What are the best ways to design an unforgettable pitch deck?

1 Know your goal

Before you start designing your pitch deck, you need to have a clear and specific goal in mind. What do you want your audience to do after they see your pitch deck? Do you want them to invest in your venture, sign up for your service, or join your team? Your goal should guide your content, structure, and design choices. Make sure you have a strong value proposition that explains how your idea, product, or service solves a problem, meets a need, or creates an opportunity for your target market.

2 Keep it simple

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when designing a pitch deck is to overload it with too much information, text, or graphics. A pitch deck is not a report, a manual, or a brochure. It is a summary, a teaser, or a hook. Your pitch deck should be concise, clear, and easy to follow. Aim for 10 to 20 slides, and limit each slide to one main idea, one headline, and one image. Use simple language, avoid jargon and acronyms, and use bullet points or icons to highlight key points. Use white space, contrast, and alignment to create a clean and professional layout.

3 Tell a story

A pitch deck is not just a collection of facts and figures. It is a narrative that connects your idea, product, or service to your audience's emotions, values, and aspirations. A pitch deck should tell a story that engages your audience, builds trust, and inspires action. To tell a compelling story, you need to have a clear structure that follows a logical sequence. A common structure is the problem-solution-benefit model, where you start by identifying the problem that your target market faces, then present your solution and how it works, and then show the benefits and outcomes that your solution delivers.

4 Show your personality

A pitch deck is not only a reflection of your idea, product, or service. It is also a reflection of you and your team. A pitch deck should show your personality, your passion, and your vision. A pitch deck should convey your brand identity, your values, and your culture. To show your personality, you need to use a consistent and distinctive visual style that matches your tone and voice. Use colors, fonts, images, and icons that express your brand personality and mood. Use humor, anecdotes, or quotes to add some flair and warmth. Use testimonials, case studies, or demos to showcase your credibility and achievements.

5 Make it interactive

A pitch deck is not a one-way communication. It is a conversation starter, a catalyst for dialogue and feedback. A pitch deck should make your audience curious, interested, and eager to learn more. A pitch deck should invite your audience to participate, to ask questions, to share opinions, and to offer suggestions. To make your pitch deck interactive, you need to use techniques that stimulate your audience's senses, emotions, and imagination. Use animations, transitions, or sound effects to create movement and dynamism. Use charts, graphs, or infographics to illustrate data and trends. Use quizzes, polls, or games to generate engagement and fun.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?