## Presentation Architecture Framework ### Phase 1: Narrative Design ``` I need to create a presentation about: **Topic:** [Subject matter] **Audience:** [Who will see this] **Goal:** [What should they think/do afterward] **Duration:** [How long is the presentation] **Format:** [In-person, video call, recorded, sent as PDF] **Context:** [Where/when/why this is being presented] Help me design the narrative arc: 1. **Audience Analysis** - What do they already know about this topic? - What do they care about? (their priorities, pain points) - What objections or concerns will they have? - What decision-making authority do they have? - What's their attention span and preferred style? 2. **Core Message** - If they remember only ONE thing, what should it be? - Can you state it in 10 words or less? - Why should they care? (WIIFM: What's In It For Me) 3. **Narrative Structure** Choose framework: - **Problem-Solution**: Show pain, present cure - **Before-After-Bridge**: Where we were, where we are, how we got here - **Hero's Journey**: Protagonist (them), challenge, guide (you), success - **Three-Act**: Setup, confrontation, resolution - **Data-Insight-Action**: Facts, interpretation, next steps 4. **Story Arc** Map emotional journey: - Opening hook: Grab attention (surprising stat, provocative question) - Rising tension: Build problem/opportunity - Climax: Present solution/recommendation - Resolution: Show outcomes, call to action - Closing: Memorable takeaway Provide detailed slide-by-slide outline. ``` ### Phase 2: Slide Content Design #### Opening Sequence (Slides 1-3) ``` Design the opening slides: **Slide 1: Title Slide** - Title: [Compelling, not generic] - ❌ "Q4 Update" - ✅ "How We'll Capture $10M in New Revenue" - Subtitle: [Context, date] - Presenter name and title - Visual: [Relevant hero image or brand graphic] **Slide 2: Agenda** (optional, use for long presentations) - 3-5 main sections - Time allocation for each - Frame as benefits: "What you'll learn" not "What I'll cover" **Slide 3: Hook / Problem Statement** - Open with surprising insight, question, or statistic - Establish urgency: Why now? - Tease the solution without revealing it yet **Example Hook:** > "Last quarter, we lost 3 deals to competitors—all because we couldn't demo Feature X. > > Today, I'll show you how we're fixing this... and how it could double our win rate." Design opening sequence with specific content. ``` #### Body Slides (Data & Insights) ``` Structure each body slide: **Slide Template:** **Headline:** [Insight, not topic] - ❌ "Market Analysis" - ✅ "Our Market is Growing 3x Faster Than Expected" **Visual:** [Chart, diagram, image—not bullet points] - Use the right chart type: - Line: Trends over time - Bar: Compare categories - Pie: Part-to-whole (use sparingly, often misleading) - Scatter: Correlation between two variables - Waterfall: Cumulative effect - Sankey: Flow between categories **Supporting Text:** (Minimal) - 1-2 sentences maximum - Call out key data point - Guide interpretation: "Notice that..." **Data Visualization Best Practices:** 1. **Simplify:** - Remove gridlines, borders, 3D effects - Use direct labels instead of legend - Highlight the key data point (color, annotation) 2. **Clarity:** - Axis labels and units - Source citation (small text at bottom) - Round numbers (47.3% → 47%) 3. **Honesty:** - Don't truncate Y-axis to exaggerate differences - Show uncertainty (confidence intervals, ranges) - Acknowledge limitations of data **Example Slide:** ``` Headline: "Customer Acquisition Cost Dropped 40% After New Campaign" Visual: [Bar chart showing CAC by quarter: Q1 $150, Q2 $145, Q3 $90] [Q3 bar highlighted in blue, others in gray] Text: "By targeting lookalike audiences, we reduced CAC from $150 to $90 while maintaining lead quality." ``` Generate slide content with visual descriptions. ``` #### Flow & Transitions ``` Connect slides into a coherent story: **Logical Flow:** Slide A → Slide B → Slide C - Each slide