prompts for visual worldbuilding
i've been doing a lot more sketching and drawing as part of my worldbuilding hobby lately. one of the things i have is a jar with a bunch of different prompts for things to draw - i pick one at random and then fill a page with a bunch of sketches of things based on that prompt.
these sketches aren't associated with any specific aspect of my world or any specific culture. they're just brainstorming different possibilities. later on when i'm designing things for a specific culture and want to, say, decide how their houses would look, i'll flick to the pages i've drawn with ideas for houses to get inspiration.
there are lots of prompts out there for text-based worldbuilding but i haven't found many good lists for visual worldbuilding so i thought i'd share my list of prompts here in case it's useful for anyone else :)
abstract concepts
different cultures will have different motifs and styles. the topics in this category are to help me come up with ideas for the basic visual aesthetic of each culture.
patterns
colour palettes
symbols
shapes
borders
textures
architectural details
doors
windows
arches
columns
roof styles
stairs, ramps
balconies
railings
locks
wall styles
arches, entryways
gates
buildings
housing
palaces
temples
castles
shrines
shops
markets
watchtowers
hospitals
taverns
memorials
government buildings
wells
magical towers
graveyards / burial sites
household items
beds / sleeping arrangements
seating
tables
light sources
decorative items
vases / jars / urns
eating utensils
fireplaces / sources of heat
nature
trees
bushes
flowers
grass
funghi
rocks
mountain ranges
insects
fish
sea creatures
amphibians
birds
lizards
mammals
sea plants
waterfalls
people
humanoids
clothes
hairstyles
tattoos
eyes
mouths
noses
ears
hands
feet
gestures
infrastructure / civilisation
bridges
streets
signposts
paths
boats / ships / rafts
vehicles
flags
currency
letters / alphabets
numbers
military
weapons
armour
the sky
planets
constellations
moons
comets / meteors
cloud formations
magic
sigils / runes / glyphs / symbols
rituals
gestures
foci / wands / staves
portals
other stuff
symbols of royalty / nobility / power / leadership
musical instruments
types of symbols
religious
national / political / kingdom
family / clan
trade guild / profession
time / seasons