BtD #017: Shades of Luxury: Simple & Elegant Slide Makeover
St. Regis Deer Valley
Fifteen years ago to the day, I was working in a luxury ski resort. And the passing of Memorial Day weekend meant one thing: mud season.
Actually the holiday marked a transition. In addition to the long exhale of a ski season passed, we officially moved into off-season. A time to evaluate performance, prepare for next year, make repairs, and develop new strategies, it was a stage of renewal.
Hotels are fantastic! I spent well over 20 years designing a career that was predicated on travel and showcasing the local flair of a property to highlight its nuanced connection to the region. It’s been over ten years and there's a part of me that still misses working in them.
Recently I stepped into the best of both worlds. A former colleague tapped me to help with presentation design projects that focus on new builds and transitions. One of the decks, in particular, I thought would make an excellent example for a workshop slide.
So here we go…
The Background
The project centers on a contemporary gin bar in a bustling city, adjacent to a historic theater. The reimagined lounge is reopening after a renovation. Everything about it offers an upscale experience and for the slide base, I wanted something that stands elegantly on its own.
Here’s the before and after:
Slide Foundation Before
Slide Foundation After
Creating a Cohesive Design
To achieve this transformation, I started with a photograph as the base. The key to elevating the slides is to overlay a shape on top of the image using the Theme colors, using a transparency effect. This technique not only adds a layer of sophistication but also ties the visual elements to the brand's identity. Here’s a step-by-step of the process:
Select the Base Photograph: Choose a high-quality image that embodies the ambiance and elegance of the theme (this one is from Adobe Stock by Zein Republic Studio).
Overlay with a Shape: Using PowerPoint’s shape tools, overlay the image with a rectangle, sized to cover the slide.
Utilize Theme Colors: Use the same color throughout the deck or select different colors to suit your purpose.
Set the Color Transparency: The fill should be solid and the transparency level should be high enough to allow the image design to bleed through and low enough so that the design isn’t visually distracting. I used 20%.
Incorporate Text and Icons: Add additional designs and text on top of the overlay to finish the slide. Use colors with high contrast.
Options:
The technique can be used either on a Layout (like the image on the right), or on the individual (front facing) slides.
File Size Tip:
To keep the file size low, you might want to consider placing the image on the Layout instead of on the front facing slides.
Because it will be hiding behind the shape, you can also consider compressing the image.
Visual Mapping
In this particular deck, each section, such as Our Story, Our Food, Our Drinks, etc., uses a different accent color from the PowerPoint Theme. This methodical use of color creates a visual map that is carried through each slide in the section, guiding the audience through the presentation.
Original
Accent 1
Light 1
Accent 2
Dark 1
Accent 3
Beyond
Dipping my toes back into the the hotel and restaurant space has been a creative design journey of meticulous design. Through leveraging PowerPoint’s Theme colors, transparency settings, and the use of creative graphics, it’s an explorative space anyone can access.
If you are a Beyond the Deck subscriber, visit the Resource’s page where I’ve included a selection of backgrounds and overlays to choose from for your next project. You too can transform ordinary slides into a mood, enhancing the story you’re telling and immersing your audience in the experience you’re designing for them.
Thank you for joining me on this design journey. Until next time, happy presenting!
Thank you for joining me 🤍!