Pro Presentations
Metodología basada en Nancy Duarte, Garr Reynolds, Michael Alley, Edward Tufte, Barbara Minto y estándares McKinsey/BCG.
Related Skills
ppt-creator — If available, use for PPTX export and chart generation via chartkit.py. This skill handles strategy, design, and content; ppt-creator handles file conversion.
Quick Start
- Intake — Ask the 8 Key Questions (or apply defaults)
- Select narrative framework — Match presentation type to structure
- Build outline — Assertion-evidence headlines, 1 idea per slide
- Apply Design System — See
references/design-system.md for typography, color, layout specs
- Apply Anti-AI Rules — Break sameness, vary structure, add STAR moments
- Speaker notes — 45-60 seconds per slide with transitions
- Score with Rubric — Must reach 80/100 before delivery
- Package deliverables — slides.md, notes.md, refs.md, assets/
For a complete slide example with notes, see examples/sample-slides.md.
1. Intake — 8 Key Questions
Ask before starting. If no response after 2 prompts, use defaults and note assumptions in speaker notes.
| # |
Question |
Default |
| 1 |
Audience: Who, expertise level, what they care about? |
General professional audience |
| 2 |
Venue: Room size, lighting control, projector type? |
Large auditorium, ambient light, 1080p projector |
| 3 |
Duration and max slide count? |
20 min, 15 slides |
| 4 |
Objective: What action should the audience take after? |
Understand and accept the proposition |
| 5 |
Tone: Formal/casual, inspirational/analytical? |
Professional, clear, confident |
| 6 |
Data available: Tables, CSV, metrics, case studies? |
None; use placeholder + required fields list |
| 7 |
Brand: Colors, fonts, logo, style guide? |
Neutral professional theme |
| 8 |
Deliverable format: Markdown, PPTX, both? |
slides.md (Marp/Reveal.js compatible) |
2. Narrative Framework Selection
Select the framework that matches the presentation type. Do NOT default to generic bullet-point structure.
| Type |
Framework |
Slides |
Duration |
Structure |
| Keynote / Conference |
Duarte Sparkline |
15-25 |
15-20 min |
Oscillate: what is <-> what could be. Build to STAR moment. End with transformed future. |
| Business / Consulting |
SCQA + Pyramid Principle |
12-15 |
15-20 min |
Situation -> Complication -> Question -> Answer. Lead with conclusion, support with MECE arguments. |
| Pitch Deck (Investors) |
Sequoia Format |
10-12 |
10-15 min |
Purpose -> Problem -> Solution -> Why Now -> Market -> Competition -> Product -> Model -> Traction -> Team -> Ask |
| Academic / Technical |
Assertion-Evidence (Alley) |
12-18 |
15-20 min |
Each slide: sentence assertion headline + visual evidence (chart/diagram/image). No bullet points. |
| TED-style |
TED 4-Step |
20-40 |
18 min max |
Make them care (0-3min) -> Explain idea (3-8) -> Show evidence (8-15) -> Show impact (15-18). One idea only. |
| Pecha Kucha |
20x20 Fixed |
20 |
6:40 fixed |
20 slides, 20 seconds each. Image-dominant, minimal text. |
Narrative Principles (All Types)
- The audience is the hero, the presenter is the mentor (Duarte)
- Restrain, Reduce, Emphasize — remove everything that does not serve the message (Reynolds)
- Slides are not documents — provide a separate handout for detailed reference
- Every slide answers one question: "What is the one thing the audience should remember from this?"
- Build a STAR moment: a deliberately unforgettable element — dramatic statistic, powerful visual, personal story, live demo, or provocative question
3. Slide Headline Rules
MANDATORY: All slide headlines must be assertion sentences, not topic labels.
This is the single highest-impact rule from presentation research (Alley, Minto, McKinsey).
| BAD (topic label) |
GOOD (assertion sentence) |
| "Revenue Analysis" |
"Revenue grew 15% YoY, outpacing market by 3x" |
| "Market Overview" |
"The $4.2B market is shifting toward AI-native solutions" |
| "Team" |
"Our team combines 40 years of domain expertise with AI research" |
| "Next Steps" |
"Three actions in 30 days will capture 80% of the opportunity" |
| "Challenges" |
"Legacy infrastructure costs us $2M annually in lost productivity" |
Test: A senior executive flipping through only the headlines should understand the complete argument without reading any body content.
