Standard Operating Procedure
Build a design system from screenshots of any brand, then generate on-brand carousel cards and export them as individual images. No Canva, no designer, no templates.
This SOP shows you how to use Claude Design to build Instagram carousels that look like your brand, not a template. You start by teaching Claude your visual identity from a few screenshots. It extracts the colours, typography, and spacing into a reusable design system. From there, every carousel you create uses that system automatically, so the output is consistent without you needing to tweak colours and fonts each time.
Prerequisites
Navigate to claude.ai/design in your browser. This is a separate workspace from the standard Claude chat. It opens a canvas where you can see your designs being built in real time alongside the conversation.
Click New Design System to start fresh.
Drop 2 to 3 screenshots of your existing brand into the chat. These can be screenshots of your Instagram grid, your website hero section, or any designed asset that represents your visual identity.
Claude will analyse the images and extract:
It walks through each piece and asks you to confirm. Say yes to what looks right, and correct anything that is off.
TIP
This step is the one that separates a polished result from a generic one. People who skip the design system and jump straight to asking for a carousel get output that looks like it could belong to anyone. The system is what makes it yours.
Once you have confirmed the colours, type, and spacing, click Publish to save the design system. Give it a clear name like "[Your Brand] Design System."
From this point forward, every new project you create in Claude Design can use this system. You build it once and reuse it for every carousel, social graphic, or visual asset you need.
Create a new project in Claude Design. When prompted, select the design system you just saved.
Optionally, attach one carousel you admire as a style reference. This is not for copying. It gives Claude a feel for the layout density, the card structure, and the rhythm you are going for.
Paste the carousel prompt into the chat. The prompt below generates a 6-slide carousel at Instagram size (1080 x 1350px). Swap the topic, card content, and accent words for your own.
Claude builds the cards one by one on the canvas beside the chat. You can watch them appear in real time.
This is where the conversational interface shines. You can adjust any card by simply describing what you want changed.
Each instruction redraws the affected card. Go through one or two rounds of refinement until the set feels right.
NOTE
This will not replace a professional designer for your biggest brand moments. But for the carousel you need out this week, this is minutes instead of days.
Once you are happy with all 6 cards, export them as separate image files.
Claude generates the individual PNGs, which you can download and upload directly to Instagram.
WARNING
Use the export prompt above rather than the Canva export button. The Canva button has been known to squash all slides into one long image rather than generating separate cards.
This is the more detailed version of the carousel prompt with specific layout and typography constraints. Use this when you want tighter control over the output.
Do I need to rebuild the design system every time?
No. You build it once and save it. Every new carousel project can select that saved system, so the colours, type, and spacing carry over automatically.
Can I use someone else's brand as my starting point?
You can study another brand's screenshots to learn what you like, but always build from your own brand. Use your own colours, your own type feel, and your own assets. The design system should represent your visual identity.
What if a card comes out too busy?
Tell Claude to remove content. The simplest fix is "remove the body text on card 3 and let the title breathe." The detailed prompt above includes a rule that 35% of every card must be empty space, which prevents clutter.
Does this work for other social formats?
Yes. Change the dimensions in the prompt. For Instagram Stories or Reels covers, use 1080 x 1920. For LinkedIn carousels, use 1080 x 1080 or 1080 x 1350. The design system and the card structure adapt to any size.