# Mastering Presentation Narratives Before Slide Design Why defining your core message first leads to more effective presentations - **Source:** [Martin Fowler](https://martinfowler.com) - **Published:** 2026-09-15 - **Topic:** [Career Growth](https://brifing.si/c/growth) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/c2f23997-e2d1-4ca6-8b81-93393c98d2e2 ## The narrative-first approach The article advocates starting presentation creation by defining your core narrative before touching slide software. This involves distilling your unique perspective, understanding audience needs, and structuring content logically. The author argues this prevents cognitive overload from premature visual decisions and ensures slides support rather than dictate the message. ## Big Idea framework Nancy Duarte's 'Big Idea' concept serves as the foundation - a single sentence capturing the presentation's value proposition and stakes. The example given demonstrates how to combine what's novel with why it matters. This forces presenters to crystallize their message before considering visual representation. ## Audience persona development Creating detailed audience personas helps tailor content effectively. For familiar groups (like teammates), this may take minutes, while new clients might require research. The article provides a sample persona template focusing on audience knowledge level, concerns, and desired takeaways from the presentation. ## Story structure options The author shares six proven narrative structures for different content types, plus a flexible 'À la Carte' approach for time-constrained talks. This method lets audiences choose discussion topics while maintaining coherent mini-narratives for each. Examples show how structures vary based on content complexity and audience needs. ## Whiteboarding techniques Physical or digital whiteboards (like Miro/Mural) with color-coded sticky notes help visualize narrative flow. The author provides templates with story structures and panels for outlining. This tactile process allows easy rearrangement and theme identification before committing to slides. ## Diagram-centric narratives Some presentations benefit from building around a core visual metaphor or framework. The author shares an example where a hand-drawn organizational diagram became the presentation's spine. This approach works well for complex concepts needing consistent visual reference throughout. ## Alternative development methods For those preferring text over visuals, structured writing (using provided Google Docs templates) or voice memos with AI transcription can develop narratives. The key is choosing a method matching your thinking style while maintaining focus on message clarity before design. ## Storyboarding process After narrative development, simple storyboards (using sticky notes or slide sorter views) map visual support to key points. The article emphasizes maintaining focus on content over design at this stage, using placeholders to plan flow without premature polishing. ## Iterative refinement The process remains fluid - storyboarding may reveal narrative gaps, and slide design might prompt structural changes. The goal is reaching a balance where the narrative is solid enough for efficient execution but flexible enough to incorporate new insights during development. ## Long-term benefits While initially more time-consuming, this approach ultimately saves effort by preventing redesigns and ensuring visual elements meaningfully support content. The author notes it helps presenters speak confidently without slides, indicating true mastery of their material. ## Sources covering this story - https://martinfowler.com/articles/never-send-slides/nail-your-narrative.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._