4. Design System for Auditoriums
Full specifications in references/design-system.md. Key rules:
Typography: Titles 40-44pt, body 28-32pt, absolute minimum 24pt. Max 2 font families. Weight: Regular/Medium/Bold only — never Light/Thin (they wash out on projection). Recommended: Inter, Montserrat, Helvetica, Calibri, Verdana.
Color: Contrast ratio 7:1 minimum (WCAG AAA) for projected content. 60-30-10 rule (background/content/accent). Light background for unknown venues. See references/design-system.md for projection-safe palettes and forbidden combinations.
Layout: 16:9 canvas (1920x1080). Title safe area: inner 80%. 12-column grid, spacing increments 4/8/16/24/32/48px. White space: 40-60% of each slide empty.
Density: Max 30 words/slide (business), 10 words (keynotes). Billboard Test: readable in 3 seconds from the back row.
Charts: Declarative titles ("Sales dropped 17%" not "Q3 Sales"). Maximize data-ink ratio (Tufte). All chart text 24pt+ for auditoriums. Blue/orange pairings (never red/green).
5. Anti-AI Rules (Breaking the Sameness Problem)
AI presentations fail because they are predictable, generic, and emotionally empty.
5.1 Structure Variation (MANDATORY)
Never use the same layout for 3+ consecutive slides. Rotate between:
| Layout Type |
When to Use |
| Full-bleed image |
Emotional impact, scene-setting |
| Single big number |
Key statistic, surprise data |
| Assertion + evidence |
Core arguments (headline + chart/diagram) |
| Comparison (A vs B) |
Before/after, us vs. them |
| Quote |
Authority, testimony |
| Diagram/process |
Workflows, architecture |
| Blank/breathing |
Transition, emphasis |
Pattern-breaking rule: After every 3-4 "normal" slides, insert a full-bleed image, big-number slide, or breathing slide.
5.2 Content Authenticity
- Headlines as assertions — never topic labels (see Section 3)
- Specific over generic — "$2.3M saved in 6 months" not "significant cost savings"
- Real data or honest placeholders — never fabricate statistics. Use
[DATA NEEDED: description]
- Personal stories > generic examples — one real anecdote beats three hypothetical scenarios
- Transitions are sentences — each slide connects to the next via narrative bridge in speaker notes
5.3 The STAR Moment
Every presentation must have at least one Something They'll Always Remember (Duarte):
- A shocking statistic on a dedicated full slide
- An evocative visual that triggers emotional response
- A repeatable sound bite the audience will quote later
- A memorable dramatization (demo, prop, live example)
- An emotive story with conflict and resolution
Place at 70-80% through the presentation (just before or at the narrative climax).
5.4 Anti-Pattern Checklist
Before delivery, verify NONE of these are present:
- Three or more consecutive slides with identical layout
- Generic stock photography (handshakes, lightbulbs, puzzle pieces)
- Topic-label headlines instead of assertion sentences
- Bullet points as primary content on more than 40% of slides
- No STAR moment anywhere in the deck
- Slides that work as independent islands (no narrative flow)
- Fabricated statistics or unsourced data claims
- Animations that serve decoration, not communication
6. Speaker Notes
Generate notes for every slide. Structure:
[SLIDE N — estimated 45-60 seconds]
OPENING: Hook or transition from previous slide (1 sentence)
ASSERTION: State the headline claim in natural speech (1-2 sentences)
EVIDENCE: Explain the visual/data/story that supports it (2-3 sentences)
TRANSITION: Bridge to the next slide (1 sentence)
[Click cues: "Click to reveal chart" / "Advance animation"]
[Pause markers: "PAUSE 2 seconds for emphasis"]
Rules:
- 50-75 words per slide in notes (max 100 — beyond that is scripting)
- Bullet points, never full paragraphs
- Include key statistics you will say aloud but are NOT on the slide
- For the STAR moment slide, write the exact words to deliver
See examples/sample-slides.md for complete examples with notes.
7. Quality Rubric (100 points, threshold 80)
Score each criterion 0-10. Do not deliver if total < 80. If < 80, identify the 3 lowest-scoring items, improve, and re-score (max 2 iterations).
