What is it?
A presentation design style guide, also known as presentation design guidelines, are a set of rules and standards that define how a design system should be represented across various presentation types and slide layout templates. These guidelines ensure consistency in the brand's visual and verbal communication, helping to maintain a cohesive and recognizable brand identity.
It serves as a reference tool for designers, marketers, and other stakeholders to ensure that all materials and communications adhere to the brand's established design principles.
It's often a subset of a more comprehensive brand guidelines document, tailored specifically for the context of presentations. It takes the overarching brand identity and design principles outlined in the brand guidelines and adapts them to the unique requirements of slideshows. This includes defining the appropriate use of colors, fonts, logos, and imagery to ensure that presentations maintain the same visual identity as other brand materials.
When to use it
|
Remember to
|
Step-by-step: How to create a presentation style guide
1 |
Select the format Depending on the project's needs, scope, and budget, choose from formats for the style guide. Design guidelines can be digital or printed, and can be static (PDF) or interactive (web). There's no standard page size, so choose the final size and orientation based on a few draft layouts. |
2 |
Define the contents The presentation style guide should encompass elements relevant to maintaining consistency and a cohesive look in the presentations. This includes defining key components like slide layouts, typography, color usage, imagery, and any specific design elements required for your presentation project. Adapt the guide to include other presentation-specific elements based on the project's requirements. We've got a free checklist below that can you download and use as a starting point. |
3 |
Develop the style guide With the outline in place, create a style guide that is both informative and practical but not overwhelming. This involves providing dos and don'ts, guidelines for quality assurance checks, examples, as well as suggesting workflows and resources to maintain consistency. Remember, clarity, conciseness, and practicality are essential to create a useful guide. |
4 |
Test and refine the style guide Before finalizing the guide, share it with users to verify clarity and comprehensibility. Confirm that it includes all essential information and gather insights on how it can be enhanced for easier understanding and use. |
5 |
Ensure accessibility and distribution Make the style guide easily accessible and usable by hosting it on a preferred platform, and share it with all relevant project team members. |