| name | karthik-powerpoint-style |
| description | Create or critique analytical PowerPoint slides in Karthik's style: claim-first titles, sparse layouts, clean charts, and minimal decoration. |
Karthik PowerPoint Style
Use this skill when creating, revising, or critiquing presentation slides, especially analytical decks with charts, metrics, product narratives, consulting recommendations, or management updates.
Core job: make slides feel like interpreted analysis, not decorated reporting.
Workflow
- Write the one-sentence claim for each slide before designing it.
- Choose the simplest evidence structure for that claim: chart, scorecard, table, timeline, comparison, or short argument.
- Make the title an analytical claim, not a topic label.
- Put the main evidence large and central; remove anything that does not support the claim.
- Add only necessary context: timeframe, comparator, source, caveat, annotation, or next action.
- Use direct labels and annotations so the slide can be understood without presenter narration.
- Split crowded slides. Prefer two clear slides over one dense slide.
Visual style
- Use white backgrounds by default.
- Use clean, sparse layouts with high data-ink ratio.
- Avoid decoration, gradients, shadows, stock art, icons, ornamental dividers, and busy borders.
- Use generous whitespace; do not fill the slide just because space exists.
- Use a quiet visual hierarchy: title, subtitle/kicker, main evidence, annotation, source.
- Use light grey for structure and context; use one accent colour for the story.
- Prefer direct labels over legends.
- Keep footers small and muted.
Typography
- Prefer Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, or another clean sans-serif.
- Titles: 26-34 pt, bold.
- Subtitle/kicker: 11-16 pt, muted.
- Chart labels/body: 10-16 pt.
- Footnotes/sources: 7-9 pt, muted grey.
- Avoid all-caps except very short labels.
- Do not use more than two font weights on a slide.
Colour palette
Use these defaults unless the project has a stronger domain palette:
- Text:
#111111
- Body text:
#222222
- Muted text:
#666666
- Gridlines/rules:
#D9D9D9
- Pale chart panel if needed:
#F7F7F4
- Main accent blue:
#2F6BFF
- Negative/red:
#C73E3A
- Positive/green:
#2E8B57
- Warning/amber:
#D99A2B
Slide patterns
Chart slide
- Title: claim the chart proves.
- Kicker: timeframe, sample, or comparator.
- Main chart: large, with minimal gridlines.
- Annotation: label the key gap, inflection, outlier, threshold, or event.
- Footer: source and transformation notes.
Use dataviz-selector before choosing the chart form. Use karthik-data-visualization for chart styling.
Recommendation slide
- Title: recommendation or decision.
- Left side: evidence or reason.
- Right side: implication, action, owner, or trade-off.
- Keep prose short; use bullets only when they are parallel and necessary.
Scorecard slide
- Use when the viewer must scan several metrics.
- Prefer compact tables with sparklines or status markers over dashboard tiles.
- Include targets or previous-period values; never show numbers without comparators.
Narrative section slide
- Use a short sentence that tees up the next section.
- Avoid decorative interstitials.
- If the section needs a visual, use a simple timeline, flow, or one-line argument.
Chart guardrails inside slides
- Never use pie charts, donut charts, 3D charts, gauges, radar/spider charts, or decorative infographic forms.
- Avoid dashboards as a substitute for interpretation.
- Bars start at zero.
- Maps are only for spatial stories.
- Do not use dual axes unless there is no defensible alternative; if used, label the caveat clearly.
- Do not rely on colour alone to explain meaning.
Output expectations
When giving slide guidance, use this structure:
Slide title: <claim>
Purpose: <what the viewer should conclude>
Layout: <chart/table/text arrangement>
Main evidence: <data or argument to show>
Annotation: <what to call out directly>
Style notes: <specific typography/colour/spacing guidance>
Avoid: <likely bad slide choices>
When creating a deck outline, list slides as claims, not topics.