| # |
Criterion |
What 10/10 Looks Like |
| 1 |
Goal clarity and CTA |
Audience, objective, and desired action are crystal clear. CTA is specific and actionable. |
| 2 |
Narrative structure |
Follows the selected framework with coherent arc and tension. |
| 3 |
Assertion-evidence headlines |
Every headline is a complete sentence. Executive can understand argument from headlines alone. |
| 4 |
Evidence quality |
Data is sourced, credible, and calibrated. No fabricated stats. Placeholders are explicit. |
| 5 |
Data visualization |
Charts match the question asked. Labels complete. Declarative titles. Color-blind safe. |
| 6 |
Typography and legibility |
Meets auditorium minimums. Max 2 fonts, 3 sizes. No Light/Thin weights. |
| 7 |
Contrast and accessibility |
7:1 ratio (AAA). No color-only encoding. Palette survives projection. |
| 8 |
White space and density |
40-60% empty. Billboard test passes. Max word counts respected. |
| 9 |
Anti-AI rules fulfilled |
Structure varies. STAR moment present. No 3+ identical layouts. No stock cliches. |
| 10 |
Speaker notes and transitions |
45-60 sec per slide. OPENING-ASSERTION-EVIDENCE-TRANSITION structure. Pause markers included. |
8. Deliverables
All saved to /output/:
| File |
Content |
slides.md |
Marp/Reveal.js compatible. Assertion headlines, content,  placeholders, <!-- notes --> blocks. |
notes.md |
Full speaker notes with timing, transitions, click cues, delivery outline. |
refs.md |
All citations, data sources, and image attributions. |
assets/*.png |
Generated charts (if data provided and matplotlib/pandas available). |
presentation.pptx |
PPTX export if python-pptx available. Otherwise, include conversion instructions. |
For the Marp header template and complete slide examples, see examples/sample-slides.md.
References
references/design-system.md — Full typography, color palettes, grid, density, and data visualization specsreferences/technical-specs.md — Resolution, aspect ratios, DPI, file formats, accessibility checklist, common mistakes, modern trendsexamples/sample-slides.md — 6 complete example slides in Marp format demonstrating layout variation, assertion headlines, STAR moment, and speaker notes
1---2name: pro-presentations3description: Crea presentaciones profesionales de alto impacto (keynotes, pitch decks, propuestas comerciales). Usar cuando: "presentacion profesional", "pitch deck", "crear slides", "deck para cliente", "investor deck", "presentacion para auditorio", "consulting deck", "TED-style", "propuesta visual", "slide deck", "presentacion impactante".4---56# Pro Presentations78Metodología basada en Nancy Duarte, Garr Reynolds, Michael Alley, Edward Tufte, Barbara Minto y estándares McKinsey/BCG.910## Related Skills1112- **`ppt-creator`** — If available, use for PPTX export and chart generation via `chartkit.py`. This skill handles strategy, design, and content; ppt-creator handles file conversion.1314## Quick Start15161. **Intake** — Ask the 8 Key Questions (or apply defaults)172. **Select narrative framework** — Match presentation type to structure183. **Build outline** — Assertion-evidence headlines, 1 idea per slide194. **Apply Design System** — See `references/design-system.md` for typography, color, layout specs205. **Apply Anti-AI Rules** — Break sameness, vary structure, add STAR moments216. **Speaker notes** — 45-60 seconds per slide with transitions227. **Score with Rubric** — Must reach 80/100 before delivery238. **Package deliverables** — slides.md, notes.md, refs.md, assets/2425For a complete slide example with notes, see `examples/sample-slides.md`.2627---2829## 1. Intake — 8 Key Questions3031Ask before starting. If no response after 2 prompts, use **defaults** and note assumptions in speaker notes.3233| # | Question | Default |34|---|----------|---------|35| 1 | **Audience**: Who, expertise level, what they care about? | General professional audience |36| 2 | **Venue**: Room size, lighting control, projector type? | Large auditorium, ambient light, 1080p projector |37| 3 | **Duration** and max slide count? | 20 min, 15 slides |38| 4 | **Objective**: What action should the audience take after? | Understand and accept the proposition |39| 5 | **Tone**: Formal/casual, inspirational/analytical? | Professional, clear, confident |40| 6 | **Data available**: Tables, CSV, metrics, case studies? | None; use placeholder + required fields list |41| 7 | **Brand**: Colors, fonts, logo, style guide? | Neutral professional theme |42| 8 | **Deliverable format**: Markdown, PPTX, both? | slides.md (Marp/Reveal.js compatible) |4344---4546## 2. Narrative Framework Selection4748Select the framework that matches the presentation type. Do NOT default to generic bullet-point structure.4950| Type | Framework | Slides | Duration | Structure |51|------|-----------|--------|----------|-----------|52| **Keynote / Conference** | Duarte Sparkline | 15-25 | 15-20 min | Oscillate: what is <-> what could be. Build to STAR moment. End with transformed future. |53| **Business / Consulting** | SCQA + Pyramid Principle | 12-15 | 15-20 min | Situation -> Complication -> Question -> Answer. Lead with conclusion, support with MECE arguments. |54| **Pitch Deck (Investors)** | Sequoia Format | 10-12 | 10-15 min | Purpose -> Problem -> Solution -> Why Now -> Market -> Competition -> Product -> Model -> Traction -> Team -> Ask |55| **Academic / Technical** | Assertion-Evidence (Alley) | 12-18 | 15-20 min | Each slide: sentence assertion headline + visual evidence (chart/diagram/image). No bullet points. |56| **TED-style** | TED 4-Step | 20-40 | 18 min max | Make them care (0-3min) -> Explain idea (3-8) -> Show evidence (8-15) -> Show impact (15-18). One idea only. |57| **Pecha Kucha** | 20x20 Fixed | 20 | 6:40 fixed | 20 slides, 20 seconds each. Image-dominant, minimal text. |5859### Narrative Principles (All Types)6061- **The audience is the hero, the presenter is the mentor** (Duarte)62- **Restrain, Reduce, Emphasize** — remove everything that does not serve the message (Reynolds)63- **Slides are not documents** — provide a separate handout for detailed reference64- **Every slide answers one question**: "What is the one thing the audience should remember from this?"65- **Build a STAR moment**: a deliberately unforgettable element — dramatic statistic, powerful visual, personal story, live demo, or provocative question6667---6869## 3. Slide Headline Rules7071**MANDATORY: All slide headlines must be assertion sentences, not topic labels.**7273This is the single highest-impact rule from presentation research (Alley, Minto, McKinsey).7475| BAD (topic label) | GOOD (assertion sentence) |76|--------------------|---------------------------|77| "Revenue Analysis" | "Revenue grew 15% YoY, outpacing market by 3x" |78| "Market Overview" | "The $4.2B market is shifting toward AI-native solutions" |79| "Team" | "Our team combines 40 years of domain expertise with AI research" |80| "Next Steps" | "Three actions in 30 days will capture 80% of the opportunity" |81| "Challenges" | "Legacy infrastructure costs us $2M annually in lost productivity" |8283**Test**: A senior executive flipping through only the headlines should understand the complete argument without reading any body content.8485---8687## 4. Design System for Auditoriums8889Full specifications in `references/design-system.md`. Key rules:9091**Typography:** Titles 40-44pt, body 28-32pt, absolute minimum 24pt. Max 2 font families. Weight: Regular/Medium/Bold only — never Light/Thin (they wash out on projection). Recommended: Inter, Montserrat, Helvetica, Calibri, Verdana.9293**Color:** Contrast ratio 7:1 minimum (WCAG AAA) for projected content. 60-30-10 rule (background/content/accent). Light background for unknown venues. See `references/design-system.md` for projection-safe palettes and forbidden combinations.9495**Layout:** 16:9 canvas (1920x1080). Title safe area: inner 80%. 12-column grid, spacing increments 4/8/16/24/32/48px. White space: 40-60% of each slide empty.9697**Density:** Max 30 words/slide (business), 10 words (keynotes). **Billboard Test**: readable in 3 seconds from the back row.9899**Charts:** Declarative titles ("Sales dropped 17%" not "Q3 Sales"). Maximize data-ink ratio (Tufte). All chart text 24pt+ for auditoriums. Blue/orange pairings (never red/green).100101---102103## 5. Anti-AI Rules (Breaking the Sameness Problem)104105AI presentations fail because they are predictable, generic, and emotionally empty.106107### 5.1 Structure Variation (MANDATORY)108109**Never use the same layout for 3+ consecutive slides.** Rotate between:110111| Layout Type | When to Use |112|-------------|-------------|113| **Full-bleed image** | Emotional impact, scene-setting |114| **Single big number** | Key statistic, surprise data |115| **Assertion + evidence** | Core arguments (headline + chart/diagram) |116| **Comparison (A vs B)** | Before/after, us vs. them |117| **Quote** | Authority, testimony |118| **Diagram/process** | Workflows, architecture |119| **Blank/breathing** | Transition, emphasis |120121**Pattern-breaking rule:** After every 3-4 "normal" slides, insert a full-bleed image, big-number slide, or breathing slide.122123### 5.2 Content Authenticity124125- **Headlines as assertions** — never topic labels (see Section 3)126- **Specific over generic** — "$2.3M saved in 6 months" not "significant cost savings"127- **Real data or honest placeholders** — never fabricate statistics. Use `[DATA NEEDED: description]`128- **Personal stories > generic examples** — one real