Icon Prompt Construction

This guide explains how to build generation prompts that produce clean, pixel-art style icons in the Susan Kare tradition. The goal is disciplined, grid-based iconography—not modern illustration.

Susan Kare Principles (Always Include)

Every prompt MUST include this foundation. These are the specific techniques that made her icons timeless:

Susan Kare style pixel art icon. Bitmap raster aesthetic, NOT vector art
rendered to pixels. Designed as if constrained to a 32x32 pixel canvas.
Silhouette must be instantly recognizable on its own. Optically centered
and balanced (not mathematically centered). Hand-crafted pixel placement,
each pixel deliberate and intentional. Friendly but precise. Timeless,
not trendy. Classic 1984 Macintosh aesthetic.

Core Technical Constraints (Always Include)

1-bit bitmap style, grid-aligned forms, no anti-aliasing, no gradients,
no shadows, no 3D effects, no glow, no blur. Flat solid colors only.
Maximum simplicity—if a pixel can be removed without losing meaning,
remove it. Every element must earn its place.

Negative Prompts (Always Include)

Explicitly tell the model what to AVOID:

Avoid: gradients, drop shadows, glow effects, 3D rendering, smooth bezier
curves, anti-aliasing, photorealistic details, modern illustration style,
rounded blob shapes, soft edges, decorative flourishes, unnecessary detail,
skeuomorphism, textures, reflections, highlights, depth effects, vector
art smoothness, organic flowing lines.

Style Guide Translation

Weight

Value	Prompt Language
thin	"1-pixel stroke width, single-pixel lines, delicate but precise, minimal visual weight"
medium	"2-pixel stroke width, balanced line thickness, confident forms, classic Kare icon weight"
bold	"3-4 pixel stroke width, thick chunky lines, strong silhouette, heavy visual presence"

Corners

Value	Prompt Language
sharp	"90-degree corners only, no curves whatsoever, pure right angles, pixel-stepped diagonals at 45°"
soft	"minimal corner rounding, 1-2 pixel radius curves, mostly geometric with slight softening, Kare-style friendly precision"
rounded	"rounded corners with pixel-stepped curves, friendly but still geometric, no smooth beziers, stair-stepped curves"

Palette

Value	Prompt Language
monochrome	"pure black on white background, 1-bit color depth, absolute black (#000) and white (#FFF) only, no grays, no anti-aliasing, maximum contrast"
duotone	"exactly two flat colors, no gradients, no blending, hard pixel boundaries between colors, limited palette discipline"
full-color	"limited flat color palette (4-8 colors max), no gradients, indexed color feel, each color a solid flat fill, hard edges"

When an accent color is specified, add: "with [color] as single flat accent color, no gradient, hard pixel edges"

Metaphor

Value	Prompt Language
literal	"literal representation using geometric primitives (rectangles, circles, triangles), recognizable real-world object reduced to essential pixels, obvious metaphor"
playful	"slightly whimsical interpretation, personality through clever pixel placement, charming but still disciplined, Kare-style wit"
abstract	"pure geometric abstraction, symbolic forms only, squares circles triangles, minimal representation, universal symbol"

Size Optimization

Value	Prompt Language
small	"designed for 16x16 or 32x32 pixel grid, absolute minimum detail, only essential forms survive, ultra-simplified silhouette"
medium	"designed for 32x32 or 64x64 pixel grid, balanced detail, clear silhouette readable at arm's length, the Kare sweet spot"
large	"designed for 64x64 or 128x128 pixel grid, more pixel detail acceptable, but still disciplined and iconic, no unnecessary complexity"

Mood

Value	Prompt Language
professional	"serious and functional, utilitarian, no whimsy, tool-like precision, gets out of the way"
friendly	"approachable and warm, subtle personality, inviting but not cartoonish, the Kare signature warmth"
bold	"striking and confident, strong visual impact, memorable silhouette, commands attention"

Constructing the Final Prompt

Structure your prompt in this exact order:

