I test AI for a living and Ideogram 2 just made graphic design accessible to anyone

Ideogram dropped version 2 of its powerful AI image generation model last week, and one of the stand-out features is its ability to not only render text but do so in a creative way.

With the new model release, Ideogram cements its place among the list of best AI image generators , adding impressive design capabilities and better prompt adherence. This means it is easier to get an image that looks exactly as you've described.

Having already put Ideogram to the test along with other AI image editors , I decided to see how the new version stacks up as a standalone design tool. I gave Ideogram 2 a series of tasks to see how much control I could get simply from text prompts with no additional edits or control.

Creating the prompts

I’ve found the more descriptive you can be with Ideogram 2 the better. Sometimes this includes a descriptive identifier such as “headline” “subheadline” and “call to action” as this helped better direct where certain text elements should be placed on the image.

You can also define font family, color scheme and any icons or styles you want included in the image, and for the most part, Ideogram will do this. You can also define color scheme independently in the Ideogram generation menu.

1. Minimalist AI Designer

I'm starting with something very simple, a poster about revolutionizing graphic design using AI. This is the concept of the article, so seemed a good way to start.

The prompt:

Headline: "AI: Your New Creative Partner"
Subheadline: "Revolutionizing Graphic Design"
Call to Action: "Try It Now"
Design elements:
Gradient background from light blue to soft purple
Animated pulsing effect around the AI "brain" icon
Floating geometric shapes in the background

2. Futuristic Design Evolution

Next, a look back and forward. Here I wanted a darker design with a circuit board pattern and particle effect for a poster about AI design.

The prompt:

Headline: "From Pixels to Masterpieces"
Subheadline: "AI-Powered Design Evolution"
Footer: "The Future of Creativity is Here"
Design elements:
Dark background with a subtle circuit board pattern
Glowing lines connecting the transforming shapes
Particle effect simulating digital "dust"

3. AI Color Palette

For this design, we're drawing on a color pallet idea but baked into harmonies. I wanted to see how it handled a disclaimer and a subtle gradient.

The prompt:

Headline: "Infinite Palettes at Your Fingertips"
Subheadline: "AI-Generated Color Harmonies"
Disclaimer: "Colors may vary based on screen settings"
Design elements:
Circular color wheel backdrop
Animated color droplets falling from the AI chip
Subtle rainbow gradient on text

4. Typography Transformation

Typography is one of the most important elements of design. Here, I had the AI build on this and try to utilize different font styles.

The prompt:

Headline: "Words Come Alive with AI"
Subheadline: "Dynamic Text Styling"
Footer: "Powered by Advanced Language Models"
Design elements:
Letterpress texture on the transforming text
Flowing lines representing AI processing
Minimal icons of different font styles

5. Collaborative Creation

The next design had to include a call to action, an aura around hands and a pattern background. It also needed to include a head and subhead.

The prompt:

Headline: "Human Creativity + AI Precision"
Subheadline: "The Perfect Design Partnership"
Call to Action: "Start Collaborating Today"
Design elements:
Halftone pattern background
Glowing aura where the hands meet
Tiny icons representing various design tools floating around

6. Binary Bites

I took a completely new direction here, seeing what I could achieve with a more conversational prompt style, asking for a cookbook cover with a specific title in quotes and then giving some descriptive terms.

The prompt: A retro-futuristic cookbook cover: "Binary Bites" "Culinary creations from the AI chef" "100% bug-free recipes!" Feature a 1950s-style robot in a chef's hat, surrounded by impossible food combinations like pizza-tacos and sushi-burgers.

7. Gravity Gladiators

Finally another conversation prompt. Here we're creating a banner for a new sport set in space. I used descriptive terms for the imagery and put the words in quotes.

The prompt: A fictional extreme sports event banner: "GRAVITY GLADIATORS" "Defy Physics, Define Legends" "Zero-G Championship 2025" "Watch Live from Earth or Lunar Colony" Design with dynamic figures performing impossible stunts in a futuristic zero-gravity arena, with Earth and the Moon visible in the background.

Final thoughts

Ideogram 2 is a huge step up in AI-powered design,  capable of creating stunning font, color and design combinations that look like they were created by a human designer. It makes good choices with accurate text rendering for the most part.

However, as much as I love the way Ideogram 2 works, it isn't yet a replacement for tools like Canva, Sketch or Illustrator. And it won't be until you can specifically edit individual elements within the generated image or easily change fonts and icons.

That said, if what you're looking for is a quick flyer for a yard sale, a birthday card or a poster saying "wash your hands" for the bathroom and you want it to look professionally designed, Ideogram could be exactly what you need.

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