Sergio is a specialist in generative AI and technology, and leads the Redraw development team.
AI Prompt Guide for Concept Diagrams and Architectural Boards
AI prompts for concept diagrams, solar analysis, urban diagrams, and A1 board layouts for competitions.
6 min
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06.05.2026
Sergio is a specialist in generative AI and technology, and leads the Redraw development team.
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Why diagrams and presentation boards make the difference
Concept diagrams and architectural presentation boards are the representations that show the reasoning behind the project, not just the outcome. They make the difference in competitions, juries, academic presentations, and high-level professional portfolios.
With AI, you can generate concept diagrams, solar/ventilation analyses, urban diagrams, and even complete board layouts in minutes. The prompts in this guide cover all those cases with precision and control.
Before the prompts: why you don't need them in Redraw
Architects shouldn't need to learn machine language to generate professional representation. That premise guided how Redraw was built.
Instead of writing warm late-afternoon natural light, long shadows entering from the side, in Redraw you click “Sunset”.
Atmosphere & Mood in Redraw: lighting in one click, no long prompt.
Instead of describing suburban residential street with visible neighbors in the background, you select the scene directly in the visual interface.
Environment Selection in Redraw: scene in one click, no text description.
Every choice you'd make in a long prompt, lighting, environment, style, camera, becomes a click. And because Redraw was trained exclusively for architecture, the model already “understands” the project context without you having to explain.
“In Redraw, the less prompt users write, the better the results.”
For diagrams and board layouts, the prompts in this guide remain the most efficient path, Redraw specializes in the photorealistic renders that go inside the board. The ideal combo: diagrams and boards with prompts + renders and perspectives with Redraw = complete presentation in minutes.
Comparison: text prompts vs. visual interface
| Feature | Text-Prompt Tools | Redraw |
|---|---|---|
| Prompt complexity | High, requires technical, long structure | Low, natural and simple language |
| Lighting control | Based on technical text | Based on visual clicks (Atmosphere & Mood) |
| Environment control | Based on descriptive text | Based on visual clicks (Environment Selection) |
| Fidelity to 3D project | Variable, depends on reference and prompt | High, processes the model geometry directly |
| Consistency between generations | Low | High |
| User focus | Learning to command the AI | Describing the architectural vision |
| Learning curve | Steep | Fast and intuitive |
| Time per render | High (prompt + tweaking + post-production) | Low (20–40 seconds, publishable result) |
PART 1, CONCEPT DIAGRAMS
PROMPT 1, Automatic concept diagram generator
One of the most sophisticated prompts in the library. It instructs the AI to analyze the project's final massing and automatically derive a logical diagram sequence explaining how that form was generated.
What it produces: a sequence of 5 to 7 isometric/axonometric diagrams showing the formal evolution of the project, from initial mass to subtractions, additions, and final configuration.
When to use: Competition boards, jury presentations, portfolios with conceptual rigor. Concept diagrams are mandatory in any presentation that needs to explain why the project has the form it has.
Prerequisite: have an image of the project's final 3D massing (can be a simple render, SketchUp, photographed physical model).
The prompt:
Use the uploaded image strictly as the FINAL architectural massing reference. You must perform a geometric and spatial analysis of the final volumetry before generating any diagrams. Do NOT redesign, reinterpret, modify proportions, change geometry, adjust scale, or alter the architectural language of the final form. The final stage must be an EXACT volumetric match of the uploaded massing. STEP 1, MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS (internal reasoning): Analyze the final massing and identify: Primary geometric primitive (rectangular block, L-shape, U-shape, courtyard block, fragmented bars, rotated volume, etc.) • Volumetric operations: Subtractions, Additions, Extrusions, Rotations, Offsets, Hierarchy, Fragmentation • Presence of: Setbacks, Internal voids, Courtyards, Overhangs, Directional elongation, Axial alignment. Derive a logical and architecturally coherent transformation sequence that plausibly generates the final form. All intermediate steps must geometrically and causally lead to the final configuration. STEP 2, GENERATE DIAGRAM SEQUENCE: Create 5 to 7 clean conceptual architectural diagrams explaining the formal evolution of the project. The sequence must include: Site + Initial Pure Mass • Solar Strategy • Ventilation Strategy • Volumetric Subtractions • Articulation / Fragmentation • Final Configuration. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT (MANDATORY): All visible text inside the generated image MUST be written in Brazilian Portuguese. This includes: Titles, Subtitles, Diagram captions, Labels, Explanatory text, Step numbers descriptions. Do NOT use English in any visible graphic text. Use proper Brazilian architectural terminology (e.g., Implantação, Estratégia Solar, Ventilação Cruzada, Subtrações Volumétricas, Configuração Final, etc.). RULES: The final configuration must exactly match the uploaded volumetry. Do not invent architectural elements that are not present. Maintain proportional consistency between all stages. VISUAL STYLE: Isometric or axonometric projection • Pure diagrammatic style • No textures • No photorealism • Soft neutral pastel palette • Light background • Thin line weights • Minimal soft shadows only for volumetric clarity • Professional architectural competition board aesthetic • Balanced composition with white margins. GRAPHIC LANGUAGE: Sun path represented by a soft arc diagram • Wind shown with subtle curved directional arrows • Subtractions represented by dashed or transparent ghost volumes • Final massing in solid tone • Base platform indicating the site. OUTPUT REQUIREMENT: High resolution. Clean layout. Clear diagram hierarchy. Minimalist architectural presentation.
