How to Create Stunning Flat Illustrations with AI

Flat illustrations have become hugely popular in graphic design over the past few years. Unlike traditional illustrations which use gradient shading and depth, flat illustrations utilize solid colors, simple geometric shapes, and limited detail to create a clean, modern, two-dimensional look. Brands are turning to flat illustration for everything from website graphics to product packaging because of its minimalist aesthetic.

But creating quality flat illustrations from scratch requires serious graphic design skills. This is where AI illustration generation comes in. New AI image generation tools like Midjourney allow anyone to instantly generate flat illustrations by simply entering a text prompt. All you need is a creative vision – the AI handles the artistic execution.

In this post, I’ll explain what exactly goes into an effective prompt for flat illustrations in AI. You’ll learn prompt elements like style, color direction, level of detail, and composition. I’ll also walk through 15+ examples of prompts for a variety of flat illustration subjects, along with the resulting AI-generated images.

Structure Prompts for Flat Illustrations

When prompting an AI system to generate a flat illustration, the specific words and structure you use make all the difference. Follow these prompt writing tips to get the best results:

Use clear, descriptive language. Don’t leave room for interpretation – describe exactly what you want to see in detail. For example, say “a yellow lemon sliced in half with juice dripping” rather than just “lemon”.

Include the style. Specify that you want a “flat illustration” or “flat design” style. You can also request “minimalist”, “simple”, “geometric” etc. for variation.

Pick 1-2 dominant colors. Set a color tone like “pastel” or “earth tones” rather than defaulting to generic terms like “bright” or “vibrant”.

Define the level of detail. Do you want an “outline” style with no shading? Minimal detail? Or semi-realistic with some texture? Add a descriptor like “simple”, “detail-focused”, or “textured”.

Give compositional direction. Add notes on the angle (“side view”), arrangement (“centered on the canvas”), or composition (“rule of thirds”).

The more guidance you give the AI, the better it can tailor the image to your vision. Let’s look at some examples next.

Here is a draft section with 14 prompt examples for generating flat illustrations:

14 Prompt Examples for Generating Flat Illustrations

Following are some example prompts to create flat AI illustrations. I used Midjourney to generate these images.

Prompt 1

A cute cartoon corgi dog character with a bright blue background in a flat illustration style.

Prompt 2

A flat illustration of a pink dolphin jumping out of turquoise water with a minimalist style.

Prompt 3

An abstract flat illustration of a coffee mug outlined in black on a light brown background.

Prompt 4

A simple flat illustration of a pineapple in an outline style with neon green, yellow, and pink colors.

Prompt 5

A flat design taco with red, orange, and white colors in a geometric minimalist style.

Prompt 6

A flat donut illustration from a front angle with sprinkles in blue, purple, and white.

Prompt 7

A minimalist flat illustration of a trumpet outlined in black on a gray background.

Prompt 8

A low detail flat illustration of a mountain landscape in earth tones.

Prompt 9

A simple purple hot air balloon in a flat cartoon style floating on a soft blue sky background.

Prompt 10

A daisy flower in a flat design with white petals and a yellow centered outlined in black.

Prompt 11

A kawaii peach fruit character with arms and legs in a cute flat illustration style.

Prompt 12

A flat tiger illustration in orange and black with yellow eyes centered on a white background.

Prompt 13

A geometric flat illustrated owl in purple, blue, and turquoise colors.

Prompt 14

A simple flat wave illustration in blue and white in an outline art style.

Optimize Your Prompts

Getting excellent results from AI art generation often requires fine-tuning and optimizing your prompts through trial and error. Here are some tips for perfecting your flat illustration prompts:

• Try multiple variations – change up the wording, reorder descriptors, add/remove details. Compare results.
• Be more opinionated – use words like “beautiful”, “breathtaking”, “stunning” to guide the AI.
• Request iterations if needed – add “make 3 variations” or “show the same scene from 3 different angles.” Choose your favorite.
• Remove ambiguity – eliminate any vague language that could lead to unpredictable results. Be 100% clear.
• Balance brevity with detail – be concise but include enough descriptive detail and context.
• List priorities – tell the AI which elements are absolutely essential to nail vs. optional.
• Try adding emotional tone – inject feeling with words like “cheerful”, “serene”, “magical” etc.
• Leverage the AI’s knowledge – use art history references if relevant, e.g. “in the visual style of Matisse.”

Don’t be afraid to run 20+ iterations to hone your prompt. Curate elements from multiple results. This refinement process will teach you what prompt ingredients work best for you and the AI’s capabilities. Your flat illustration abilities will rapidly improve.

Creating detailed and descriptive prompts is key to generating quality flat illustrations with AI. By now, you should have a good understanding of the key elements that go into an effective prompt:

• Specifying the flat, minimalist illustration style
• Choosing a limited color palette
• Defining the level of detail and textures
• Providing compositional guidance
• Using clear, vivid language to describe exactly what you want

The prompts in this post illustrate a variety of approaches you can take to produce flat illustrations tailored to your needs. Whether you want an abstract geometric style, cute cartoon characters, or simple line art illustrations, the AI can handle it if you provide the right prompt.

I encourage you to experiment with blending and remixing the different prompt elements showcased here. The prompts in this post can serve as templates you can easily adapt. With some practice, you’ll be able to create any flat illustration you can imagine.

The world of AI art generation is rapidly evolving. Who knows what new styles and capabilities will emerge in the months and years to come. But for now, you have a proven process for prompting beautiful, professional flat illustrations that will make your designs stand out. Bring your visions to life with AI!