-Platform_simple_compose_01k4sk405qemyr47amr7fc3pgx.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/09/20250910_1140_Smartphone-Train-Times_simple_compose_01k4skca9wetttk8fk64qkptcy.png) Hopefully having this selection of visual styles will give you a better starting point for creating your own images. Have you used another style that’s worked well? Another one I should add? [Let me know on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipsamorton/?ref=philmorton.co). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/32/f8/32f8d7f6-bab3-4cc4-8608-ddbeeef397cc/content/images/2025/03/IMG_1179.jpeg) ## Sign up for Desk Notes My free, weekly(ish) newsletter where I share insights about product design, research and leadership. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Check your email for the confirmation link (might end up in spam/junk).