What sets this prompt apart:
- The internal morphological analysis (Step 1) makes the AI reason about the project before generating, the result is logically coherent, not invented
- “All visible text MUST be written in Brazilian Portuguese”, result is immediately usable in boards with no text post-editing (swap the language to suit your locale)
- The visual hierarchy (ghost volumes for subtractions, solid for final configuration) is the standard language of international competition diagrams
Result, Generated with Redraw
PROMPT 2, Solar and ventilation analysis
When to use: Complement to the concept diagram. Where Prompt 1 shows the formal evolution, this shows the environmental strategies that justify the formal decisions.
The prompt:
Use the attached image as base reference. Create an architectural environmental analysis diagram based strictly on the provided volumetric model. Preserve 100% of the original architecture, geometry, proportions, openings, roof shape and perspective. Do NOT modify, redesign, reinterpret, simplify or alter any element of the project. The building must remain exactly as provided. Generate a clean conceptual diagram illustrating: Solar incidence (ensolação) • Sun path direction • Light exposure areas • Prevailing wind direction • Natural ventilation flow. Representation guidelines: Use soft translucent overlays to indicate sunlight • Use subtle warm gradient tones (yellow / orange) for solar impact • Use smooth curved arrows for wind flow (blue tones) • Maintain a minimal and elegant architectural diagram style • Keep a light neutral background • Do not exaggerate graphic elements • The architecture must remain the main focus. Text and labels must be written in Brazilian Portuguese only. Include labels such as: • Insolação • Ventos predominantes • Ventilação natural • Incidência solar • Norte. High-resolution architectural presentation quality. Clean, competition-level diagram aesthetic.
What sets this prompt apart:
- Warm gradients (yellow/orange) for solar incidence, soft curved blue arrows for ventilation, the standard visual language of competition environmental diagrams
- “Do not exaggerate graphic elements”, prevents giant arrows and heavy overlays from visually dominating the diagram
- All labels in Portuguese (swap to your locale as needed), ready to use
Result, Generated with Redraw
PROMPT 3, Conceptual urban diagram (full surroundings)
When to use: Projects in urban context where you need to show circulation flows, access points, green areas, and urban connections around the lot/block. Heavily used in site plan boards and urbanism projects.
The prompt:
Use the uploaded image strictly as the base volumetric reference. The uploaded model contains only the white architectural massing. You must preserve 100% of the original building volumes, geometry, proportions, scale and perspective. Do NOT modify, redesign, reinterpret, subtract, add or distort the architectural masses in any way. The buildings must remain exactly as provided. OBJECTIVE: Transform the simple white volumetry into a complete conceptual urban architectural diagram. ADD THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS: Urban Context: Surrounding streets around the block • Sidewalks • Street names (in Brazilian Portuguese) • Subtle lot demarcations • Clean urban grid indication. Central Landscape / Open Space: Organic pedestrian paths crossing the site • Green areas with soft shapes • Trees distributed naturally • Small plazas or gathering areas. Circulation and Flow Diagrams: Add conceptual arrows indicating: Pedestrian flow • Main access points • Secondary access • Urban connections • Possible vehicular flow. Use: Warm orange arrows for main flows • Thinner arrows for secondary paths • Soft shadows under arrows for depth • Slight transparency. Graphic Style: Architectural conceptual diagram aesthetic • White buildings (clean, no texture) • Soft pastel ground tones • Minimal color palette • Thin linework • Subtle shadows for depth • Light neutral background • Slight isometric or axonometric perspective • Professional competition board style. TEXT (MANDATORY: BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE): Include subtle labels such as: Fluxo principal • Fluxo secundário • Acesso principal • Acesso de serviço • Área verde • Conexão urbana • Rua. IMPORTANT RULES: Architecture must remain the visual anchor. Do not exaggerate graphic elements. Vegetation must be simplified and diagrammatic. Maintain visual hierarchy.
