Blog2021-05-06T12:54:43-07:00

New Podcast Episode Available! “Behind the Curtain: A Day in the Life of a Presentation Designer”

New episode of The Presentation Podcast now available!


In episode 239 of The Presentation Podcast, hosts Troy, Sandy, and Nolan share a behind-the-scenes look at their daily lives as professional presentation designers. They talk about how a good amount of their work happens outside PowerPoint, from project management, client communication, travel logistics, and their go-to tech tools for not only presentation design, but running a design agency. Join our conversation for a closer look at the complexity and creativity involved in daily activities of presentation design!

Listen on your favorite podcast app, or at The Presentation Podcast site here.

By |February 3rd, 2026|Resource/Misc|

The Take-Home Slide

At a recent conference, one presenter did something that immediately caught my attention – and apparently everyone else’s too! You know how most talks end with a “Take-Home” slide? It’s that tidy little 2-4 bullet point summary that tells you, “Here’s what you should remember, even if you forgot everything else.” It’s usually labeled something like Summary, Key Takeaways, or In Closing, and it usually shows up near the end of the slide deck – when everyone is already thinking about lunch. 

But this presenter? They put the Take-Home slide as slide #2. Right after the title. No warm-up. No agenda slide. No rambling intro. Just – bam! – “Here’s what you’re going to walk away with.” 

And honestly? The audience loved it. 

Most presentations have an Agenda, Roadmap, Outline, Table of Contents, or Navigation slide to cover the structure of their talk. It’s familiar, it’s expected, and it gets the job done. But leading with a Take-Home slide does something a little different: it sets expectations, not just structure. Instead of saying, “Here’s what we’ll talk about,” it says, “Here’s what you’ll get from listening.” 

It reframes the whole presentation from a content list to a value promise. 

And that tiny shift, from outlining the journey to highlighting the destination, changes how the audience pays attention. They know exactly why it matters, right from the start. 

Just another idea for the next presentation you are designing. 😊 

-Troy and the TLC Creative Services Presentation Design Team 

By |January 29th, 2026|PowerPoint|

Hack PowerPoint Transitions for a Great Effect!

When using dynamic PowerPoint transitions there is a hack to giving the transition a custom middle color! For example, on this Reveal transition below, we see the slide background during the transition effect. It’s black or white by default, according to the Background Style of the master slide assigned. In this example the slide background is set to white, which is the mid-transition color we see.

However, there is a transition hack for PowerPoint’s dynamic transitions – the background color in the middle of the transition can be customized! To confirm, this is dependent on which transition is in use, and it will not work with all transitions (see transition types below). 

For example, the Reveal transition above uses the CURRENT slide background color, which is white, as part of the transition. By default, this is the Background Style assigned to that Master slide (almost always white or black).   

TIP: Use caution when changing Background Styles! Changing a Background Style has a lot of tangent updates that can change slide content. 

SET THE SLIDE BACKGROUND COLOR  

For example, create 2 slides, and set the first slide to a blue background and the second slide to an orange background. This must be the true slide background setting – it will not work if you add a blue or orange box to the slide – the background must be set via Format Background > Solid Color. 

To set the slide background color, click on the Design tab and then the Format Background button to the right of the toolbar (or simply right-click off the slide and select Format Background).  

With the SOLID FILL button selected, click on COLOR to change to blue for the first slide and orange for the second slide of the presentation.  

Now the Reveal transition has a subtle fade from blue to orange, which is like getting a bonus, custom visual effect! 

However, the slide backgrounds are only going to be seen during the transition effect. To demonstrate this, let’s add our full slide images from the first example to our blue and orange slides (an image on each slide that “covers” the assigned color background). 

The result: instead of the slides flashing to white during the transition, there is now a blue-to-orange color shift during the slide transition! 

MORE OPTIONS 

In addition to setting the background with a solid color, other options are supported, like gradients, and image backgrounds – if they are true embedded background images set in the Format Background dialog.  

As an example, here the same Reveal transition is used. In the first slide, the background is the default black background. The second slide has a background image of colorful glitter. The Reveal transition adds the colorful glitter image as part of the transition! 