should follow naturally from the previous - Use transition phrases in headlines **Example Sequence:** 1. "Customer Churn Increased 15% Last Quarter" ⚠️ 2. "Exit Surveys Reveal the Root Cause" 🔍 3. "Introducing Our 3-Part Retention Strategy" ✅ 4. "Early Results: Churn Down 8% in Test Group" 📈 5. "Rollout Plan for Q2" 🚀 **Transition Types:** - **Contrast:** "But there's a problem..." → "Here's the solution..." - **Causation:** "This led to..." → "Which caused..." - **Sequence:** "First... then... finally..." - **Question-Answer:** "Why did this happen?" → "Our data shows..." **Visual Continuity:** - Consistent color scheme (brand colors) - Repeated visual motifs (icons, patterns) - Animation builds (reveal info progressively) Design slide sequence with explicit transitions. ``` #### Closing Sequence ``` End with impact: **Penultimate Slide: Summary or Call to Action** - Recap: 3-5 key takeaways - Or: Clear next steps - Who does what by when - Decision to be made - Resources needed **Example CTA:** > **Next Steps** > 1. ✅ Approve $500K budget (Board decision today) > 2. 📅 Kick off implementation (Jan 15) > 3. 📊 Review progress at March QBR > > "With your approval, we'll launch in Q1 and expect 2x ROI by year-end." **Final Slide: Thank You / Q&A** - Thank you message - Contact info - Visual: Team photo, logo, or relevant image - Keep this slide up during Q&A (not blank screen!) **Backup Slides:** (After main deck) - Appendix with detailed data, methodology - Answers to anticipated questions - Technical specifications - Don't present these unless asked Design closing with clear next steps. ``` ### Phase 3: Visual Design #### Design Principles ``` Apply professional design standards: **1. Layout & Whitespace** - Follow rule of thirds: Divide slide into 3×3 grid - Place key elements at intersections - Leave 20-30% whitespace (breathing room) - Avoid wall of text or crammed visuals **2. Typography** - Max 2 fonts: One for headlines, one for body - Font size hierarchy: - Title: 36-44pt - Headline: 28-32pt - Body: 18-24pt - Caption: 12-14pt - Sans-serif fonts are easier to read on screen - Sufficient contrast with background **3. Color** - Limit to 3-4 colors max - Use brand colors consistently - High contrast for readability: - Dark text on light background - Or: Light text on dark background - Color-blind friendly palette (avoid red-green) - Use color purposefully (highlight, categorize) **4. Imagery** - High resolution (no pixelation) - Relevant to content (not decorative clip art) - Proper licensing (stock photos, attribution) - Photos of real people, products, places > generic stock **5. Consistency** - Use master slide template - Consistent positioning of logo, page numbers - Repeating visual motifs - Uniform chart styles **Design Checklist:** - [ ] Every slide has a clear headline - [ ] Visuals support (not duplicate) text - [ ] Readable from back of room (large font) - [ ] Colors are accessible - [ ] Animations are purposeful, not distracting - [ ] Slides work in black & white (for printing) Provide design specifications for deck. ``` #### Chart & Diagram Design ``` Create effective data visualizations: **Chart Type Selection:** **Scenario: Show Sales Growth Over 5 Years** → Use: Line chart ``` Title: "Revenue Tripled Since 2021" $15M ┤ ● │ ╱ $10M ┤ ● │ ╱ $5M ┤ ● │ ╱ $0 ┼───●──────────────────── 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 ``` **Scenario: Compare Market Share of 5 Competitors** → Use: Horizontal bar chart (easier to read labels) ``` Title: "We're #2 in Market Share" CompetitorA ████████████████████████ 35% Us ████████████████ 24% 👈 CompetitorB ██████████ 15% CompetitorC ████████ 12% CompetitorD ██████ 9% Other ████ 5% ``` **Scenario: Show Process Flow** → Use: Flowchart or Sankey diagram ``` Title: "Our Customer Acquisition Funnel" Visitors (10K) ↓ 20% convert Sign-ups (2K) ↓ 50% activate Active Users (1K) ↓ 30% upgrade Paying Customers (300) ``` **Diagram Types:** - **Venn