Storyboarding
Storyboarding is the process of planning your presentation visually, slide-by-slide, before you ever open design software. You use tools like sticky notes to map out your narrative on a wall or table, allowing you to see the entire flow at once and easily make changes.
What is it?
Storyboarding is the process of visually planning your presentation slide by slide before you begin designing. Think of it as creating a simple blueprint or a map for your entire talk.
You use simple tools like sticky notes, treating each note as a single slide with one main idea. These notes are then arranged on a wall or table to map out the narrative from beginning to end. This method allows you to see your entire story at a glance, making it easy to spot logical gaps or confusing sections.
Changing the story is as simple as moving a sticky note, encouraging you to perfect the flow without wasting time on design revisions. Ultimately, it is the strategic planning phase that ensures your final presentation is clear, compelling, and effective.
The core problem storyboarding solves is this: When you start building a presentation directly in a tool like PowerPoint, you are forcing your brain to do three completely different jobs at the same time:
- Architect: Structuring the overall story and logic.
- Writer: Crafting the specific words and headlines.
- Interior Designer: Choosing fonts, colors, icons, and arranging elements.
Trying to do all three at once is why people get stuck, waste time, and end up with a confusing presentation. Storyboarding isolates the most important job—being the Architect—and lets you perfect it before moving on.
Why it works
Storyboarding works because it separates the act of creating a story from the act of designing slides. By focusing on the big-picture narrative first, you can easily spot weaknesses and refine your logic before any time is wasted on formatting and visuals.
When to use it
It’s ideal for problem-solving, persuasive, or data-driven presentations, especially when addressing executives or stakeholders who
expect logical and actionable insights. Avoid using it for purely informational or inspirational presentations without a central issue to resolve.
Remember to
Limit yourself to one idea per sticky note. This is the foundational rule that makes everything else work. It forces you to simplify your thoughts and break down your message into its smallest, clearest parts.
Step-by-step
Step 1: Gather your tools
Step 1: Gather your tools
You only need a few things: a stack of sticky notes (or index cards) and a pen. You’ll also need a blank wall, window, or a large table.
Step 2: Brain dump your ideas
Step 2: Brain dump your ideas
Before you worry about order, just list every single point, fact, or idea you want to include in your presentation. Don't filter yourself; just get it all out of your head and onto a separate piece of paper.
Step 3: Create a card for each idea
Step 3: Create a card for each idea
Now, go through your list and put each single idea on its own sticky note—this is the most important rule. For each note, quickly add three things:
- A Headline: What’s the one clear point of this slide?
- A Key Phrase: A few words about what you’ll say.
- A Visual Sketch: A simple doodle of what will be on screen (a chart, an icon, etc.).
Step 4: Build your first draft
Step 4: Build your first draft
Start sticking the notes on the wall in an order that tells a basic story. A great starting point is a simple three-act structure: Problem, Solution, and Call to Action.
Step 5: Review and refine your story
Step 5: Review and refine your story
Step back and look at the whole wall. Read only the headlines aloud in order. Ask yourself: Does it flow? Is it logical? What’s missing? This is where you perfect the narrative—move notes around, add new ones, or throw some away until the story feels strong and clear.