1. Susan Kare principles (style foundation)
2. Subject and metaphor
3. Style constants (weight, corners, palette, mood)
4. Size specification
5. Technical constraints
6. Negative prompts

Template:

Susan Kare style pixel art [subject] icon. Bitmap raster aesthetic, designed
for 32x32 pixel canvas. Silhouette instantly recognizable. Optically centered.
[metaphor description]. [weight description], [corners description],
[palette description], [mood description]. [size description].
Grid-aligned, no anti-aliasing, every pixel deliberate.
Perfectly centered on white background, no background elements.
Avoid: gradients, shadows, 3D effects, anti-aliasing, smooth curves,
vector smoothness, modern illustration style, unnecessary detail.

Example Prompt

Given this style guide:

weight: medium
corners: soft
palette:
  primary: monochrome
  accent: null
metaphor: literal
size: medium
mood: friendly

For a "settings" icon:

"Susan Kare style pixel art gear icon. Bitmap raster aesthetic, designed for 32x32 pixel canvas. Silhouette instantly recognizable as a mechanical gear. Optically centered and balanced. Literal representation using geometric primitives—a gear reduced to essential pixels, 6-8 teeth, simple center. 2-pixel stroke width, balanced line thickness, classic Kare icon weight. Minimal corner rounding, 1-2 pixel radius curves, Kare-style friendly precision. Pure black on white background, 1-bit color depth, absolute black and white only, no grays, maximum contrast. Approachable and warm, subtle personality, the Kare signature warmth. Designed for 32x32 or 64x64 pixel grid, clear silhouette readable at arm's length. Grid-aligned, no anti-aliasing, every pixel deliberate. Perfectly centered on white background. Avoid: gradients, shadows, 3D effects, anti-aliasing, smooth curves, vector smoothness, modern illustration style, unnecessary detail."

Common Icon Subjects

When the user requests common concepts, use these proven metaphors with pixel-construction notes:

Concept	Metaphor	Pixel Construction
Settings	Gear/cog	6 or 8 teeth as triangular notches, circular center, 2px stroke
Search	Magnifying glass	Circle (8-12px diameter) + diagonal handle at 45°, 2px stroke
Home	House silhouette	Triangle roof (45° angles), square/rectangle body, centered door
User/Profile	Person silhouette	Circle head, trapezoid or rounded shoulders, minimal features
Messages	Speech bubble	Rounded rectangle, triangular tail pointing left or down
Mail	Envelope	Rectangle with V-shaped fold lines suggesting flap
Calendar	Page with grid	Rectangle with torn top edge or rings, 2-3 row grid dots
Camera	Camera body	Rectangle body, circle lens (centered), small viewfinder rectangle
Heart/Favorite	Heart shape	Two overlapping circles + triangle below, symmetric
Star/Rating	Five-point star	5 triangular points from center, can be filled or outline
Share	Three dots + lines	Three circles at triangle vertices, connected by 2px lines
Download	Arrow down	Triangle pointing down + horizontal line below (tray)
Upload	Arrow up	Triangle pointing up + horizontal line below (tray)
Edit	Pencil	Diagonal rectangle body (45°) + triangle tip, eraser rectangle
Delete	Trash can	Trapezoid body (wider at top), rectangular lid with handle
Add	Plus sign	Two perpendicular 2px rectangles, centered cross
Close	X mark	Two diagonal 2px lines crossing at center, 45° angles
Menu	Three lines	Three horizontal 2px rectangles, equal vertical spacing
Lock	Padlock	Rectangle body, arch/shackle on top (can be open or closed)
Refresh	Circular arrow	Circular arc (270°) with triangular arrowhead at end
Play	Triangle	Right-pointing equilateral or isoceles triangle, filled
Pause	Two bars	Two vertical 2px rectangles with equal gap between

The Squint Test

Before finalizing any prompt, mentally apply the squint test: if you blur/squint at this icon, would the silhouette alone communicate the concept? If not, simplify further. The silhouette IS the icon.

For concepts not in this list, follow the metaphor-finding process in Iconography Philosophy, then reduce to essential geometric primitives that pass the squint test.