Project Pitch Deck [What It Is and How to Create One]
- Ink Narrates | The Presentation Design Agency
- 2d
- 8 min read
Our client Conor asked us an interesting question while we were making their project pitch deck.
He said,
“How do I make a presentation that actually convinces people to support my project?”
Our Creative Director answered,
“A pitch deck works when it tells a clear story that shows why your project matters and what you need from your audience.”
As a presentation design agency, we work on many project pitch decks throughout the year and in the process we’ve observed one common challenge. most people focus so heavily on data and financials that their audience is left trying to figure out what really matters.
In this blog, we’ll talk about what is a project pitch deck and how to create one that grabs attention, communicates clearly, and gets results.
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.
What Is a Project Pitch Deck
A project pitch deck is your chance to explain your project without putting people to sleep. It’s a short, visual presentation that shows what your project is, why it matters, and what you need from your audience. Unlike a long, boring report or a business plan, a pitch deck has to grab attention, keep things clear, and make sure your audience actually remembers the point you’re trying to make.
Why Many Project Pitch Presentations Fail to Communicate Value
Even though project pitch decks are meant to make things simple, most fail to do so. From our experience, there are three main reasons why:
Overloading on Information
Many decks are stuffed with data, charts, and numbers without telling a story. When the audience has to dig through slides to figure out the key message, the project’s value gets lost. A pitch deck should guide the audience, not confuse them.
Focusing on Features Instead of Impact
A common mistake is showing every detail of what the project can do rather than explaining why it matters. Your audience doesn’t care about every feature; they care about the change it brings or the problem it solves.
Ignoring the Audience Perspective
Too many decks are written from the creator’s point of view instead of the decision-maker’s. What you think is important might not resonate with your audience. Successful pitch decks anticipate questions, concerns, and expectations before they are even asked.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about how to build your project pitch deck from scratch, especially if you’re staring at a blank PowerPoint screen. We’ll break it down into two parts: how to write the slide content and how to design your project pitch deck so it actually engages people.
How to Write the Slide Content of Your Project Pitch Deck
Writing slide content for a project pitch deck is less about cramming information and more about telling a story that your audience can follow. We’ve seen too many decks fail because people assume more text equals more clarity. The truth is the opposite. Your slides are not a script for you to read; they are signposts guiding your audience through the story. Here’s how to get it right.
1. Start with the Why
Every great project pitch deck begins by answering one simple question: why does this project matter? Before you jump into numbers, timelines, or features, make sure your audience understands the problem you’re solving or the opportunity you’re seizing.
Example: Instead of saying “Our app tracks fitness data,” say “Millions of people struggle to stick to their fitness goals. Our app makes it easy to stay on track.” The first statement explains a feature. The second shows a problem and how your project solves it.
2. Keep Each Slide Focused on One Idea
A common mistake is cramming too much into a single slide. One slide, one idea. If you’re trying to explain three things on a slide, break it into three slides. Your audience should grasp the point in seconds, not spend minutes deciphering a crowded slide.
Example: Instead of having a slide titled “Our Solution” with bullet points for features, pricing, and market opportunity, create separate slides: one for the solution, one for pricing, and one for market opportunity.
3. Use Plain Language
Forget industry jargon, buzzwords, and fancy terms. Your goal is to be understood, not to impress. If your audience has to pause and figure out what a sentence means, you’ve already lost them.
Example: Instead of “Our platform leverages cutting-edge AI-driven predictive analytics,” say “Our platform predicts what will happen next so you can make smarter decisions faster.”
4. Show Value, Not Features
It’s easy to list everything your project does, but your audience doesn’t care about features. They care about impact. Ask yourself: how does this project make life better, easier, or more profitable?
Example: Instead of listing features like “Automatic report generation, Dashboard, Notifications,” show a scenario: “Our tool saves managers 5 hours per week by automatically generating reports and sending reminders to the team.”
5. Support Claims with Data, but Don’t Overwhelm
Numbers can be persuasive, but too many numbers will bury your point. Choose the data that matters most and make it digestible.
Example: Instead of a table with 10 metrics, show one key chart: “Users who use our app for 3 weeks stick to their fitness goals 60% longer than those who don’t.” That single number communicates impact clearly.
6. Craft a Logical Flow
Your slides should have a clear progression. Start with the problem, explain your solution, show why it works, and then outline what you need from your audience.
