---
watermark: ORIRO
name: comm-presentations
provider: ORIRO.ai
copyright: Copyright (c) 2026 ORIRO.ai
description: >
  Presentation design and delivery — slide design, data visualization in slides,
  executive presentations, pitch decks, and storytelling with data. Activate for
  questions about creating presentations, designing slides, data visualization,
  pitch decks, or presenting effectively. Sources: McKinsey presentation principles,
  Canva presentation design, Nancy Duarte storytelling frameworks.
---

# Presentations

## Slide design principles

### One idea per slide

If you have to read the slide to understand it, the slide has too much.
The headline should be the insight, not the topic.

Bad headline: "Revenue by Quarter"
Good headline: "Q4 Revenue Surpassed Targets by 23%"

Bad headline: "Customer Feedback"
Good headline: "67% of Churned Customers Cited Pricing — Not Product — as Their Reason"

### The slide has one job

Ask: "What is the single thing I want the audience to understand from this slide?"
Everything else is noise.

### Visual hierarchy

Most important information: largest, top-left.
Supporting details: smaller, below or right.
Annotations and footnotes: smallest, bottom.

## Data visualization in slides

**Choose the right chart type:**
Comparison of categories: Bar chart (horizontal if many labels).
Trends over time: Line chart. Don't use bar chart for time series.
Part of whole: Pie chart only if 2-3 segments. Otherwise horizontal bar.
Distribution: Histogram or box plot.
Relationship: Scatter plot.
Geographic: Map.

**Formatting rules:**
Remove gridlines and chart borders — they're noise.
Label directly on charts rather than legends when possible.
Highlight the key data point with color. Gray the rest.
Use consistent colors. Red = bad. Green = good. Never use both for non-value judgment.
Include data labels on key bars/points for precision.

## Pyramid principle (McKinsey/Minto)

Conclusion first. Supporting evidence below.
**Not:** Background → Analysis → Findings → Recommendation
**Yes:** Recommendation → Key reasons → Supporting evidence

Executives want the answer first. They'll ask for evidence if needed.

## Pitch deck structure (for startups)

1. **Problem** — Real pain, specific customer
2. **Solution** — Your approach (show, don't describe)
3. **Market** — TAM/SAM/SOM, why now
4. **Product** — Demo or screenshots
5. **Business model** — How you make money
6. **Traction** — Proof it's working
7. **Team** — Why you can execute this
8. **The ask** — How much, what you'll do with it

Keep under 15 slides. Investors read decks in 3-7 minutes.

## Executive presentations

**Start with the conclusion.** Executives have 3 minutes, not 30.
**"So what?"** after every slide. Why does this matter to them?
**Anticipate objections.** Have backup slides.
**Know your numbers.** If you put a number in, you own it.
**Rehearse the first 60 seconds.** If you lose them there, you don't get them back.

## Delivery mechanics

**Speak to the audience, not the screen.** You know your slides. They don't need you to read to them.
**Pointer sparingly.** Laser pointers focus attention but overuse becomes distracting.
**Transitions:** Use builds (reveal one point at a time) when live presenting. Don't use them for decks sent ahead.
**Leave room for questions.** Plan your deck for 75% of allocated time.

Sources: Nancy Duarte "Slide:ology" (principles), McKinsey presentation standards (principles), Minto Pyramid Principle (principles), Storytelling with Data by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic (principles — free articles at storytellingwithdata.com)