How to Make Presentations Like KPMG [A Guide]
- Ink Narrates | The Presentation Design Agency
- Sep 5, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
A few weeks ago, our client Brady asked us a simple but sharp question while we were working on his corporate deck:
“What makes a KPMG presentation so effective?”
Our Creative Director replied without missing a beat:
“Clarity backed by authority.”
As a presentation design agency, we work on many corporate presentations throughout the year, and in the process, we’ve observed one common challenge: most teams struggle to balance professionalism with engaging storytelling.
So, in this blog, we’ll talk about how you can create presentations like KPMG, blending authority, structure, and narrative into something that not only looks polished but also leaves an impact.
In case you didn't know, we design corporate presentation decks. We can help you by designing your slides and writing your content too.
What Makes a KPMG Presentation Stand Out
When you look at a KPMG presentation, the first thing that strikes you is how unmistakably corporate yet approachable it feels. It’s not flashy, it’s not trying too hard, and yet it commands respect. That balance is deliberate.
KPMG presentations stand out because they’re built on three pillars: structure, authority, and simplicity.
1. Structure
There’s a clear rhythm to the way content is presented. Every slide has a purpose. They avoid clutter and resist the temptation to cram too much information into one place. The audience never feels lost.
2. Authority
The tone of language is confident and precise. They make bold statements but back them up with credible data, insights, or case studies. There’s no hesitation in the narrative — every word feels measured and intentional.
3. Simplicity
Design choices are clean, minimal, and brand-consistent. Fonts, colors, and visuals never overshadow the message. Instead, they quietly amplify it. That’s why even a slide filled with data feels digestible when it comes from them.
If you’ve ever sat through a KPMG presentation, you know it doesn’t rely on gimmicks. It relies on substance, delivered in a clear, professional way that makes you believe the speaker knows exactly what they’re talking about.
How to Make Presentations Like KPMG
So you want to create presentations that have the weight, polish, and presence of a KPMG deck. Let’s get one thing straight: this is not about copying slides line by line. It’s about adopting the thinking, discipline, and design philosophy behind how KPMG communicates.
We’ve studied their decks closely while also building corporate presentations for our clients across industries. Over time, some patterns repeat themselves, and if you follow them, your presentations will start to feel sharper, more structured, and more authoritative. Here’s how you can make it happen.
1. Start With Authority in Your Story
KPMG doesn’t write like they’re guessing. They don’t hedge. They don’t leave room for doubt in their voice. Every sentence feels like it comes from someone who’s been in the room a hundred times before.
That doesn’t mean arrogance. It means clarity. If you’re saying “our industry might be shifting in this direction,” you’re already weakening your audience’s trust. KPMG says, “The industry is shifting in this direction, and here’s the data to prove it.”
When you build your presentation, strip out uncertainty. Ask yourself: Does this statement carry weight? Does it sound like someone who knows what they’re talking about? If not, rewrite it. The authority of your story is the first step to making your deck feel like KPMG’s.
2. Obsess Over Structure
One of the most noticeable traits of a KPMG presentation is how easy it is to follow. They guide you step by step, almost like they’re walking you down a clean hallway where every door opens in sequence.
That doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of careful structuring. Here’s what they do:
Clear sections: They break content into digestible chapters. You always know whether you’re in the introduction, the analysis, the recommendations, or the conclusion.
One idea per slide: No slide is trying to do too much. You won’t see three charts squeezed together with five bullets and a headline. Instead, one chart per slide. One key message per chart.
Logical flow: They build arguments like lawyers. First they set the context, then they show the evidence, and finally they make the recommendation. The audience doesn’t have to guess where the story is going.
If you want your presentation to feel like KPMG’s, spend as much time planning your outline as you do designing slides. A weak structure buried under beautiful visuals still collapses.
3. Respect White Space
Here’s something most teams get wrong: they treat slides like storage units. If there’s blank space, they feel the need to fill it. KPMG does the opposite.
Their slides breathe. They let margins do the work. They let the headline stand on its own. They trust that a single chart in the middle of a slide is enough to carry the point.