THIS DOES NOT WORK EVERYWHERE 

Unfortunately, this transition hack doesn’t work on all transitions. Transitions indicated below with a (✓) use the slide background color as part of the transition effect, and the color can be modified as we described above. The transitions, noted with an (x) use a black between color – that cannot be changed. And the transitions without a symbol do not have a “between color” for the transition. 

Enjoy these PowerPoint transition hacks to further customize your presentations! 

-The TLC Creative Services design team 

By |January 27th, 2026|PowerPoint, Tutorial|

Presentation Resource List (from Presentation Pitfalls)

I recently read “Presentation Pitfalls” by John Polk and Justin Hunsaker. In addition to the superb presentation design content and slide design rational, it includes a very thorough resource section at the end. Three full pages of books and podcasts. Get the book – it is a great presentation resource! The compiled list is also a great resource. For online reference, here is the presentation resources listed:

Presentation Design

  • Altman, Rick. Why Most PowerPoint Presentations Suck and How You Can Make Them Better. Pleasanton, CA: Harvest Books, 2012.
  • Duarte, Nancy. Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, 2008.
  • Haims, Nolan. The Better Deck Deck.
  • Malamed, Connie. Visual Design Solutions: Principles and Creative Inspiration for Learning Professionals. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2015.
  • Minto, Barbara. The Minto Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing, Thinking, and Problem Solving. London: Minto International, 1996.
  • Reynolds, Garr. Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. Berkeley, CA: New Riders, 2008.
  • Simon, Carmen. Impossible to Ignore: Creating Memorable Content to Influence Decisions. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2016.
  • Simon, Carmen. Made You Look: How to Use Brain Science to Attract Attention and Persuade Others. New York: Random House, 2020.

Storytelling and Presentation Delivery

  • Abrahams, Matt. Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot. New York: Simon Element, 2023.
  • Chen, John. Engaging Virtual Meetings: Openers, Games, and Activities for Communication, Morale, and Trust. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2020.
  • Duarte, Nancy, and Patti Sanchez. Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols. New York: Portfolio, 2016.
  • Gibson, Glenn. Before the Mic: How to Compose Meaningful, Memorable, and Motivational Presentations. Victoria, BC: Self-published, 2019.
  • Halpern, Belle Linda, and Kathy Lubar. Leadership Presence: Dramatic Techniques to Reach Out, Motivate, and Inspire. New York: Gotham Books, 2004.
  • Heath, Chip, and Dan Heath. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. New York: Random House, 2007.
  • Pollard, Tim. The Compelling Communicator: Mastering the Art and Science of Exceptional Presentation Design. Lafayette, CO: Oratium, 2016.
  • Whittaker, James. The Storyteller’s Spellbook: How to Make Your Ideas More Compelling and Your Career More Magical. Self-published, 2017. Kindle edition.
  • Zimney, Sally. Speaking Story: Using the Magic of Storytelling to Make Your Mark, Pitch Your Ideas, and Ignite Meaningful Change. Minneapolis, MN: Two Harbors Press, 2017.

Data Visualization

  • Berinato, Scott. Good Charts: The HBR Guide to Making Smarter, More Persuasive Data Visualizations. Boston: Harvard Business Review Press, 2016.
  • Duarte, Nancy. DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, 2019.
  • Evergreen, Stephanie D. H. Effective Data Visualization: The Right Chart for the Right Data. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2016.
  • Few, Stephen. Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten. Burlingame, CA: Analytics Press, 2012.
  • Knaflic, Cole Nussbaumer. Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2015.
  • Tufte, Edward R. Beautiful Evidence. Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press, 2006.
  • Tufte, Edward R. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press, 1983.
  • Wong, Dona. The Wall Street Journal Guide to Information Graphics: The Dos and Don’ts of Presenting Data, Facts, and Figures. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2010.
  • Zelazny, Gene. Say It with Charts: The Executive’s Guide to Visual Communication. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001.

