Imagine can build real products, real fast, but only if you give it the right kind of direction. Most disappointing results don’t come from weak models; they come from fuzzy prompts. Let us show you how to prompt in a way that’s clear to the AI and useful to you, so you spend less time fixing and more time shipping.
In this blog, we will learn the following:
- How to start a prompt so that Imagine understands the real goal
- How to shape style and layout before generation
- How to prompt in chunks for a cleaner UI
- How to increase fidelity with constraints and real content
- How to iterate without breaking what works
- Copy-paste prompt templates you can reuse
1. Start with intent, not features
Imagine is powerful, but it doesn’t replace product thinking. Spend a minute sketching the shape of what you’re building.
Answer four quick questions:
- What are you making?
- Who is it for?
- Why do they care?
- What’s the one thing they should do first?
You’re not writing documentation, you’re sharpening the target. Clear prompts come from clear goals.
Example
Create a one-page landing site for a habit tracker aimed at remote workers. Main CTA: “Build Better Days.” Style should feel optimistic, clean, and lightly playful.
When you lead with intent, Imagine makes fewer assumptions, which means fewer revisions.
2. Give Imagine a style “anchor”
If you don’t set a visual direction early, Imagine will pick one for you. That’s when you get clean-but-generic layouts.
Pick a style anchor and describe it with concrete cues:
- Mood (calm, bold, playful, clinical, etc.)
- Spacing density
- Shape language (sharp vs rounded)
- Typography preference
- Palette behavior (muted, high-contrast, one accent color, etc.)
Example
Style anchor: modern, airy, confident. Large whitespace, soft shadows, rounded 12px corners. Inter or similar sans-serif. Neutral base with a single bright accent.
You can reuse the same anchor across prompts to maintain cohesion.
3. Prompt smaller than you think
Imagine performs best when you treat UI like components, not “pages.” If you ask for too much at once, you get blurry results.
Good approach:
- Prompt the hero
- Refine it
- Prompt the next section
- Repeat
This gives you control and keeps the design consistent.
Example
Create a hero section only.
Left-aligned headline, short subtext, one primary CTA, and a small secondary link.
Right side: product illustration in a rounded frame.
Once it’s right, move on to the next block.
4. Use real content to force a better layout
Placeholder text hides layout problems. Real copy reveals them.
Even if your final wording isn’t ready, use believable draft copy:
- Actual feature names
- Realistic descriptions
- Clear CTAs
- True lengths (short vs long)
Example
Headline: “Plan work without the chaos.” Subtext: “Assign tasks, track progress, and ship with clarity.” CTA: “Create your first project.”
This helps Imagine size things properly and avoids “perfect UI for fake content.”
5. Add constraints like a designer would
Constraints are fuel for sound output. Without them, Imagine has infinite freedom, and freedom often equals randomness.
Useful constraints to include:
- Grid or column behavior
- Number of cards/items
- Alignment rules
- Priority order
- Responsiveness expectations
- Accessibility notes
Example
Use a 12-column grid.
Max width 1100px.
Three feature cards in one row on desktop, stacked on mobile.
Keep titles to one line max.
You’re basically giving it guardrails so it can drive faster.
6. Iterate with targeted edits
When something is close but not right, don’t re-prompt everything. Tell Imagine exactly what to change and what to leave untouched.
Think in deltas:
- Change only spacing
- Change only copy
- Change only card style
- Keep layout and colors stable
Example
Adjust the feature cards only: - reduce shadow strength - increase padding slightly - keep the grid, colors, and typography the same
Targeted edits preserve progress instead of resetting the design.
7. Prompt for real states (not just happy paths)
Most UI breaks in edge cases. Imagine can design them for you if you ask.
Call out the states you need:
- Loading
- Empty
- Error
- Success
- Logged in vs logged out
Example
Include:
1) loading skeletons for the dashboard cards
2) empty state for “no projects yet”
3) error state for failed fetch with retry button
This makes the output feel like a product, not a screenshot.
Reusable prompt templates
Template A: Single component
Component: [name]
Purpose: [why it exists]
Audience: [who uses it]
Layout: [structure + order]
Style anchor: [vibe + cues]
Constraints: [grid, count, responsive rules]
States: [loading/empty/error if relevant]
Ask questions before generating if anything is unclear.
Template B: New screen from scratch
Screen type: [landing / dashboard / onboarding / settings / etc.]
Product: [one sentence]
Audience: [one sentence]
Primary action: [what user should do first]
User journey: [simple flow]
Style anchor: [vibe + cues]
Sections to generate: [list in order]
Constraints + states: [bullet list]
Ask questions before generating.
Wrap-up
If you remember only one thing: Imagine isn’t looking for more words, it’s looking for better signals. Signal comes from intent, style anchors, constraints, and small-scope asks.
Or better yet, try your prompts at Imagine today. Bring a clear idea, shape it step by step, and watch a real app come together faster than you expect.