anecdote beats three hypothetical scenarios129- **Transitions are sentences** — each slide connects to the next via narrative bridge in speaker notes130131### 5.3 The STAR Moment132133Every presentation must have at least one **S**omething **T**hey'll **A**lways **R**emember (Duarte):134135- A **shocking statistic** on a dedicated full slide136- An **evocative visual** that triggers emotional response137- A **repeatable sound bite** the audience will quote later138- A **memorable dramatization** (demo, prop, live example)139- An **emotive story** with conflict and resolution140141Place at 70-80% through the presentation (just before or at the narrative climax).142143### 5.4 Anti-Pattern Checklist144145Before delivery, verify NONE of these are present:146147- Three or more consecutive slides with identical layout148- Generic stock photography (handshakes, lightbulbs, puzzle pieces)149- Topic-label headlines instead of assertion sentences150- Bullet points as primary content on more than 40% of slides151- No STAR moment anywhere in the deck152- Slides that work as independent islands (no narrative flow)153- Fabricated statistics or unsourced data claims154- Animations that serve decoration, not communication155156---157158## 6. Speaker Notes159160Generate notes for every slide. Structure:161162```163[SLIDE N — estimated 45-60 seconds]164165OPENING: Hook or transition from previous slide (1 sentence)166ASSERTION: State the headline claim in natural speech (1-2 sentences)167EVIDENCE: Explain the visual/data/story that supports it (2-3 sentences)168TRANSITION: Bridge to the next slide (1 sentence)169170[Click cues: "Click to reveal chart" / "Advance animation"]171[Pause markers: "PAUSE 2 seconds for emphasis"]172```173174**Rules:**175- 50-75 words per slide in notes (max 100 — beyond that is scripting)176- Bullet points, never full paragraphs177- Include key statistics you will say aloud but are NOT on the slide178- For the STAR moment slide, write the exact words to deliver179180See `examples/sample-slides.md` for complete examples with notes.181182---183184## 7. Quality Rubric (100 points, threshold 80)185186Score each criterion 0-10. **Do not deliver if total < 80.** If < 80, identify the 3 lowest-scoring items, improve, and re-score (max 2 iterations).187188| # | Criterion | What 10/10 Looks Like |189|---|-----------|----------------------|190| 1 | **Goal clarity and CTA** | Audience, objective, and desired action are crystal clear. CTA is specific and actionable. |191| 2 | **Narrative structure** | Follows the selected framework with coherent arc and tension. |192| 3 | **Assertion-evidence headlines** | Every headline is a complete sentence. Executive can understand argument from headlines alone. |193| 4 | **Evidence quality** | Data is sourced, credible, and calibrated. No fabricated stats. Placeholders are explicit. |194| 5 | **Data visualization** | Charts match the question asked. Labels complete. Declarative titles. Color-blind safe. |195| 6 | **Typography and legibility** | Meets auditorium minimums. Max 2 fonts, 3 sizes. No Light/Thin weights. |196| 7 | **Contrast and accessibility** | 7:1 ratio (AAA). No color-only encoding. Palette survives projection. |197| 8 | **White space and density** | 40-60% empty. Billboard test passes. Max word counts respected. |198| 9 | **Anti-AI rules fulfilled** | Structure varies. STAR moment present. No 3+ identical layouts. No stock cliches. |199| 10 | **Speaker notes and transitions** | 45-60 sec per slide. OPENING-ASSERTION-EVIDENCE-TRANSITION structure. Pause markers included. |200201---202203## 8. Deliverables204205All saved to `/output/`:206207| File | Content |208|------|---------|209| `slides.md` | Marp/Reveal.js compatible. Assertion headlines, content, `` placeholders, `<!-- notes -->` blocks. |210| `notes.md` | Full speaker notes with timing, transitions, click cues, delivery outline. |211| `refs.md` | All citations, data sources, and image attributions. |212| `assets/*.png` | Generated charts (if data provided and matplotlib/pandas available). |213| `presentation.pptx` | PPTX export if python-pptx available. Otherwise, include conversion instructions. |214215For the Marp header template and complete slide examples, see `examples/sample-slides.md`.216217---218219## References220221- `references/design-system.md` — Full typography, color palettes, grid, density, and data visualization specs222- `references/technical-specs.md` — Resolution, aspect ratios, DPI, file formats, accessibility checklist, common mistakes, modern trends223- `examples/sample-slides.md` — 6 complete example slides in Marp format demonstrating layout variation, assertion headlines, STAR moment, and speaker notes
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