Diagram:** Overlapping concepts - **Matrix (2×2):** Quadrants (e.g., Eisenhower matrix) - **Timeline:** Sequence of events - **Pyramid:** Hierarchical layers (e.g., Maslow's) - **Cycle:** Repeating process (e.g., PDCA) - **Architecture Diagram:** System components **Annotation:** - Arrows to guide eye - Callout boxes for key points - Icons to represent concepts - Color to highlight vs. de-emphasize Design custom charts/diagrams for your data. ``` ### Phase 4: Delivery Optimization #### Speaker Notes ``` Write effective speaker notes: **Purpose:** - Remind you what to say (not read verbatim) - Include timing cues - Flag questions to anticipate **Format:** [Slide 5: "Customer Churn Increased 15%"] **SAY:** "Let me share some concerning news. Last quarter, churn hit 15%—our highest in 2 years. [Pause] This caught us off guard because our NPS scores were stable. So we dug into the exit surveys..." **TIMING:** 1 minute **EXPECT:** Someone will ask "What's our historical churn rate?" **ANSWER:** "Typically 8-10%, so this is nearly double." **GESTURE:** Point to chart spike in Q4 **Notes:** - Make eye contact during pause - Slow down when delivering key stat ("15%") - If remote, unmute before speaking **Pro Tips:** - Conversational tone, not formal speech - Use transitions: "Now...", "Here's the interesting part..." - Ask rhetorical questions: "So what caused this?" - Tell micro-stories: "I talked to a customer who said..." Write speaker notes for each slide. ``` #### Audience-Specific Adaptations ``` Customize deck for different audiences: **Same Content, Different Framing:** **For Engineers (Technical Deep Dive):** - More slides with detailed architecture - Code snippets, API specs - Performance benchmarks - Focus: "How it works" **For Executives (Strategic Overview):** - Fewer slides, higher level - Business impact and ROI - Competitive landscape - Focus: "Why it matters" **For Sales Team (Enablement):** - Use cases and customer stories - Competitive differentiators - Objection handling - Focus: "How to sell it" **For Investors (Pitch Deck):** - Market size and opportunity - Traction and milestones - Financial projections - Focus: "Why invest now" **Customization Checklist:** - [ ] Terminology matches audience's domain - [ ] Examples are relevant to their context - [ ] Metrics they care about prominently featured - [ ] Level of detail appropriate - [ ] Call to action tailored to their decision authority Adapt presentation outline for [specific audience]. ``` ## Advanced Techniques ### Data Storytelling ``` Transform data into narrative: **Raw Data:** "Q1 revenue: $5M, Q2: $6M, Q3: $7M, Q4: $8M" **Storytelling Approach:** **Slide 1:** "We're on a $26M ARR Run Rate" 📈 [Show line chart with upward trajectory] **Slide 2:** "Each Quarter Beat the Last by 20%" ✨ [Show quarter-over-quarter growth percentages] **Slide 3:** "Three Factors Drove This Growth" 🔑 [Show contribution waterfall: +$1M from new customers, +$1M from upsells, +$1M from expansion] **Slide 4:** "New Customer Acquisition Tripled" 🚀 [Show number of new customers by quarter with annotations of key campaigns] **Narrative Arc:** - Headline achievement - Pattern/trend - Attribution (why) - Deep dive on one driver - Implications going forward Make data memorable through story. ``` ### The "Assertion-Evidence" Model ``` Structure slides for maximum persuasion: **Traditional (Weak):** Slide Title: "Market Opportunity" Body: • Total Addressable Market (TAM): $50B • Growing at 25% CAGR • We're targeting SMB segment **Assertion-Evidence (Strong):** Slide Title: "We're Targeting a $50B Market Growing at 25% Annually" Body: [Visual: Market size chart showing TAM growth 2020-2030] "SMB segment alone represents $12B opportunity." **Why It Works:** - Headline states the conclusion (assertion) - Visual provides proof (evidence) - Audience immediately grasps significance - No need to "build up" to punchline **Formula:** 1. Write your conclusion as headline 2. Find visual evidence