How to make your own presentation visuals

How to Make Your Own Presentation Visuals: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating your own presentation visuals is a powerful way to ensure your message is clearly communicated, personalized, and engaging.

Instead of relying on generic stock images or pre-designed slides, custom visuals help you stand out, support your content, and make a memorable impact on your audience.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to design your own visuals for a presentation from scratch even if you're not a graphic designer.

Step-by-Step Process to Make Your Own Presentation Visuals

Step 1: Understand Your Message

Before creating any visual, define what message the visual should convey. Ask yourself:

What point am I trying to make?

Is this visual meant to explain, compare, inspire, or summarize something?

Having clarity on your message ensures that your visuals are meaningful and effective.

Step 2: Choose the Right Format for Your Visual

Visuals can take many forms:

Charts and graphs for data

Diagrams for processes

Icons for simplifying ideas

Illustrations or photos for storytelling

Decide what format best suits the content you are explaining.

Step 3: Sketch Out Ideas First (Optional)

Before jumping into design software, sketch out your idea on paper or digitally.

This helps you:

Clarify the layout

Think through the structure

Avoid unnecessary revisions later

Step 4: Select a Design Tool

Pick a tool based on your comfort level and visual needs:

Canva (easy drag-and-drop)

Google Slides / PowerPoint (great for shapes, charts, icons)

Figma or Adobe Express (for advanced design control)

MagicSlides (AI-based tool that can auto-generate slides from content)

Step 5: Stick to a Consistent Style

Keep visual elements uniform across all slides. Use:

A single color palette

Matching font styles

Similar icon sets

This makes your presentation look polished and professional.

Step 6: Use Icons, Illustrations, and Shapes Creatively

Instead of plain bullet points, convert concepts into icons or visuals.

For example:

Replace “Innovation” with a light bulb icon

Use arrows to show flow or progression

Add illustrations to reinforce a story

Step 7: Add Text Sparingly and Purposefully

Text should support, not clutter your visual.

Use:

Short headings

Bold keywords

Labels for clarity

Avoid long paragraphs or complex sentences.

Step 8: Test and Refine Your Visuals

Once created, look at your visual from a fresh perspective:

Is it clear and readable from a distance?

Does it communicate the intended message?

Can someone understand it without much explanation?

Make adjustments as needed based on feedback or self-review.

Tired of spending hours crafting a presentation? Here’s a smarter solution MagicSlides

Whether it’s for work, school, or a pitch deck, building a presentation from scratch can take hours from researching and organizing content to designing each slide. But what if you could skip all that and have your presentation ready in under a minute? That’s exactly what MagicSlides does for you.

MagicSlides is an AI-powered tool that creates professional, engaging presentations with just one prompt. Simply enter your topic, and the platform will generate a full deck complete with structured content, design elements, and suggested visuals.

Here’s what you’ll love about MagicSlides:

Instant slide generation with just one prompt

Smart content organization and bullet points

Visually polished designs, no design skills needed

Multiple formats: Download as PowerPoint, use in Google Slides

Supports customization, edits, and re-generation

Converts YouTube videos, URLs, or text into full presentations

Perfect for business, education, content creation, and more

Want to try it yourself? Click here to start creating your first presentation for free!

Conclusion:

Creating your own presentation visuals not only enhances your presentation quality but also shows that you've invested thought and effort into your message.

With some creativity, the right tools, and a clear goal, anyone can build impactful visuals that capture attention and help audiences understand your content better.

FAQs are here to help!

Do I need design experience to create my own visuals?

No. Tools like Canva and PowerPoint make it easy to create effective visuals without design expertise.

What’s the best format for visuals in a business presentation?

Use charts for data, diagrams for workflows, and icons for simplifying complex topics.

How many visuals should I include in a presentation?

Include one key visual per major point to avoid clutter and maintain audience focus.