Example:
Problem slide: “Companies waste 20% of their marketing budget on campaigns that don’t convert.”
Solution slide: “Our platform identifies campaigns that will perform before they launch.”
Evidence slide: “Early trials show a 30% increase in ROI using our predictive tool.”
Ask slide: “We need $500,000 to scale the platform and reach more clients.”
7. Write for the Reader, Not Yourself
Always remember who’s sitting on the other side of the screen. What do they care about? What questions will they have? Tailor your content to answer those questions even before they’re asked.
Example: If you’re pitching investors, highlight ROI and scalability. If you’re pitching a government body, emphasize impact and compliance.
8. Use Headlines That Guide
Each slide should have a headline that tells the audience exactly what the slide is about. Think of it as a mini-summary. A good headline allows someone to glance at your deck and still understand the story without reading every word.
Example: Instead of a vague headline like “Our Approach,” write “Our Approach Cuts Reporting Time by 50%.” The audience immediately knows the benefit.
How to Design Your Project Pitch Deck
Design matters because it helps your audience follow the narrative, remember your key points, and trust that you know what you’re doing. Here’s how we approach designing a project pitch deck that actually works.
1. Keep Slides Clean and Simple
Your slides should never feel crowded. White space isn’t wasted space; it’s a tool that directs attention to what matters. Think of your slides as a stage where each element is a performer. Too many performers, and the audience can’t focus.
Example: Instead of filling a slide with a paragraph of text, use a single headline with three bullet points or a visual that represents your idea. A slide showing “Problem” could simply have a bold headline and an infographic illustrating the issue.
2. Use Consistent Fonts and Colors
Consistency makes your deck look professional and makes it easier to read. Choose one or two fonts maximum and a color palette that aligns with your brand or the tone of your project.
Example: Use a sans-serif font like Helvetica for all body text and a bolder version for headlines. Stick to 2-3 primary colors and use them consistently across charts, icons, and text.
3. Make Data Visual
Charts, graphs, and icons are not just decoration. They help translate numbers into meaning. But remember, the simpler the better. Complex charts can confuse your audience faster than too much text.
Example: Instead of a table showing quarterly revenue, use a line chart that highlights growth over time. Add a small callout like “Revenue grew 25% in Q2” to make the point obvious.
4. Highlight Key Points
Use size, color, and positioning to show what’s important. Your audience should immediately know what to focus on.
Example: If you’re showing cost savings, make the number larger or a contrasting color so it pops against the background. A slide saying “Save $50,000 per year” should have that number front and center.
5. Use Visual Metaphors
Images and icons help people remember your message. A strong visual metaphor can convey an idea faster than words alone.
Example: If your project helps teams collaborate better, show an icon or illustration of connected people rather than a list of features. It instantly communicates the benefit.
6. Maintain Slide-to-Slide Flow
Design should support the narrative. Use consistent layouts or subtle transitions to guide the audience from one point to the next. A sudden change in style or format can distract and break the story.
Example: If each problem-solution pair has the same layout (problem on the left, solution on the right) it creates predictability and makes it easier to follow.
7. Limit Animations and Effects
Animations can be useful, but too many become distracting. Stick to subtle effects that reinforce the story rather than competing with it.
Example: Fade in bullet points one at a time instead of spinning text onto the slide. It draws attention without feeling gimmicky.
8. Test for Readability
Finally, step back and view your deck as your audience would. Can they read it from a distance? Are the charts clear? Does the flow make sense without your narration? Testing helps catch design issues before they become distractions.
Example: Print slides in grayscale or project them on a screen to see if colors and fonts are readable. If something doesn’t stand out, adjust it.
Example of a Good Project Pitch Deck
This is an example of a real estate project pitch deck. We chose it specifically because it combines a strong narrative with effective slide content and design.
Delivering Your Project Pitch Presentation
You can have the best slides in the world, but if you fumble the delivery, it won’t matter. Start strong with a story or bold statement that frames the problem your project solves, then guide your audience through the key points without reading the slides word for word. Your deck is a map, not a script. Focus on three to five main messages, use visuals to reinforce them, and engage your audience with questions or examples that make them see themselves in the story.
Timing and confidence are everything. Practice until your delivery feels natural, leave room for questions, and handle them calmly. If you don’t know an answer, be honest and promise to follow up. End clearly by summarizing the value and stating exactly what you need from your audience. The goal is simple: make them understand the problem, see your solution, and feel ready to act.
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.