Presentation Master Skill

Presentation Master

World-class presentation creation skill that embodies best practices from presentation masters and adapts to your needs.

Philosophy

Key Innovation: This isn't just a presentation generator—it's a presentation coach that teaches world-class design while creating slides.

Principles from:

Garr Reynolds (Presentation Zen) - Simplicity and visual storytelling
Nancy Duarte (Resonate) - Story structure and audience as hero
Guy Kawasaki - 10/20/30 rule (10 slides, 20 minutes, 30pt fonts)
Seth Godin - 6 words maximum per slide
TED - Visual-first, minimal text, high impact
Edward Tufte - Data integrity and information design
Steve Jobs - Rule of Three and surprise moments

Workflow: Guided Creation with Checkpoints

Phase 1: Discovery & Context Analysis

User provides: Topic + Audience + Duration

Skill analyzes:

Presentation type (board update, keynote, training, TED-style)
Audience level (technical, executive, general public)
Key message and desired transformation
Story framework recommendation

Checkpoint 1: Present 3 structure options with rationale → user approves

Phase 2: Content Development

Skill develops:

Research topic if needed (web search, Obsidian knowledge)
Extract maximum 10 core concepts (Kawasaki rule)
Apply "what is / what could be" alternation (Duarte)
Draft slide outline with one concept per slide
Identify slides needing visuals

Checkpoint 2: Present outline + visual plan → user approves

Phase 3: Visual Strategy

Skill proposes for each visual slide:

Image type (infographic, photo, diagram, data visualization)
Visual concept/metaphor
Aesthetic direction (colors from brand, style, mood)
Estimated generation cost ($0.13-$0.24 per image)

Checkpoint 3: Present visual strategy → user approves images to generate

Phase 4: Generation & Validation

Skill executes:

Generate approved images in parallel using image-gen skill
Build slides using selected adapter (PPTX/Google Slides/Canva)
Apply design rules automatically:
- 30pt+ fonts minimum
- <6 words per slide (Godin standard)
- High contrast (4.5:1 minimum)
- No bullet points
- No paragraphs
Run validation scoring (0-100 scale)
Generate quality report

Checkpoint 4: Present presentation + quality report → user reviews

Phase 5: Iteration & Refinement (if needed)

Skill refines:

Apply requested changes
Re-validate quality score
Save final presentation to Obsidian Research folder
Document learnings and metadata

Validation Scoring (0-100)

CRITICAL Violations (Auto-fail)

Font size < 30pt
10 core concepts
Bullet points detected
Paragraphs (>2 consecutive sentences)
Poor contrast ratio (<4.5:1)
Default template usage

WARNING Flags

6 words per slide
15 slides for 20-min presentation
No images in presentation
Text-heavy slides (>3 lines)
Inconsistent fonts (>2 families)
Low-resolution images

Quality Score Breakdown

Simplicity (10pts): Word count, visual clutter
Visual Dominance (10pts): Image quality, text-to-visual ratio
Story Structure (10pts): Narrative arc, emotional beats
One Idea/Slide (10pts): Concept clarity
Typography (8pts): Size, consistency
Layout (7pts): Hierarchy, whitespace, alignment
Color/Contrast (7pts): Readability, brand consistency
Media Quality (8pts): Image resolution, relevance
Cognitive Load (20pts): Mayer's 12 multimedia principles
Data Integrity (10pts): Tufte principles (if data present)

Target Score: 85+ for high-quality presentations

Slide Pattern Library

Six Core Patterns

Title Slide - Minimal text, strong visual, sets tone
One Big Idea - Single word/number/image, max 6 words
Visual + Caption - Large high-quality image, short caption
Data Visualization - Charts following Tufte principles (maximize data-ink ratio)
Timeline/Process - Linear flow, minimal text per step
Transition/Section Break - Single word or phrase, signals shift

Adaptive Pattern Selection

Board/Executive Update: Patterns 3, 4, 6 (data-focused, professional) Keynote/TED-style: Patterns 1, 2, 3 (story-focused, visual-first) Training/Education: Patterns 4, 5 (process-focused, clarity) Pitch/Demo: Patterns 2, 3, 4 (impact-focused, evidence-based)

Story Frameworks

Nancy Duarte's Sparkline

Alternate "what is" (current reality) with "what could be" (aspiration)
Build tension through contrast between present and future
End with transformation and new reality

