Best Practices for First Prompts
The first prompt sets the tone for the entire project.
It doesn’t need to be perfect — it needs to be clear, intentional, and open to evolution.
Strong first prompts create momentum without locking you in too early.
Start with Intent, Not Detail
Focus on why the space exists, not how it looks.
Good first prompts describe:
- Purpose
- Context
- Emotional direction
Avoid starting with:
- Exact materials
- Technical constraints
- Highly specific styles
Let those emerge through iteration.
Define the Emotion Early
Emotion anchors all later decisions.
Ask yourself:
- How should this space feel?
- What emotional state should it create?
Even one emotional word is enough:
- Calm
- Tense
- Sacred
- Playful
Emotion provides coherence from the start.
Keep the Space Type Clear
Be explicit about what kind of space you are creating.
Examples:
- Immersive exhibition
- Performance environment
- Wedding ceremony space
- Temporary pavilion
- Hospitality arrival sequence
This helps Scenographist infer scale, circulation, and spatial logic.
Use Natural Language
Write prompts as if you were explaining the idea to a collaborator.
Avoid:
- Overly technical phrasing
- Keyword stacking
- Formulaic syntax
Clear language leads to clearer spaces.
One Idea per Prompt
Early prompts should focus on a single core idea.
Avoid combining:
- Multiple moods
- Conflicting styles
- Unrelated narratives
Clarity beats complexity.
Let Iteration Do the Work
Your first prompt is not a final instruction.
Expect to follow up with:
- “Make it more intimate”
- “Reduce visual noise”
- “Increase verticality”
This is how scenes mature.
Example First Prompt
Example: Immersive exhibition space exploring memory and time, designed to feel quiet and introspective.
Simple. Focused. Enough to begin.
Common First-Prompt Mistakes
- Trying to design everything at once
- Using too many adjectives
- Copying long reference-heavy prompts
- Treating the first output as final
Mental Model
The first prompt opens the door.
Iteration defines the path.
Start simple. Let the space speak back.
