• Try “portfolio”, “ink”, “branding” or a code like “PRS 101”.

GDS 401Graphic Design

Presenting Commercial Design Projects

Present design work to clients so decisions get made: restating the brief, structuring the deck, explaining rationale, handling feedback and documenting what was agreed.

Planned

About this course

Many good designs are rejected because they were presented badly. This course covers the full arc of a client presentation: restating the brief, deciding how many options to show, building a deck that leads with the problem, writing rationale in plain language, and showing work in realistic context. You will practise presenting remotely and in person, handling feedback and objections, keeping revisions within the agreed scope, and following up in writing so decisions are recorded. It complements Building a Graphic Design Portfolio, which focuses on presenting finished work to employers.

Who it’s for: Working or emerging designers who present concepts to clients, managers or stakeholders. Assumes you have at least one project to present.

You will be able to

  • Open a presentation by restating the brief and success criteria in the client's terms.
  • Build a presentation deck that connects each design decision to the brief.
  • Present work clearly in a recorded 10-minute presentation.
  • Respond to feedback by separating preferences from problems and proposing next steps.
  • Write a follow-up summary that records decisions and remaining revisions.

Studio project

A recorded 10-minute client presentation with deck, a written response to client feedback and a follow-up summary that records decisions.

To complete this course

  • Complete every required lesson.
  • Have the assignment “Recorded client presentation” accepted by an instructor.
  • Records of completion are issued only for courses whose content has passed instructor review.

Syllabus

Working titles: they may change as the course is written.

  1. Module 1: Before the meeting

    Planning the presentation around the client's decision, not your process.

    1. 1.1Restating the brief and success criteriaReading · 25 min
    2. 1.2A presentation structure that leads to decisionsReading · 30 min
    3. 1.3How many options to showReading · 20 min

  2. Module 2: The presentation deck

    Designing the presentation itself.

    1. 2.1Designing the deckStudio · 45 min
    2. 2.2Showing work in contextReading · 25 min
    3. 2.3Writing rationale in plain languageExercise · 35 min

  3. Module 3: In the room

    Delivering the presentation and handling the conversation.

    1. 3.1Presenting remotely and in personVideo · 30 min
    2. 3.2Handling feedback and objectionsReading · 30 min
    3. 3.3Revision rounds and scopeReading · 25 min

  4. Module 4: After the meeting

    Recording decisions and presenting final delivery.

    1. 4.1Follow-up summaries and decision logsExercise · 30 min
    2. 4.2The final delivery presentationReading · 20 min

Author: Ricketts University curriculum team (draft for founder review) · Not yet reviewed

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