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Creating great decks: The Origins, the "Why", and 12 Tips to Make Yours Better.

The document outlines a guide for creating effective presentation decks by integrating narrative and structure rather than relying solely on facts. It provides 12 essential tips, such as defining a process, knowing your audience, creating a narrative, and minimizing content to enhance clarity and impact. The overarching message emphasizes the importance of storytelling in presentations to captivate and engage the audience.

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Creating great decks. T H E O R I G I N S , T H E “ W H Y,” 
 A N D 1 2 T I P S T O M A K E Y O U R S B E T T E R .
Every presentation has a
The 6 “whys” I N F O R M I N S T R U C T E N T E R T A I N I N S P I R E / M O T I V A T E A C T I V A T E / S T I M U L A T E P E R S U A D E
They impact the way we view life.
Don’t believe me? They impact the way we view life.
Instills faith
So, where did it all start?
15,000 BCLascaux Cave paintings
2100 BCEpic of Gilgamesh
300 BC Aesop’s Fables
The exchange of stories is a behavior engrained within us
Ok, what’s the point?
We swim in a sea of
Wait, they’re not the same?
Nope.
Character (s) Things happen to this set of characters Happen in time, or through a beginning, middle, or end. Exist in a place. Have an underlying theme. Stories have a few things…
Consists of a deliberate structure Instills a way of looking at the world But, a narrative is more. Overarching concept or structure that gives meaning How thoughts, visuals, and events are arranged for impact
“slides” have been a thing for a long time
designed & composed by craftsmen for a hefty price
The challenge: Make your point using as few slides as possible Fast forward to today…
The craft is dying.
A narrative + a point creates more impact than slides full of facts
The left The right Understands language Processes data Logic Facts Numbers Art and creativity Responds with emotion Intuition Doesn’t process language Holistic thought
A successful deck activates both sides
01
01 // Define a process “Quality is not an act, 
 it is a habit.” – A R I S T O T L E
– Have a process. Feel free to show it. – Start with post-its, a google doc, the adobe suite, an empty notebook, whatever works best for you. – Focus on the point you’re trying to make. – Then, think about it across a timeline. – The slides come last. (People are probably cringing) 01 // Define a process
02
02 // Know your context “Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context – a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan.” – E L I E L S A A R I N E N
– Tailor your presentation and its contents to your audience and its key players. – Determine the emotions or feelings you want your audience to have. – Use a relevant information style, visual, analytical, technical, etc. – Have a bigger vision of where your deck will end up. Will everyone hear you present it? Is someone going to see this presentation with no context? 02 // Know your context
03
03 // Create a Narrative “A computer is a lite brite for bad fu*king ideas.” – G F D A
– Think before you type. – Have an underlying idea, perspective, or structure that will support a point you’re trying to make. – Connect the dots for your audience at a higher level. 03 // Create a Narrative
04
04 // Start where you want to end, then work backwards. “Aim for a button and miss by two inches. Aim for a shirt and miss by two feet.” – A M E R I C A N S N I P E R
– Define your endpoint. – Boil it down to a TLDR; – Now , this is your point to aim for. – Working backwards will help you build your narrative structure, while keeping sight on the point you’re trying to make. 04 // Start where you want to end, then work backwards.
05
05 // Lead with the problem “Sell the problem you solve. Not the product” – U N K N O W N
05 // Lead with the problem – Leading with a problem grounds your audience. Anything you say after that sounds like a solution. – Starting with a conflict makes it easier to sell a solution. – This sets a baseline to compare your thinking / execution against.
06
“If you are trying to get information across to someone, your ability to create a compelling introduction may be the most important single factor in the later success of your mission.” – J O H N M E D I N A 06 // Introduce your idea
– Pretend your audience doesn’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Because they don’t! – Introduce the why behind your idea or point your trying to make. – Ease into it. Lead with inspiration, a concept write up, sizzle, or mood. – Think of this as the climb to the summit (big reveal), but you don’t want to rush it. – Use this to build anticipation and level set your audience so everyone understands. 06 // Introduce your idea
07
07 // Create peak moments “Getting to the top has an unfortunate tendency to persuade people that the system is OK after all.” – A L A I N D E B O T T O N
07 // Create peak moments – Building anticipation gives these moments impact. – You’ve emotionally captured your audience. – You’ve started with the problem and now is the time to offer your fresh thinking. – Sell in this moment. Your audience is vulnerable.