This restraint makes their decks look professional and expensive. It also makes it easier for the audience to focus. The eye knows exactly where to go because there’s no clutter fighting for attention.
When you’re designing, ask yourself: If I remove half the content from this slide, will it still make sense? If the answer is yes, then you probably should.
4. Use Design to Support, Not Distract
KPMG has strict brand guidelines, and they stick to them. That’s why their decks never look messy or inconsistent. The colors are always the same tones of blue, gray, and white. The typography is uniform. The charts look like they belong together.
But more importantly, design is never used as decoration. Every visual choice supports the message.
Colors highlight meaning: Instead of using random bright shades, they pick one accent color to draw your eye to the most important number or trend.
Icons and visuals are functional: You won’t see a random stock photo just for the sake of it. If an image is there, it’s there to explain or simplify.
Charts are simplified: Even complex data is stripped down to its essentials. No unnecessary gridlines, no rainbow palettes, no overwhelming legends.
That’s why their slides feel serious yet elegant. You should adopt the same discipline. Don’t throw in graphics because you can. Use them because they clarify.
5. Prioritize Data, But Humanize It
KPMG presentations often carry heavy data, but here’s the trick: they never let numbers drown the story. Instead, they use data to strengthen their narrative.
For example, a KPMG deck might show a global trend through a single, well-designed chart, then follow it with a short client story that illustrates what those numbers mean in real life. This back-and-forth between numbers and human context makes the presentation memorable.
When you build your slides, don’t just stop at charts. Ask: What does this number mean for people in the room? How does it change their world? That’s the bridge between raw data and real authority.
6. Be Consistent With Language
Another subtle but powerful trait: KPMG presentations use consistent language across slides. Headlines follow a pattern. Sentences are short, precise, and jargon is used sparingly.
For example, you won’t see a headline like:“The ongoing macroeconomic trends within emerging markets and the resulting volatility are creating unique opportunities that our organization must consider carefully.”
Instead, you’ll see:“Emerging market volatility creates new opportunities.”
It’s shorter, crisper, and stronger. That’s what you need to practice. Every headline should read like a punchy newspaper article. Every bullet point should earn its place.
7. Guide With Visual Hierarchy
KPMG decks have a strong hierarchy. You know exactly what’s most important on a slide within seconds. That comes from intentional choices in size, weight, and positioning.
Headlines are dominant: They sit on top, bold and clear, summarizing the slide’s core message.
Key numbers are big: If a percentage or figure matters, it’s given visual weight.
Supporting text is smaller: Secondary details don’t fight for the spotlight. They’re there if you want to read them, but they don’t distract from the headline.
Without hierarchy, slides feel noisy. With hierarchy, slides feel effortless. Adopt this principle, and your decks will instantly look more polished.
8. Rehearse the Flow, Not Just the Slides
One thing people miss: KPMG presentations are built to be spoken. They don’t try to cram every word onto the slide. Instead, the slide is the backdrop for a confident presenter who knows the flow.
That’s why their slides feel lean. The value isn’t in reading the deck like a book — it’s in experiencing the narrative live.
So when you prepare your own, rehearse not just what’s on the screen, but the story that connects it. If you can’t explain your deck without staring at the slides, you don’t own the story yet.
9. Think Boardroom First, Then Audience Size
KPMG presentations are often designed for senior executives and decision-makers. That shapes how the slides are built. They don’t waste time on fluff. They don’t bury insights. They put the conclusion upfront and let the details follow.
You should apply the same mindset. Whether you’re presenting to your team or to investors, imagine the busiest person in the room — someone who has five minutes to understand your point. Build your slides for them first. Everyone else will benefit from the clarity too.
10. Embrace Restraint as a Strategy
Perhaps the hardest lesson from KPMG’s style is restraint. They don’t chase trends like neon gradients or flashy transitions. They know their strength comes from being timeless, not trendy.
That restraint builds trust. It signals maturity. It tells the audience that the focus is on the message, not on trying to impress with gimmicks.
When you design, ask yourself: Am I adding this because it helps the audience, or because I’m afraid the slide looks empty? If it’s the latter, take it out.
Why Hire Us to Build your 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.