5 Steps for Working with a Pitch Deck Designer for Better Investor Engagement
A well-crafted pitch deck is an indispensable tool in your fundraising arsenal. It not only helps you secure introductions and meetings but also serves as a medium to convey your company's vision, value proposition, and unique differentiators to potential investors. While there's abundant guidance available on the content to include in a pitch deck, this article focuses on the critical aspect of deck design.
Effective design is paramount as it captures and sustains attention, facilitates effective communication, and contributes to establishing credibility. While working with a professional designer is an excellent approach, even designers not exclusively focused on pitch decks can make a substantial difference.
Here are some steps you can take to ensure a remarkable design outcome:
1. Have Your Branding Elements Ready
Prepare your branding elements in advance, including your logo, typography, color scheme, and even aspects like brand positioning and values. Equipping your designer with these elements enhances the authenticity and cohesiveness of your deck's look and feel, ensuring it aligns with your company's identity.
2. Refine Your Content Before Design Commences
Ensure your content is well-organized and finalized before embarking on the design process. Clear content planning not only results in a polished deck but also provides your designer with a comprehensive understanding of the narrative you wish to convey. This approach minimizes costly revisions and accelerates the design process.
3. Articulate Your Vision
Even the most skilled designers rely on your guidance to capture your vision accurately. While it's tempting to entrust designers with creative freedom, founders often have specific expectations regarding the deck's style or graphical elements. Clearly express your vision through verbal communication or by sharing images that convey a similar aesthetic.
4. Provide Context
Share details with your designer about how you intend to use the deck. Will it be emailed, presented over Zoom, or showcased in a competition arena? The context of use and the overarching message you aim to convey are crucial aspects that influence the design. Leverage visual cues to your advantage to leave a lasting impression on investors.
5. Offer Specific Feedback
When you start receiving design iterations, provide precise and detailed feedback. Avoid broad comments like "I don't like it" as they don't offer actionable guidance. Invest time in pinpointing elements you appreciate and those you'd like to see adjusted or enhanced. Clear and specific feedback empowers your designer to refine the design effectively.
Working with a professional designer can significantly enhance the visual appeal and impact of your pitch deck. Whether you collaborate with specialized firms or individual designers, following these steps—refining content, preparing branding elements, articulating your vision, sharing context, and offering specific feedback—positions you for a design outcome that leaves a lasting impression on potential investors.