Discover your inner artist: A beginner’s guide to creating bespoke illustrations in Image Creator

Have you ever wanted to create your own illustrations but felt overwhelmed by where to start? No worries! Microsoft Designer’s Image Creator is a perfect way to get your feet wet. Today, I’ll show you how to create beautiful custom illustrations using simple prompts in Image Creator. Whether you’re new to art or just looking for a fun new hobby, you’re in the right place to begin your creative journey.

The anatomy of a prompt

Think of a prompt as a tiny creative nudge, helping you focus your ideas and sparking an initial burst of creativity. They can be anything from a single word or phrase to a detailed description. To keep things simple, use this basic structure to guide your prompts:

Medium: What type of artwork? (e.g., painting, sketch, digital illustration)

Subject: What is the main focus? (e.g., animal, object, person)

Environment: Where is it set? (e.g., forest, city, beach)

Getting started with Microsoft Designer

Microsoft Designer's Image Creator is a user-friendly tool that uses AI to help turn your creative ideas into visual expressions. To get started, head over to Image Creator and sign in using your Microsoft account (if you don’t have one, create one here—it's free and easy!).

Explore the examples in the Explore ideas tab. If you see an image you like, select it to customize the prompt template that created it.

You can also write your illustration prompts from scratch. Let's explore five easy yet engaging prompts to get those creative juices flowing.

Create an abstract illustration

Let’s say I want to come up with something a bit abstract for my mom who loves art. In my prompt, I’ll play with shapes and colors to see what kind of cool patterns and visuals I can come up with.

Prompt:Digital illustration of abstract shapes in a vibrant color palette. The scene is dynamic and playful, emphasizing geometric patterns. Bright lighting and primary colors add to the energetic mood.

Your favorite animal in minimalist style

Think of your favorite animal. Now, try to break it down into the simplest shapes possible. For this example, I’ll go with a panda, one of my niece’s favorite animals.

Prompt:Simple illustration of a panda resting in a bamboo forest. The scene is serene and simple, emphasizing the contrast between black and white. Natural lighting and green hues enhance the setting.

Dream vacation postcard

Where do you dream of visiting? Let’s say it’s the beaches of Hawaii. Draw a simple horizon, add a sun, some waves, and maybe a palm tree or two. Don't be afraid to play around with different elements to make it more personal.

Prompt:Postcard illustration of Hawaii with a beach at sunset. The scene is sunny and with a summer vibe. Warm lighting and pastel colors.

Celebrate the season

Whether you appreciate the crisp magic of fall, the coziness of winter, or the liveliness of spring and summer, seasonal illustrations are inviting and timeless. For a summer-themed illustration, try the prompt below.

Prompt:A vibrant, sun-drenched illustration of a hill in the summertime, with people picnicking on the grass and animals frolicking. Use a rich, warm color palette and include soft rays of sunlight.

Simple cityscape

Cityscapes are another classic. If you want to go minimal, use rectangles for buildings and add triangles for roofs. Play around with the placement and height of the buildings to mimic a real skyline.

Prompt:City silhouette made of rectangles, triangles, and geometric shapes. The background is dark and the foreground is vibrant.

Make it your own!

The best part about using Microsoft Designer is that you can tweak and modify your designs as much as you like. Experiment with different layouts, swap out colors, or adjust shapes until you’re happy with the result. Don’t worry if your first few designs aren’t perfect. There’s no right or wrong here—just endless possibilities to explore.

Enjoy the process, keep experimenting, and create something amazing in Image Creator today!