Tool Usage

  • Bossé, Chantal. Microsoft PowerPoint Best Practices, Tips, and Techniques: An Indispensable Guide to Mastering PowerPoint’s Advanced Tools to Create Engaging Presentations. Birmingham, UK: Packt Publishing, 2023.
  • Hogan, Stephy. The Reluctant Designer’s Field Guide to PowerPoint. Self-published, 2022.
  • Parkinson, Mike. A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters. Alexandria, VA: ATD Press, 2018.
  • Terberg, Julie, and Echo Swinford. Building PowerPoint Templates v2. Self-published, 2021.

Communication Adjacent

  • The Arbinger Institute. Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2000.
  • Covey, Stephen M. R. The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything. New York: Free Press, 2006.
  • Duhigg, Charles. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. New York: Random House, 2012.
  • Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011.
  • Martin, David. Free the Genius: How the Very Best Grow Their Meaning, Mission, and Contribution. Ignite Press: 2019.
  • Norman, Don A. The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic Books, 2013.

Podcasts

By |January 22nd, 2026|Resource/Misc|

New Podcast Episode Available! “Presentation Pitfalls with John Polk”

This latest episode of The Presentation Podcast brings together hosts Troy, Sandy, and Nolan with special guest John Polk—author, workshop leader, and consultant—to discuss his new book, Presentation Pitfalls: Ten Traps Business Professionals Fall Into and How to Avoid Them (co-authored with Justin Hunsaker).

If you’re looking to elevate your business presentations game, then this episode is a goldmine! Discover deep insights into the most common mistakes professionals make and, more importantly, how to avoid them. New episode of The Presentation Podcast now available!

Listen on your favorite podcast app, or at The Presentation Podcast site here.

By |January 20th, 2026|Resource/Misc|

Presentation App Default Page Size

Here is a question we get from clients pretty often: “What is the difference between page size and aspect ratio? Do either matter?”

The answer is yes! They do matter, and each becomes even more important if multiple presentations are being combined into a single presentation. 

  • Aspect Ratio is the shape of the slides, and the aspect ratio needs to match the AV technology if the presentation is going to fill the AV screen properly. Nowadays, the standard aspect ratio is 16:9 – basically a rectangle. 
  • Page Size is the actual measurements used to create that aspect ratio in your presentation software. So yes, 13.333” x 7.5” is the same aspect ratio as 26” x 14.625”. However, and this is important, when the 26” wide slides are pasted into the 13.333” wide presentation, fonts and graphics may not scale down properly, nor maintain the same slide layout. 

Obviously, the ideal scenario is for presentations to be created at the correct aspect ratio for where they are being presented (meaning the slides will fill the screen exactly) AND for all presentations to be created with the same page size. If both are done properly then presentations can be combined into a single file, and/or slides can seamlessly be added between presentations as needed. 

With that in mind, below is a handy list of common presentation applications, such as PowerPoint and Adobe, and their default page sizes. In the case where an application doesn’t support inches, we simply exported the file to PowerPoint to pull the page size in inches. The great news is that all these apps use the standard 16:9 aspect ratio.  

 

Default Page Size of Presentation Apps: 

Microsoft PowerPoint Windows/Mac/Web: 1280 x 720px (~96ppi), 13.333 x 7.5in 

*TIP: while the technical resolution of PowerPoint is 720p, the resolution is really based on the output (eg. what the computer projects). TLC Creative Services designs all presentations with images and content based on full HD, 1920×1080 if no end use resolution is specified.

Apple Keynote: 1920 x 1080px (~96ppi), 26.67 x 15in 

Figma: 1920 x 1080px (~96ppi), 20 x 11.25in 

Canva: 1920 x 1080px (~96ppi), 20 x 11.25in 

Google Slides: 960 x 540px (~96ppi), 10 x 5.625in 

Beautiful AI: 1920 x 1080px (~96ppi), 20 x 11.25in 

Gemini (AI created presentation): 960 x 540px (~96ppi), 10 x 5.625in 

Adobe Express: 1920 x 1080px (~96ppi), 20 x 11.25in 

 

Now you know. 😊 

-The TLC Creative Services presentation design team 

By |January 13th, 2026|Resource/Misc, Software/Add-Ins|
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