08
08 // Minimize “Make things as simple as possible but no simpler.” – A L B E R T E I N S T E I N
08 // Minimize – If you can say it with a visual, do it. – If you have to say it with words, do it. – Throw 1,000 words on a slide and a single one has no meaning. – Ask yourself with fresh eyes, do you really need that section? That slide? That last paragraph? – Simplify until there is nothing left to remove. Then, you’re done. – Actually, K.I.S.S.
09
09 // Have a visual language “To design is to communicate clearly by whatever means you can control or master.” – M I LT O N G L A S E R
09 // Have a visual language – Select a typeface with various weights, maybe a second one if needed. – Use color to drive the eye. Keep your palettes small. – Use a grid, or at the very least line sh*t up. It’ll make it easier to read and understand. – Negative space is as important as the content. It gives the eye relief. – An image says 1,000 words. If it occupies less than a quarter of the slide, do you really need it? Keep them large and impactful. AND HIGH RESOLUTION. – Just because you can use a ton of animations and effects, doesn’t mean you should. Have a purpose.
10
“Nothing is anything by itself, only in relation to other things.” – R O B E R T L E V E R S // Establish a hierarchy10
// Establish a hierarchy10 – Visual Hierarchy (Size and Scale, Color and Contrast, Typography large to small and spacing and proximity. – Start with 3 type sizes (Headline, sub-headline, and body copy) Build out other sizes as needed. – Visual breaks (divider slides and negative space) – 1 key theme or takeaway per slide
11
“Sometimes the most simple conclusion is also the most correct.” – J U L I E G A R W O O D // Conclude11
// Conclude11 – You walked your audience through a lot. Give a TLDR; recap and keep it short. – Repeat your core message . – Provide your recommendations. – Ask for specific action, and make it clear. – Open up for questions and answers. – Be remembered.
12
“Are you aware that rushing toward a goal is a sublimated death wish? It's no coincidence we call them deadlines.” – T O M R O B B I N S 12 // Don’t procrastinate
– No one wins when waiting until the last minute. Not clients, not teams, not you, no one. Your presentation certainly won’t win anything either. – Keep coming back to it with fresh eyes. – Give yourself time to rehearse and refine. – Hitting CMD + S and walking into your meeting is instant, but the impression you leave with a sh*tty deck lasts a lot longer. 12 // Don’t procrastinate
We make decks because people crave stories. And, a deck with a narrative sells sh*t.
There’s 12 steps to make your next deck great…
1. Define your process
1. Define your process 2. Know the context
1. Define your process 2. Know the context 3. Creative a narrative
1. Define your process 2. Know the context 3. Creative a narrative 4. Start where you want to end, then work backwards
1. Define your process 2. Know the context 3. Creative a narrative 4. Start where you want to end, then work backwards 5. Lead with the problem
1. Define your process 2. Know the context 3. Creative a narrative 4. Start where you want to end, then work backwards 5. Lead with the problem 6. Introduce your idea
1. Define your process 2. Know the context 3. Creative a narrative 4. Start where you want to end, then work backwards 5. Lead with the problem 6. Introduce your idea 7. Create peak moments
1. Define your process 2. Know the context 3. Creative a narrative 4. Start where you want to end, then work backwards 5. Lead with the problem 6. Introduce your idea 7. Create peak moments 8. Minimize
1. Define your process 2. Know the context 3. Creative a narrative 4. Start where you want to end, then work backwards 5. Lead with the problem 6. Introduce your idea 7. Create peak moments 8. Minimize 9. Have a visual language
1. Define your process 2. Know the context 3. Creative a narrative 4. Start where you want to end, then work backwards 5. Lead with the problem 6. Introduce your idea 7. Create peak moments 8. Minimize 9. Have a visual language 10. Establish a hierarchy
1. Define your process 2. Know the context 3. Creative a narrative 4. Start where you want to end, then work backwards 5. Lead with the problem 6. Introduce your idea 7. Create peak moments 8. Minimize 9. Have a visual language 10. Establish a hierarchy 11. Conclude
1. Define your process 2. Know the context 3. Creative a narrative 4. Start where you want to end, then work backwards 5. Lead with the problem 6. Introduce your idea 7. Create peak moments 8. Minimize 9. Have a visual language 10. Establish a hierarchy 11. Conclude 12. Don’t procrastinate
Appendix
Resources Digital Surgeons Slide Share Slide:ology – The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations Resonate – Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences Understanding Sparklines Made to Stick Success Models Hooked – How to Build Habit Forming Products