Of course, PowerPoint has a ton of templates that will help you create stylish slideshows. But beyond that, for Microsoft 365 subscribers, there’s a feature that constantly comes up with graphically strong design ideas as you build the presentation: the PowerPoint Designer feature.
Step 1: Design Ideas
In the first place, you are mainly concerned with the content structure of a slide show. Let Designer help you with layout and color choice. Go to the tab To design and click design ideas† This opens PowerPoint in the margin a selection of suggestions for makeovers. You can compare it a bit with the Themesbut Designer does rely on the text, list, charts, and images you enter.
Moreover, Designer brings the new proposals in a dynamic way. Each time you make a selection, this assistant will suggest further variations on the chosen design.
Step 2: You decide
One of the great features of Designer is that you still have control over how the result will look. You can add images until you arrive at a design you like the most. And when you create a next slide from the tab Insertit will automatically adopt the title slide design.
For example, if you type keywords into text boxes, Designer will provide new suggestions, complete with images or icons. Bullets that you type in a text box will also emphasize this helper in a graphical way.
Step 3: Context Sensitive
Designer belongs to the so-called intelligent services of Office. You will find that this feature even understands the meaning of the words you type. For example, if the presentation is about health, the assistant will suggest icons around that topic.
PowerPoint also picks up when you list things without a bullet, and Designer will try to improve that here too. And if you add a list of dates, for example, you automatically get design ideas with timelines and tables. If you notice that Designer ideas suddenly stop appearing, you should first check that your internet connection has not been broken.
In addition, it is important that you start with a PowerPoint theme. If you design your own theme or use a theme you downloaded somewhere, this won’t work. Finally, Designer will not work if several people are working on the same presentation.
