Sparkling Slides

A super simple diagram, just shapes and arrows

2. Less is more

As I said, you’re super smart and already know this.
So, what’s the trick here? How to use this concept in the best way.

Do you already have text on your slides? Is it a lot? It shouldn’t be. Try cutting it down, you don’t want to be seen reading from your slides. Only keep key points. Less than a sentence per bullet point, or even just 1 or 2 key words.

Here’s an example from my very own deck:

I’m trying to explain what we wanted to find out through user research:
We did unmoderated and moderated testing to see if the users found the concept presented interesting and easy to understand, if the prototype didn’t need any explanations or further copy in order for the user to browse through, and finally if the overall content provided any value for them.

What did I write? Just the bare bones:

Unmoderated + Moderated testing:

• Concept: Easy to understand?

• Navigation: Intuitive?

• Content: Interesting?
  

Now, if you have too many important things to mention in a single slide - break it up.
Split your slides in two or more if needed. Wouldn’t this mean I end up with more and more slides to go through? And shouldn’t you want fewer slides in total?

Nope. Big no. Don’t question me. The end.

Ok, I’m very hard on this point because, at least in my experience, having more slides meant that I had little text in them and had broken them down to only key points. Yes, it’s more slides, but I will go faster through them.

What happens if you can’t get away with having too many concepts in one slide?
Well, we have trick number 3.

Just the main concepts + some “users” from this person doesn’t exist

3. Guide them by the hand

This is a very nice gesture, no? When someone grabs your hand and guides you? Very sweet. You can do the same for your audience.

Let’s set the scene: you have a slide with 3 main ideas, and each one has small annotations below. How can we be nice to your audience?

Use my trick: place the final content on the last slide and then duplicate it and cover all the ideas. Now you can do the in-between slides: in each one, you reveal one by one.
Think about it like very basic frame-by-frame animation.

A trick I’ve learned from the presentation king (my dad) is that you can place an arrow to highlight the main takeaway from your slide. Maybe it was idea 2 that won in the end? Add a little signifier next to it to show it’s the most important thing.

Want another example from my deck?

When I’m presenting the context and the main problem, I’ve split it into 5 slides.
I could do it in 3 or less, but it’s more impactful if I build up the scenario piece by piece:

• Slide 1: Client name (introduce the topic)

• Slide 2: Good thing they do (adding more context)

• Slide 3: Issue they are having (setting up the problem)

• Slide 4: Problem (a simple sentence)

• Slide 5: Let’s solve (call to action, bring positivity)

Every line here is a simple sentence.
Me and my audience are holding hands through this magical journey - sry, I’m not sry if this sounds cheesy - I’m listening to Broadway songs while I write this.

Reducing opacity is also another way of covering information!

Bibi di babidi boo!
Do you feel the magic now?
I hope so!

I can also recommend some good musical theater songs that will get you adding sparkle to your deck. And if that’s not your vibe, try your favorite playlist as background to put these tricks to good use. I’ve heard K-pop can be very inspiring.

Now, if you need more help creating your best presentation to date — send me a message! I have freelance hours, so we can refine your story together, and I can take care that the slides are pixel perfect.

That’s Enough About Me!

What do you think? What should I focus on next?

Hope your presentation is almost done now! Need any more tips? Maybe a trick or two to find your own voice and presentation style?

Let me know—shoot me an email! 😊
📩 sifuentesanita@gmail.com