Typography and hierarchy
Most decks fail here first. Two typefaces, three sizes, and one weight for emphasis is enough for any investor deck.
- Write headlines as full sentences that state the claim
- Set body copy at 18pt or larger so phone reading works
- Keep one text alignment per slide — usually left
- Never centre a paragraph of more than one line
Layout and spacing
A consistent grid is what separates a designed deck from a decorated one. Set margins once, place every element on the same columns, and let white space carry the emphasis instead of boxes and shadows.
- One idea per slide, one visual anchor
- Equal outer margins on all four sides
- Align edges, not centres, across consecutive slides
Charts that survive scrutiny
Charts are where credibility is won or lost. Strip everything that is not data, then label the two values a reader needs — the start and the end.
- No gridlines, no 3D, no drop shadows
- Label points directly instead of using a legend
- Never truncate an axis to exaggerate a trend
- State the metric and the period in the headline
Colour and imagery
One accent colour, used only for the thing you want read first, reads more confident than a palette. Stock photography almost always weakens a slide; product screenshots, diagrams, and real customer artefacts strengthen it.
Consistency is the whole trick
Set a master with your grid, type sizes, and chart styles before designing slide two. Most decks that feel amateur are not ugly — they are inconsistent, and readers register that as carelessness with detail.