💡 How to adapt: The prompt uses the massing as a fixed reference. You can send a simple SketchUp model exported as an image, it doesn't need to be a final render.
Result, Generated with Redraw
PROMPT 4, Conceptual site plan with frontal streets
When to use: Variation of the urban diagram for when the focus is the project's relationship with the front streets, corners, main accesses, connection with the frontal public space.
The prompt:
Use the uploaded image strictly as the base volumetric reference. The uploaded image contains only the white architectural massing. You must preserve 100% of the original volumes, geometry, proportions, scale and perspective. Do NOT modify, redesign, reinterpret, subtract, add or distort any architectural element. The buildings must remain exactly as provided. OBJECTIVE: Transform the white volumetry into a clean conceptual urban diagram by adding only frontal street context and landscape organization. URBAN CONTEXT RULE, Very Important: Add streets ONLY in the FRONT portion of the composition. Create two perpendicular streets crossing in front of the site (forming a corner or cross intersection). Do NOT add any streets behind the buildings. The back portion must remain clean and minimal. The frontal streets must feel integrated and proportional to the building scale. ADD THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS: Front Urban Streets: Two perpendicular streets crossing in front of the site • Sidewalks • Subtle curbs • Optional crosswalk markings (minimal) • Street names in Brazilian Portuguese. Central Landscape / Open Space: Organic pedestrian paths within the site • Trees in diagrammatic style • Soft green areas • Small plaza or gathering node if balanced. Circulation and Flow: Add conceptual arrows indicating: Fluxo principal • Fluxo secundário • Acesso principal • Conexão urbana. Use: Warm orange arrows for main flows • Thinner arrows for secondary flows • Soft drop shadows • Slight transparency. GRAPHIC STYLE: Architectural competition diagram aesthetic • White massing volumes (no texture) • Soft pastel ground tones • Thin linework • Minimal color palette • Light neutral background • Slight axonometric or isometric perspective. TEXT (MANDATORY: BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE): Include: Fluxo principal • Fluxo secundário • Acesso principal • Área verde • Rua • Conexão urbana. Modern, clean sans-serif typography.
Difference from Prompt 3: while the full urban diagram shows the entire block context, this one focuses only on the frontal relationship, cleaner and more direct for projects where the main access is the most relevant element of the site plan.
Result, Generated with Redraw
PART 2, ARCHITECTURAL BOARDS
PROMPT 5, A1 vertical board (Style 01)
When to use: Competition or portfolio boards with clean layout and clear hierarchy, main render on top, plans and sections in the middle, sections at the base.
What it generates: complete A1 vertical board layout with typographic hierarchy, organized grid, and a neutral/warm tonal palette.
How to use: send the project images along with the prompt. The AI will compose the layout using the provided elements.
The prompt:
Create a professional architectural presentation board layout in A1 vertical format (portrait orientation). Background: clean white or very soft warm off-white. TOP SECTION (upper 50% of the board): Large hero architectural render (provided image) centered and occupying the full width. Maintain clean margins around the image. TITLE AREA: Large elegant serif typography for the project name at the top center. Subtitle in small uppercase sans-serif below it. Refined and minimal typographic hierarchy. MIDDLE SECTION (organized grid layout): Left side: project description text block with justified alignment. Center: site plan and masterplan drawings aligned symmetrically. Include light lineweights and minimal annotations. Right side: secondary perspective render. Add minimal technical diagrams in thin olive-green line style. BOTTOM SECTION: Long horizontal architectural sections spanning the width of the board. Light grayscale linework with subtle shadows. Small human scale figures in soft neutral tones. GRAPHIC STYLE: Architectural competition board aesthetic. Soft muted color palette inspired by warm neutrals, beige concrete tones, and subtle olive green accents. Thin grid-based layout structure. Balanced white space. Clean margins. Professional composition. Refined minimal contemporary presentation. Print-ready, high resolution, 300 dpi, architectural board layout.
Result, Generated with Redraw
PROMPT 6, A1 vertical board (Style 02)
When to use: Boards with European competition aesthetic, more editorial composition, generous spacing, conceptual diagrams integrated into the layout, materials and plans together.