The Rule of Three (Steve Jobs)

Break presentation into 3 main sections
3 key features/points per section
Memorable and dramatic

TED Structure

Hook (first 30 seconds) - Grab attention
Personal connection - Why this matters to you
Core idea with evidence - The meat
Call to action - What next
Strong close - Never end with Q&A

Output Format Support

Current: PPTX (Phase 1)

Uses existing pptx skill
Direct PptxGenJS API for simple slides
html2pptx.js for complex layouts
Saves to Obsidian Research folder
Generates quality validation report

Coming: Google Slides (Phase 2)

Google Slides API v1
Integrates with google-workspace skill
Supports all 3 accounts (psd, kh, hrg)
Returns shareable link

Future: Canva (Phase 3)

Canva REST API
Auto-apply brand kits
Returns shareable link

Image Generation Integration

Intelligent Visual Recommendations

For each slide, analyzes:

Numeric data → Infographic recommendation
Abstract concepts → Conceptual image/metaphor (especially for keynotes)
Concrete examples → Photo/realistic imagery
Processes/flows → Diagram recommendation
Trends/comparisons → Chart/data visualization

Prompt Generation (6-Step Process)

From image-gen skill:

Extract narrative from slide content
Choose visual concept/metaphor
Apply aesthetic (brand colors, presentation style)
Construct detailed prompt
Execute generation
Validate output

Cost Management

Show total estimated cost before generating
Allow opt-out of specific images
Cache generated images for reuse
Track spending in presentation metadata

Naming Convention

{presentation-id}-slide-{number}-{type}.png

Examples:
cybersecurity-2025-slide-02-threat-timeline.png
port-ai-2025-slide-04-breakthroughs.png

Brand Integration

Automatically detects and applies branding:

PSD presentations: Use psd-brand-guidelines skill (Sea Glass, Pacific, etc.)
Personal presentations: Use personal brand (if defined)
Client presentations: Custom brand kit (future)

Applies to:

Color palettes
Typography choices
Logo placement
Overall aesthetic

Learning & Metadata Tracking

After each presentation, save metadata to Obsidian:

{
  "presentation_id": "cybersecurity-2025-board",
  "type": "board-update",
  "audience": "school-board",
  "duration": "15min",
  "slides": 10,
  "quality_score": 91,
  "images_generated": 7,
  "generation_cost": 0.94,
  "validation_warnings": 1,
  "user_edits": ["slide-8-wording"],
  "effectiveness": "approved-minor-changes",
  "created": "2025-11-24",
  "tools_used": ["research", "image-gen", "pptx"],
  "learnings": "Board prefers data charts over concept graphics"
}

Integration with Existing Skills

Dependencies:

image-gen - Visual content generation
pptx - PowerPoint creation (Phase 1)
google-workspace - Google Slides (Phase 2)
psd-brand-guidelines - Brand colors/logos
research - Content development
obsidian-manager - Knowledge storage

Coordination Pattern:

presentation-master (orchestrator)
├── calls research for content depth
├── calls image-gen for visuals
├── calls pptx/slides/canva adapter for output
├── calls psd-brand-guidelines for colors/logos
└── calls obsidian-manager to save final + metadata

Usage Examples

Example 1: Board Update

User: "Create presentation on cybersecurity trends for school board, 15 minutes"

Geoffrey: I'll create a board update presentation on cybersecurity trends.

**Context Analysis**
- Type: Board/Executive Update
- Audience: School board (non-technical)
- Duration: 15 minutes
- Purpose: Inform + Recommend action

**Recommended Structures**
1. Problem → Solution → Action (8 slides)
2. Current State → Trends → Implications → Recommendations (10 slides) ⭐
3. Story: Recent incident → Broader context → Our response (7 slides)

Which structure resonates?

[User selects #2]

**Draft Outline** (10 slides, one concept each)
1. Title: Cybersecurity Trends 2025
2. Current Threat Landscape [visual: threat timeline]
3. Trend 1: AI-Powered Attacks [visual: concept illustration]
4. Trend 2: Ransomware Evolution [visual: data chart]
5. Trend 3: Supply Chain Risks [visual: network diagram]
6. Impact on Education Sector [visual: stat infographic]
7. Our Current Posture [visual: assessment chart]
8. Gaps & Vulnerabilities [text-focused, high contrast]
9. Recommended Actions [visual: roadmap]
10. Investment & Timeline [visual: budget chart]

**Visual Strategy**
- 7 images recommended
- Estimated cost: $0.94 (2K resolution)
- Mix: 3 infographics, 2 charts, 1 diagram, 1 illustration

Approve and proceed?

