presentation-design

Presentation Slide Design Guidelines

These guidelines apply to all presentation tools and formats.

1. Outline First — Mandatory

You MUST draft a structured outline before creating any slides. Do NOT skip this step. A presentation is a narrative, not a document. Write a markdown outline that captures:

• The core message — one sentence the audience should remember
• The narrative arc — setup, tension/problem, resolution/insight, takeaway
• Key transitions between sections

Present this outline to the human and wait for approval before proceeding. Do not create slides until the human has reviewed and approved the outline. Adapt the structure to fit the topic — there is no single correct format. Example:

# Outline: [Presentation Title]

**Core message:** [One sentence]

## 1. Opening — Hook
- [Surprising fact, question, or story]

## 2. Problem / Context
- [What challenge are we addressing?]

## 3. Key Insight / Solution
- [Main idea, 2-3 sub-points]

## 4. Evidence / Demo
- [Data, examples, or demonstration]

## 5. Takeaway / Call to Action
- [What should the audience do or remember?]

2. Minimize Text — Ruthlessly

Slides are a visual aid, not a script. The presenter speaks; slides support.

Absolute maximum: 10 words per slide. The best slides have zero to three words. Headlines and short phrases only — never sentences. If you need full sentences, put them in speaker notes.

Use short headlines that state the takeaway, not a topic label.

• Weak: "Q3 Sales Results"
• Strong: "Sales up 40%"

Never put paragraphs or long bullet lists on slides. If a slide has more than two lines of text, rethink it.

One idea per slide. If a slide makes two points, split it.

3. Visuals Over Text

Show, don't tell. Images, diagrams, and charts communicate faster than words. When you can replace text with a visual, always do it.

Use full-bleed images. If a slide has one image, it should fill the entire slide. A small centered image with empty space looks unfinished. Use overlay text sparingly.