The prompt:
Create a professional architectural presentation board in A1 vertical format (portrait orientation), inspired by European competition boards and editorial architectural publications. Background: Soft warm off-white with very subtle paper texture, minimal grain, natural matte finish. Overall layout: Balanced but slightly organic composition. Elegant editorial spacing. Thin grid alignment but not rigid. Generous white margins. Clear hierarchy between text, diagrams, plans, and renders. TOP SECTION: Large project title in elegant serif typography. Subtitle in small uppercase sans-serif. Below the title: conceptual text block aligned to the left. Include: Small conceptual diagrams in thin light-gray linework. Minimal iconography in circular outline style. Concept evolution diagrams (old vs new, massing progression, relationships). UPPER RIGHT AREA: Large atmospheric perspective render. Soft daylight, diffused lighting. Natural vegetation. Subtle shadows. Editorial architectural visualization style. MIDDLE SECTION: Large humanized site plan with muted vegetation tones. Soft green landscaping. Desaturated palette. Light shadows under trees. Thin annotations. Include: Material palette circles (concrete, brick, wood, gravel). Small diagrammatic plans (ground floor, upper floor). Scale indication (1:500, 1:200). LOWER SECTION: Horizontal architectural sections across the width. Light grayscale linework. Subtle poche. Small neutral human silhouettes. BOTTOM STRIP: 2 to 4 smaller renders aligned in a clean grid. Soft atmospheric perspective. Balanced exposure. Natural color grading. GRAPHIC STYLE: Architectural competition aesthetic. Editorial European layout. Muted neutral palette: warm beige, soft olive green, dusty brick, light concrete gray. No saturated colors. No harsh contrast. No heavy black lines. Drawing style: Thin lineweights. Soft shadows. Subtle depth layering. Minimal annotations. Mood: Calm, refined, sophisticated, contemporary. Print-ready. 300 dpi. High resolution.
Result, Generated with Redraw
Tips for using the board prompts
Send elements separately: The AI composes better when it receives renders, plans, and sections as separate images that it organizes into the layout, instead of trying to extract elements from a composite image.
Specify the project name: Add to the prompt: “Project name: [project name]. Subtitle: [type/location].”
Custom palette: If your project has a defined visual identity, add: “Use [color] as the primary accent color throughout the board.”
Output format: The AI will generate an image of the layout. For later editing in Illustrator or InDesign, you can use the image as a composition reference and recreate the layout with the original files.
AI change control system
Use these complementary prompts when the AI alters elements that it shouldn't in your diagrams or boards.
Total change lock
Preserve 100% of the original architecture, layout, furniture placement, materials, colors, textures, decorative elements, proportions, lighting positions, and camera angle. Strictly forbid adding, removing, replacing, resizing, repositioning, or redesigning any element. The purpose of this transformation is ONLY to enhance realism, lighting behavior, and material response without altering the original design in any way.
Lighting design respect
Preserve the original lighting design exactly as shown in the image. Do not add new light sources, remove existing lights, or modify lighting positions. Only enhance realism through natural light diffusion, realistic light bounce, soft shadow transitions, and accurate material interaction with existing lighting.
Material protection
Preserve all original materials and textures exactly as shown. Do not replace, reinterpret, or stylize materials. Enhance realism only through improved surface detailing, micro imperfections, and physically accurate light response.
Enhance natural lighting without altering the project
Use the uploaded image strictly as the ONLY architectural reference. The architecture and scene composition are completely locked. Preserve 100% of the original: Architecture • Walls and openings • Furniture placement • Materials and colors • Textures • Layout and proportions. Enhance the scene by making natural daylight more predominant and realistic. The project must remain 100% identical to the original image. Only the lighting quality and natural daylight intensity may be improved. Ultra realistic architectural photography, high dynamic range, 8K detail.
Which AI to use for diagrams and boards?
For concept diagrams, environmental analyses, and board layouts, text-based AI image generation tools with the prompts in this guide are the most efficient workflow available, the AI reads the massing and generates the diagram in minutes.
For the renders inside the board, exterior perspectives, interior renders, facades, Redraw is the most direct and project-faithful tool. You don't need long prompts: upload the model (SketchUp, Archicad, Revit, Rhino, 3DS), pick the style and environment in clicks, and the render comes out in 20 to 40 seconds.
Inside Redraw you also access ChatGPT to write the conceptual text of the board and Nano Banana to generate project presentation videos, all in a single hub, no multiple subscriptions.
The complete flow for a competition board
- Concept diagrams → generated with Prompt 1 from this guide
- Solar/ventilation analysis → Prompt 2
- Perspective and facade renders → Redraw (20-40 seconds each)
- Humanized floor plans → prompts from the Humanized Floor Plans guide
- Conceptual text → ChatGPT integrated in Redraw
- Final layout → Prompt 5 or 6 from this guide
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