[User approves]

Generating 7 visuals in parallel...
✓ All generated (0.94 total)

Building presentation with PSD brand colors...
Validating against best practices...

**Quality Score: 91/100**
✓ All fonts 36pt+
✓ Avg 4.2 words/slide
✓ High contrast (8.5:1)
✓ Story arc present
✓ Cognitive load optimized
⚠ Slide 8 has 7 words (rec: 6 max)

Created: /Obsidian/Research/cybersecurity-trends-2025-board.pptx

Example 2: Keynote

User: "Create keynote on future of education for conference, 30 minutes"

Geoffrey: I'll create a TED-style keynote on the future of education.

**Context Analysis**
- Type: Keynote/TED-style
- Audience: Education professionals + parents
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Purpose: Inspire + Shift perspective

**Recommended Structures** (Nancy Duarte's Sparkline)
1. What education is today → What it could be → Transformation (12 slides) ⭐
2. Steve Jobs Rule of Three: Past → Present → Future (9 slides)
3. Hero's Journey: Problem → Trials → New reality (10 slides)

Which framework?

[Continues with guided creation...]

Quality Checklist

Before presenting to user, verify:

Content

[ ] One main idea per slide
[ ] Clear story arc (beginning/middle/end)
[ ] Audience positioned as hero
[ ] Emotional connection established
[ ] Maximum 10 core concepts

Design

[ ] All fonts 30pt+ minimum
[ ] High contrast (4.5:1+)
[ ] No bullet points
[ ] No paragraphs
[ ] Maximum 6 words per slide (or justified exception)
[ ] All images high-resolution
[ ] Consistent fonts/colors/alignment
[ ] No transitions or animations

Data Visualization (if applicable)

[ ] Lie factor 0.95-1.05
[ ] Maximum data-ink ratio
[ ] Clear, detailed labeling
[ ] No chart junk (3D effects, unnecessary borders)

Structure

[ ] Follows chosen framework (Duarte/Jobs/TED)
[ ] Creates tension and resolution
[ ] Includes surprise/memorable moments
[ ] Ends strong (not with Q&A)
[ ] Appropriate length for time

Advanced Features

Context Detection

Automatically infers presentation type from cues:

"board meeting" → Board update (data-focused)
"keynote" or "conference" → Keynote (story-focused)
"training" or "workshop" → Educational (process-focused)
"pitch" or "investor" → Pitch (evidence-focused)

Smart Defaults

Based on detected type:

Board update: 10 slides, 8 with visuals, professional tone
Keynote: 12-15 slides, minimal text, emotional arc
Training: 15-20 slides, process diagrams, step-by-step
Pitch: 10 slides (Kawasaki rule), data-driven, ROI focus

Accessibility

Ensures presentations are accessible:

High contrast text (4.5:1 minimum, aim for 7:1)
Large fonts (30pt minimum, 36pt+ preferred)
Clear hierarchy and flow
Alt text for images (future enhancement)

Limitations & Future Enhancements

Current Limitations:

No animation support (by design - Godin principle)
No video embedding yet (future enhancement)
No speaker notes generation (Phase 2)
No slide master editing (uses templates)

Future Enhancements:

Auto-generate speaker notes from slide content
Suggest rehearsal timing
A/B test different structures
Track presentation effectiveness scores
Build personal pattern library from successful presentations

References

Full principles documentation in:

principles/masters.md - Expert best practices
principles/validation-rules.md - Quality scoring system
principles/slide-patterns.md - Template library
principles/story-frameworks.md - Narrative structures

Scripts and adapters:

scripts/analyze-context.js - Type detection
adapters/pptx-adapter.js - PowerPoint output
adapters/slides-adapter.js - Google Slides (Phase 2)
adapters/canva-adapter.js - Canva (Phase 3)

Remember: The best presentations are simple, visual, story-driven, and focused on the audience's transformation—not the speaker's information.

Agent Skills: Presentation Master

Skill Files