How to Create a Findings Presentation [And Present It]
- Ink Narrates | The Presentation Design Agency
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Vere, one of our clients, asked us an interesting question while we were creating their findings presentation. She asked,
"How do I make sure my audience actually understands the insights I’m sharing?"
Our Creative Director answered,
"You present the findings clearly, in a way that the story of your data flows naturally."
As a presentation design agency, we work on many findings presentations throughout the year and in the process we’ve observed one common challenge: people often cram data into slides without thinking about how the audience will process it.
In this blog, we’ll talk about how to create a findings presentation and present it so that your audience not only understands them but remembers them.
In case you didn't know, we specialize in only one thing: making presentations. We can help you by designing your slides and writing your content too.
But first, let's clear the air...
What is a Findings Presentation
A findings presentation is a presentation that takes your research, data, or analysis and clearly communicates the insights you’ve discovered. The purpose is to make your audience understand and remember your key takeaways.
From our experience working with many clients, making a findings presentation visually appealing is surprisingly difficult. Here’s why:
Content is dense
You’re dealing with numbers, charts, and comparisons. These elements don’t naturally translate into visually engaging slides, which makes it easy for slides to become cluttered.
Flow matters more than flair
Adding design elements without a clear structure can confuse the audience. The story of your data has to come first, or the design won’t help at all.
Balance is tricky
Slides need to be readable, accurate, and visually appealing at the same time. Too much design can distract, and too little can make the presentation boring.
How to Create a Findings Presentation
Most people underestimate the importance of writing good content, but it is a huge part of the visual experience. How your slide content is written determines how your design will look. If your content is cluttered or unfocused, no amount of design can save it.
That is why every findings presentation we work on begins with content first. The key is to keep your content focused and minimal, highlighting only the most important data, insights, and takeaways. Once the content is clear, the design simply serves the story instead of competing with it.
Here are eight steps to create a findings presentation that works, divided into two parts: writing content and crafting visual design.
Step 1: Identify your key findings
Before you start creating slides, step back from the data. Ask yourself what three to five insights your audience absolutely must remember. These are the findings that will guide your presentation. Everything else is secondary.
For example, if your research shows that customer churn has increased by 15 percent in one quarter, focus on that insight rather than including every minor fluctuation in the data.
Step 2: Organize your narrative
Once your key findings are identified, decide the order in which to present them. A logical flow is essential. Start with a summary of insights, move into supporting data, and end with implications or next steps.
For instance, you might first state that sales in a region dropped by 10 percent, then show a chart explaining why, and finally recommend the actions the team should take. This helps your audience follow the story without getting lost.
Step 3: Keep your language simple
Avoid jargon or long sentences. Each slide should communicate one idea clearly and concisely. Short, declarative statements work best.
For example, instead of saying, "The analysis indicates a significant downward trend in the retention rate for the Q2 cohort," simply say, "Customer retention dropped 12 percent in Q2." Simple language makes your slides readable and easy to grasp at a glance.
Step 4: Highlight what matters
Use bold text, color highlights, or minimal emphasis to draw focus to the most important numbers or insights.
For example, if you are showing revenue growth by product, highlight the top-performing product in a brighter color so the audience immediately knows which one matters most. Every slide should make it obvious what the takeaway is.
Now that the content is ready, it is time to think about visual design. Design is not decoration; it is a tool to make your content clearer and more memorable.
Step 5: Use visual hierarchy
Not every piece of information is equally important. Use size, placement, and color to create a hierarchy.
For example, make the key insight a large headline at the top of the slide, with supporting data below in smaller text. This naturally guides your audience’s eyes to what matters first.
Step 6: Choose the right chart or graphic
Select charts that match your data type and insight. Bar charts work for comparisons, line charts for trends, and icons or illustrations for qualitative findings.
For instance, if you want to show customer satisfaction trends over time, a line chart clearly shows increases and decreases rather than listing numbers in a table. Avoid charts that are too complex or confusing.
Step 7: Embrace minimalism
Every element on your slide should have a purpose. White space separates elements and reduces visual clutter.
For example, instead of adding decorative backgrounds and multiple colors, keep one background and highlight the key numbers with one accent color. Minimalism ensures that your audience focuses on what matters most.
Step 8: Maintain consistency
Stick to the same fonts, colors, and chart styles across all slides.
For example, if you use blue bars to show revenue on one slide, use the same color for revenue on all other slides. This repetition helps your audience understand relationships between slides and reduces cognitive load. Consistency does not mean boring; it ensures clarity and flow that lets your findings shine.
How to Present Your Findings
Creating a great findings presentation is only half the battle. How you present it is just as important. We’ve seen countless presentations fail not because the data was bad but because the presenter did not deliver it in a way that made sense to the audience. Presenting findings is about clarity, pacing, and confidence.
1. Start with context
Never jump straight into the numbers. Begin by setting the scene. Explain why you conducted the research, what the goal was, and what the audience should expect to learn.
For example, you might say, “We wanted to understand why product returns increased last quarter. Here’s what we found.” Context prepares your audience and makes your findings easier to follow.
2. Lead with key insights
People rarely remember every detail. Lead with the top insights first, then dive into supporting data.
For instance, you could start with, “Customer churn increased by 15 percent this quarter,” and only after that show the charts and tables that explain why. Leading with the main point keeps your audience focused and prevents them from getting lost in minor details.
3. Tell a story with the data
Numbers alone rarely make an impact. Turn your data into a narrative. Explain what changed, why it changed, and what it means.
For example, instead of just showing a drop in sales, say, “Sales dropped in Region A because our competitor launched a new campaign. Here’s how that affected customer behavior.” Storytelling makes the insights memorable and actionable.
4. Use your slides as cues, not scripts
Your slides are there to support you, not replace you. Avoid reading them word-for-word.
For example, if a slide shows a bar chart of revenue growth, talk through the trend instead of reciting every number. This keeps the audience engaged and positions you as the expert guiding them through the findings.
5. Pace yourself and pause for impact
Data presentations can feel overwhelming. Speak slowly, pause after key points, and give the audience time to absorb the information.
For example, after highlighting a surprising insight, pause for a few seconds before explaining why it matters. Pausing creates emphasis and lets your findings sink in.
6. Anticipate questions and be prepared
Your audience will likely have questions, especially when you present findings. Be ready with explanations and backup slides if needed.
For instance, if you highlight a drop in customer satisfaction, be prepared to show supporting survey data or trend analysis. Anticipation shows confidence and builds credibility.
7. Highlight implications and next steps
Findings are only useful if they lead to action. Always end with implications or recommended next steps.
For example, “Given the increase in churn, we recommend revisiting the onboarding process and running a retention campaign in Region A.” Showing a clear path forward ensures your audience leaves with understanding and purpose.
8. Engage your audience
Finally, don’t make your presentation a monologue. Ask questions, invite reactions, or use interactive elements.
For example, you could ask, “Does this trend match what you’ve seen in your team?” Engagement makes the presentation dynamic and helps the audience internalize the findings.
Focus on the insights that matter, guide your audience through the story, and make it easy for them to understand why your findings are important. When you do this consistently, your presentations will leave a lasting impression and drive action.
Why Hire Us to Build your Findings Presentation?
If you're reading this, you're probably working on a presentation right now. You could do it all yourself. But the reality is - that’s not going to give you the high-impact presentation you need. It’s a lot of guesswork, a lot of trial and error. And at the end of the day, you’ll be left with a presentation that’s “good enough,” not one that gets results. On the other hand, we’ve spent years crafting thousands of presentations, mastering both storytelling and design. Let us handle this for you, so you can focus on what you do best.