How to Make a Research Presentation [Guide + Example]
- Ink Narrates | The Presentation Design Agency
- Feb 23, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 23
A few weeks ago, our client Jason asked a deceptively simple question while we were designing his research presentation.
He said,
“How do I make sure people actually get what I’m presenting?”
Our Creative Director replied without skipping a beat:
“Cut the complexity, not the clarity.”
As a presentation design agency, we work on many research presentations throughout the year. And in the process, we’ve noticed one common challenge: Most people try to show everything they know instead of showing what the audience actually needs to understand.
So, in this blog, we’re going to break down what is a research presentation, how to make one (writing + design), how to present your research & a good example a research-based presentation.
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 Research Presentation
A research presentation is a way to share your findings, methodology, and insights in a clear, organized format. Using PowerPoint makes it easier to combine visuals, text, and storytelling to communicate your research effectively.
Why PowerPoint is Effective for Research Presentations
Clarity and Structure
PowerPoint lets you break your research into digestible sections—introduction, methodology, results, and conclusion. This structure keeps your audience on track and ensures your key points are understood without confusion.
Visual Representation of Data
Graphs, charts, and infographics transform raw numbers into visual stories. They make patterns and trends instantly understandable, helping your audience grasp complex data quickly.
Focus on Key Insights
A well-designed slide deck forces you to prioritize the most important findings. Instead of overwhelming your audience with every detail, you highlight results and conclusions that drive impact.
Engagement and Retention
Combining visuals with concise text and storytelling makes your research memorable. People remember compelling visuals and clear narratives far better than dense paragraphs, ensuring your work leaves a lasting impression.
How to Write Your Research Presentation
Most people think writing a research presentation is just about pasting findings into slides. That’s not writing. That’s dumping. Writing a research presentation is about turning knowledge into narrative. If your audience doesn’t understand the story behind your data, they won’t care about your results—no matter how groundbreaking they are.
So let’s break down how to actually write one that works.
1. Write the story before the slides
Don’t open PowerPoint or Google Slides first. That’s like decorating a house before you’ve built the foundation. Start by writing out your content in a doc. This helps you shape your thinking without being distracted by layout or visuals.
Think of it like a short article. You’re explaining something meaningful in a structured, logical way. Once the writing is clear, turning it into slides becomes ten times easier.
2. Nail your core message
What is the one sentence you want your audience to remember after your presentation is over?
Write that first. Then write everything else to support it.
If you’re not clear about your central message, your audience won’t be either. This isn’t just a formality. It’s a filter. As you write each section, ask yourself—does this support my core message or distract from it?
3. Use a simple structure
We always recommend writing with a structure that guides the audience from question to conclusion. A proven flow looks like this:
Title slide: Keep it clear and short. No academic jargon.
Introduction: What’s the context? Why are you doing this research?
Problem Statement: What specific issue are you addressing?
Objectives: What did you aim to find out?
Methodology (brief): How did you do it? Focus on what’s relevant for your audience.
Key Findings: Present only the findings that matter to your main message.
Implications: What do these findings mean? Why should the audience care?
Recommendations: If applicable, suggest what should be done next.
Q&A/Appendix: For anything technical or detailed that’s useful but not core to the message.
Each of these becomes a section when you move to slides, but right now, just write them out like a script.
4. Write like you talk, not like you publish
Your audience is listening, not reading. So keep your sentences short. Use active voice. Cut the jargon. Instead of saying:
“The primary objective of this analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of onboarding frameworks across varying user segments.”
Say:
“We studied how well different onboarding flows worked for different user groups.”
Same idea. More human. Easier to digest.
5. Don’t hide your insights
A common mistake we see is burying the most important insight three-fourths of the way through the presentation. Don’t do that. State your most valuable finding early. Then use the rest of your writing to prove and support it.
Audiences don’t like puzzles. They like clarity.
6. Write transitions between sections
Another overlooked move: write how you’ll move from one section to the next. Don’t just jump from “Methodology” to “Findings” without context. Add simple bridges like:
“Now that you know how we conducted the study, let’s look at what we found.”
“These results lead to one clear conclusion…”
Good writing makes the presenter feel in control. It guides the audience. It gives rhythm to the presentation.
7. Trim ruthlessly
Once you’ve written your full flow, go back and cut anything that doesn’t support your core message. If a finding is interesting but irrelevant, it goes in the appendix. Not every thought deserves slide time.
At the end of your writing process, you should have a clear, punchy script that reflects your thinking and serves your audience—not your ego.
How to Design Your Research Presentation in PowerPoint
Most research presentations fail not because the content is weak, but because the design makes it hard to follow. Good design doesn’t decorate the message. It delivers it.
So, here’s how to design a research presentation that actually works.
1. Keep one idea per slide
This is non-negotiable. One slide, one thought. Don’t overcrowd. Don’t try to prove ten things at once. Think of your slides as visual chapters in your story. Each one should advance the narrative, not compete with it.
Ask yourself: if someone saw this slide out of context, would they get the main point? If the answer is no, it needs clarity.
2. Use visual hierarchy to guide attention
Your slide should never make the audience guess what matters most. That’s your job.
Use size, color, and placement to signal importance. If a number or insight is key, make it bigger. If something’s secondary, make it smaller or use a lighter color. Your design should say, “Look here first, then here.”