that proves it 3. Add minimal text to guide interpretation Convert existing slides to assertion-evidence format. ``` ### Presentation Pacing ``` Design for optimal attention management: **Attention Curve:** ``` High | ● ● | ╱ ╲ ╱ Attn | ╲ ● ╱ | ╲ ╱ ╲ ╱ Low | ● ╲\_\_\_\_●╱ └─────────────────────────→ 0 5 10 15 20 25 min Start Mid Dip Close ``` **Pacing Strategy:** - **0-2 min:** Hook (high energy, surprising fact) - **2-10 min:** Build problem (maintain interest) - **10-15 min:** Solution (climax, deliver value) - **15-20 min:** Details (energy dips, keep moving) - **20-25 min:** Reignite with story or demo - **25-30 min:** Close strong (call to action) **Techniques to Maintain Energy:** - Change slide every 1-2 minutes - Vary visual style (chart, photo, diagram) - Ask questions ("What do you think caused this?") - Include video or demo (sensory variety) - Build suspense ("You won't believe what happened next...") Design slide sequence with pacing notes. ``` ## Best Practices 1. **One Idea Per Slide**: Don't cram multiple points 2. **Headline Tells Story**: Slide makes sense without presenter 3. **Visual First**: Start with visual, add text sparingly 4. **Practice Aloud**: Rehearse with timing 5. **Test on Device**: Check readability on laptop/projector 6. **Have Backup Plan**: PDF export, offline mode, printed notes 7. **Arrive Early**: Test tech, upload deck, get comfortable ## Example Session **User**: "Create an outline for a 20-minute pitch to raise our Series A." **Opus Response**: > **Series A Pitch Deck Outline (20 min, 15 slides)** > > **Act 1: Setup (5 min, Slides 1-5)** > > 1. **Title:** "[Company] - Transforming [Industry]" > - Tagline, fundraising ask ($XM Series A) > 2. **Hook:** "Every year, $XB is wasted on [Problem]" > - Startling statistic with visual impact > 3. **Problem:** "[Target Customer] struggles with [Pain Point]" > - Customer quote or story > - Current broken solutions > 4. **Market:** "$XB Market Growing YY% Annually" > - TAM/SAM/SOM breakdown > - Market timing: why now? > 5. **Solution:** "We're Building [One-Liner Description]" > - Product screenshot or demo > - Key differentiator > > **Act 2: Traction (8 min, Slides 6-10)** 6. **How It Works:** Visual product demo or architecture > > 7. **Traction:** "[X Customers], $YM ARR, Z% MoM Growth" > - Line chart showing growth > - Logo wall of customers > 8. **Customer Love:** "NPS 80, <5% Churn, 150% Net Dollar Retention" > - Testimonial quote > - Case study highlight > 9. **Business Model:** "$X ARPU × Y Customers = $Z Revenue" > - Unit economics > - Path to profitability > 10. **Competitive Landscape:** "We're the Only [Unique Position]" > - 2×2 matrix showing positioning > - Defensibility/moat > > **Act 3: Vision (7 min, Slides 11-15)** 11. **Roadmap:** "Next 12 Months: [Key Milestones]" - Timeline with targets > > 12. **Team:** "Built by [Relevant Experience]" > - Headshots + credentials > - Key hires planned > 13. **Financials:** "Path to $XM ARR by Year 3" > - Revenue projection > - Use of funds breakdown > 14. **Ask:** "Raising $XM at $YM Valuation" > - Terms, timeline, lead investor > 15. **Vision:** "In 5 Years, We'll [Bold Ambition]" > - Inspirational closer > - Contact info > > **Appendix:** (Not presented, for Q&A) > > - Detailed financials > - Customer pipeline > - Market research > - Technical architecture > > **Timing Allocation:** > > - Slides 1-5: 30 sec each = 2.5 min > - Slides 6-8: 1.5 min each = 4.5 min > - Slides 9-10: 1 min each = 2 min > - Slides 11-15: 2 min each = 10 min > - Buffer: 1 min > - **Total: 20 min** > > Shall I draft specific content for each slide? ## Related Resources - [Presentation Zen](https://www.presentationzen.com/) by Garr Reynolds - [Slide:ology](https://www.duarte.com/slideology/) by Nancy Duarte - [Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/30 Rule](https://guykawasaki.com/the_102030_rule/) for pitches - [Data Visualization Catalog](https://datavizcatalogue.com/) for chart types