Ghost Deck Skeleton
When to use
Use this at the start of building, after the storyline is set but before any real slide is designed. Use it to align a team or a partner on the argument cheaply, before anyone spends hours formatting. Use it when scope is unclear and you want to lock the page count and the flow first.
What it does
It produces a ghost deck, also called a skeleton deck or dummy deck: every slide present, each with its action title written and a sketch of the intended exhibit, but no real design or final data. It makes the storyline visible and editable before expensive work begins.
Method
A ghost deck is the standard top-tier-consulting way to de-risk a deck. Build it slide by slide from the storyline.
One slide per leaf. Take the storyline tree and create one ghost slide for each evidence leaf, plus section dividers and the executive summary. Keep them in presentation order.
Write the action title now. Each ghost slide gets its final action title up front. The title chain is the deliverable being reviewed. If the titles do not argue the case, fix the storyline, not the slides.
Sketch the exhibit, do not build it. For each slide, write a one-line description of the intended visual: "waterfall from current to target margin", "2x2 of segments by growth and profit", "three-column comparison of options". Note the rough layout, not the styling.
Note the data needed. State what data each slide requires and whether you have it. This surfaces analysis gaps while they are cheap to fix.
Mark confidence. Tag each slide as solid, likely, or speculative. Speculative slides are candidates to cut or to flag for the partner.
Keep it ugly on purpose. No colors, no icons, no alignment work. The ghost deck must look unfinished so reviewers critique the logic, not the polish.
Review the flow as titles only. Present the title chain first. Get agreement on the argument and the page count before building anything real.
Convert to a build plan. Once approved, each ghost slide becomes a build ticket: title fixed, exhibit chosen, data identified.
Inputs
- The storyline tree or pyramid.
- The decision and audience.
- Known data availability and gaps.
Output format
Return a numbered slide list. For each slide: the action title, a one-line exhibit sketch, the data required, and a confidence tag. End with the total page count and a list of slides flagged as data-gapped or speculative.
Example
Slide 4 of a ghost deck.
Title: "Two of five plants drive 70 percent of the quality defects."
Exhibit sketch: horizontal bar chart, defects by plant, top two highlighted.
Data needed: defect counts by plant, last 12 months. Status: have it.
Confidence: solid.
1---2name: ghost-deck-skeleton3description: Produces a ghost deck (skeleton) of empty slides with action titles and exhibit placeholders, so the storyline is agreed before any time is spent on design.4---56# Ghost Deck Skeleton78## When to use9Use this at the start of building, after the storyline is set but before any real slide is designed. Use it to align a team or a partner on the argument cheaply, before anyone spends hours formatting. Use it when scope is unclear and you want to lock the page count and the flow first.1011## What it does12It produces a ghost deck, also called a skeleton deck or dummy deck: every slide present, each with its action title written and a sketch of the intended exhibit, but no real design or final data. It makes the storyline visible and editable before expensive work begins.1314## Method15A ghost deck is the standard top-tier-consulting way to de-risk a deck. Build it slide by slide from the storyline.16171. One slide per leaf. Take the storyline tree and create one ghost slide for each evidence leaf, plus section dividers and the executive summary. Keep them in presentation order.18192. Write the action title now. Each ghost slide gets its final action title up front. The title chain is the deliverable being reviewed. If the titles do not argue the case, fix the storyline, not the slides.20213. Sketch the exhibit, do not build it. For each slide, write a one-line description of the intended visual: "waterfall from current to target margin", "2x2 of segments by growth and profit", "three-column comparison of options". Note the rough layout, not the styling.22234. Note the data needed. State what data each slide requires and whether you have it. This surfaces analysis gaps while they are cheap to fix.24255. Mark confidence. Tag each slide as solid, likely, or speculative. Speculative slides are candidates to cut or to flag for the partner.26276. Keep it ugly on purpose. No colors, no icons, no alignment work. The ghost deck must look unfinished so reviewers critique the logic, not the polish.28297. Review the flow as titles only. Present the title chain first. Get agreement on the argument and the page count before building anything real.30318. Convert to a build plan. Once approved, each ghost slide becomes a build ticket: title fixed, exhibit chosen, data identified.3233## Inputs34- The storyline tree or pyramid.35- The decision and audience.36- Known data availability and gaps.3738## Output format39Return a numbered slide list. For each slide: the action title, a one-line exhibit sketch, the data required, and a confidence tag. End with the total page count and a list of slides flagged as data-gapped or speculative.4041## Example42Slide 4 of a ghost deck.43Title: "Two of five plants drive 70 percent of the quality defects."44Exhibit sketch: horizontal bar chart, defects by plant, top two highlighted.45Data needed: defect counts by plant, last 12 months. Status: have it.46Confidence: solid.
andreworia