This works even better when paired with clean typography. Stick to two font weights—one for headings, one for body. Avoid gimmicky fonts. Clarity always wins.
3. Replace paragraphs with visuals
If you have more than three lines of text on a slide, pause. Ask yourself: can I say this with a chart, a graphic, or even a few keywords?
Most people default to writing full paragraphs. But research presentations are visual by nature. Data deserves to be seen. Use charts, icons, diagrams—anything that helps simplify and visualize your message.
A few go-to moves we recommend:
Convert bullet lists into flow diagrams
Use side-by-side comparisons instead of explaining differences in words
Replace explanations with simple infographics
The less text your audience has to read, the more they’ll remember.
4. Show only the data that matters
We’ve seen it too often: slides crammed with charts, each trying to prove a tiny point. But too much data creates noise, not clarity.
Instead, zoom in on the insight. Don’t show the full table if one data point tells the story. Don’t use a cluttered line chart when a bold number will do.
When in doubt, ask: what decision is this slide helping the audience make? Then show only the data needed for that.
5. Stick to a clean color palette
Bright colors. Gradient backgrounds. A rainbow of charts. None of that helps.
Choose 2 to 3 core colors and use them consistently. One color should represent your highlight or key insight. One can act as a neutral base. That’s it.
Color should support your message, not overpower it.
6. Create breathing room
White space isn’t empty space—it’s clarity. It gives your content room to breathe and your audience room to think.
Avoid edge-to-edge content. Use generous padding around text and visuals. Space gives your ideas importance. A cluttered slide looks like you’re trying too hard. A clean slide says you’re in control.
7. Design for delivery, not perfection
Finally, remember: this isn’t a poster. It’s a tool for a live moment. Your slides are there to support your delivery, not replace it.
So always review your design in “presentation mode.” Make sure each slide is legible from the back of the room. Keep motion or animation minimal unless it’s helping explain something. And don’t forget the golden rule—if you need to explain your slide design, it’s not working.
How to Present Your Research (Delivery Tips)
From our experience working with clients on presentations, the delivery and structure of a research presentation are just as important as the content itself.
Here’s how to approach presenting your research effectively:
1. Know Your Audience
Before you start creating slides, understand who you will be presenting to. Are they academic peers, business stakeholders, or a general audience? Each group has a different level of familiarity with your topic, different expectations, and different patience thresholds.
Academic audiences expect detailed methodology, credible references, and rigorous analysis.
Business stakeholders are more interested in actionable insights, trends, and practical implications.
General audiences need context, simplified explanations, and relatable examples.
Tailoring your content and tone to your audience ensures your presentation resonates and keeps their attention.
2. Start With Context
Begin by clearly framing your research problem or question. Why is it important? What gap does your research fill? A strong introduction helps the audience understand why your work matters and sets the stage for the findings. Use a concise statement, a striking statistic, or a real-world example to grab attention.
3. Present Your Methodology Clearly
Your methodology slide should communicate how you conducted your research in a straightforward way. Avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive details. Focus on the approach, tools, or techniques used, and why they were chosen. Visual aids like flowcharts, diagrams, or timelines help make complex methods easier to grasp.
4. Highlight Key Results
The results section is where your research truly speaks. Present your findings using visuals wherever possible—charts, graphs, infographics, and tables help the audience quickly understand trends and outcomes. Be selective; highlight the most important results that support your research question. Avoid overloading slides with every number you collected.
When presenting results, explain what they mean, not just what they are. Contextualize your data so the audience can see the implications and significance. For example, instead of just showing “conversion rate increased by 25%,” explain why this matters in the broader scope of your research.
5. Discuss Insights and Implications
Don’t stop at results. A strong research presentation includes interpretation. What do your findings suggest? How can they be applied in practice, or what future research do they indicate? Sharing insights helps your audience connect the data to meaningful outcomes and demonstrates your critical thinking.
6. Practice Delivery and Engagement
Delivery is everything. Speak clearly, maintain eye contact, and engage with your audience rather than reading slides word-for-word. Use pauses to emphasize key points and allow the audience to absorb information. Ask rhetorical questions or encourage brief interactions to keep attention levels high.
Timing matters too. Avoid rushing through slides or overloading your presentation. Aim for a balanced pace, giving each section enough time for understanding while keeping the overall presentation concise.
7. Anticipate Questions
Be prepared for questions at the end. Anticipate the types of inquiries your audience might have and prepare clear, concise answers. If you don’t know an answer, it’s better to acknowledge it honestly and promise to follow up than to guess. Credibility is built through clarity and honesty.
8. Summarize With a Clear Takeaway
End your presentation with a strong takeaway. Reinforce the main message or key finding of your research. A concise, memorable conclusion ensures the audience leaves with the core insight, not a jumble of slides and numbers.
When you present your research thoughtfully, your slides become more than a set of visuals—they become a story. A story that your audience can follow, understand, and remember. Presentation isn’t just about showing what you found; it’s about guiding people through why it matters and how it can be used.
Example of a Good Research Presentation
You can explore this deck by Atomwise, created as a research presentation with the goal of securing funding from investors and grants. It’s an excellent example to study for narrative flow, design, and overall quality. However, use it purely as inspiration, crafting a custom deck tailored to your own idea is always the most effective approach.
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.