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PowerPoint SmartArt: The All-In-One Tool for Visuals on Your Slides!

These days, most PowerPoint presentations are used to present solutions to problems. This might be in front of management, colleagues or at university.

PowerPoint SmartArt gives users the tools to communicate information using graphics. In this article, we’ll introduce you to several ways you can use PowerPoint SmartArt in your presentation and impress your audience.

What is SmartArt?

Presenting solutions in a clear and interesting way can be a challenge. Audiences often find themselves overwhelmed by overloaded slides and have no idea where to look first.

With PowerPoint SmartArt, users can convey information through graphics .By offering a wide range of styles , SmartArt graphics make it easy to present a variety of facts and information. SmartArt graphics are versatile and can be customized to suit your needs.

Advantages of using SmartArt

SmartArt offers PowerPoint users numerous advantages:

• Saves time: The ready-made designs allow you to create professional presentations quickly and easily.
• Simplicity: SmartArt is easy and intuitive to use – even for PowerPoint beginners.
• Wide selection: A wide range of ready-made SmartArt graphics are available for all kinds of purposes.
• Flexible formatting: All SmartArt graphics are incredibly versatile and can be customized to suit your needs.
• Transferable: SmartArt graphics have been available since one of the very first PowerPoint versions (2007). There are now more than 150 different layouts available for use in Office 365 and you can easily insert them into other PowerPoint versions.
• Visually appealing: SmartArt adds a visual dimension to your PowerPoint slides. These clear and professional graphics guarantee that your slides will be interesting and memorable.

Why SmartArt is Often the Best Methodology

For presentations, there are numerous options for visual representation such as tables, charts, or infographics. However, PowerPoint SmartArt is the most advantageous in most cases.

SmartArt is consistently the optimal solution when it comes to presenting information in a visually appealing and structured manner. Unlike conventional tables or lists, SmartArt enables a clear and aesthetic depiction of relationships, processes, hierarchies, and other complex content. Conversely, charts and infographics often emphasize specific data sets or quantitative information.

Furthermore, SmartArt stands out with a wide array of predefined layouts and designs that facilitate rapid and professional presentation design . Unlike manually creating charts or infographics, which can often be time-consuming, SmartArt provides pre-designed templates that can be customized to meet your individual needs . This saves valuable time and allows you to focus on the content of your presentation.

STAR method

The STAR method  hails from the United States and stands for, Situation, Task, Action, Result . Originally developed for job interviews, the method is also used in the business sector to present issues clearly and concisely.

As the name implies, visual elements are arranged in a star shape .

This STAR method slide is part of our SmartArt – Toolbox 2D template, which you can purchase for download. Just click on the image above or follow this link .

How to create a SmartArt graphic using the STAR method:

• Create a slide with the Title and Content layout.
• On the content placeholder, click the icon for inserting a SmartArt graphic. The screenshot below shows you what this looks like.

3. In the dialog box, select Cycle and then Diverging Radial . Confirm your selection by clicking OK .

4. You can now enter your text.

5. You can now customize the SmartArt graphic. You can change font size, shapes and colors, to name just a few.

Problem solving as a process with PowerPoint SmartArt

Problem solving is typically not something that just happens, but a process – a sequence of steps . These steps ultimately lead to a solution. PowerPoint SmartArt offers several effective options for illustrating these steps. Select Process from the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box. You’ll have several different styles to choose from.

For example, you can insert graphics that make your process look like an arrow. You can also select a sequence of steps or a staircase to show the progress of the process. Or, you could present your solution as a formula , which illustrates that specific combination of elements is necessary to solve the problem.

As you can see, PowerPoint provides a wide range of SmartArt graphics . Try out a few to find the perfect one to illustrate your solution to a specific problem.  

You can find more inspiration in our SmartArt Toolbox in our web shop.

Lists as graphics

It’s not just processes and problem-solving that can be turned into graphics. SmartArt can also be used to visualize lists. No more boring your audience with basic bullet points.

Find out below how to create lists with PowerPoint SmartArt.  

• Insert a text box on your slide and select a list option from the Paragraph group in the Shape Format tab.
• Select the text box and click Convert to SmartArt from the same Paragraph group under Shape Format .
• Now choose from a number of preset SmartArt graphics from the drop-down menu.

4. After creating your graphic, you can add text to your graphic by clicking on .

5. From the SmartArt Styles group, you can choose from additional layouts and change colors.

Bonus tip: Edit individual shapes in your graphic

• Left-click on the shape.
• Select Change Shape under Format . You can now choose the desired shape from the drop-down menu.

Editing pictures with PowerPoint SmartArt

It’s hard to imagine PowerPoint presentations without pictures — they’re essential for holding an audience’s attention. This is why when creating a presentation, a lot of time is usually spent on editing images. Yet few users are aware that there are simple tools available for many complicated editing tasks.

With SmartArt, you can not only adjust image sizes, but also add captions or make collages. In the next section, we will explain one way to use SmartArt for image editing.

• Click Insert > Pictures to add the images you want to your slide.
• Select the pictures with CTRL + left-click. Next, click Picture Layout button from the Picture Format tab.

3. Now you can choose the picture layout you want from the drop-down menu. Once you have made your selection, your pictures will be used to create a SmartArt graphic.

Moving pictures within a graphic

• To move or align images within a SmartArt graphic , right-click on the graphic.
• Select Size and Position from the drop-down menu. Click on Position and use the Horizontal position and Vertical position values to adjust the position of the picture.
• To customize elements within your graphic, click Convert under SmartArt Design , and then click Convert to Shapes .

4. You can now change each shape by clicking on it, going to the Shape Format tab and selecting Edit Shape .

Presentations with high-quality images and organized slides not only make slides easier to read, but are also visually captivating . Try out image editing with SmartArt and see for yourself!

Further Areas Where You Can Utilize PowerPoint SmartArt

We provide several examples below where employing SmartArt elements can streamline the visualization of complex content:

• Organizational Charts: Organizational charts are a frequent application of SmartArt, offering a clear depiction of hierarchies and team structures. SmartArt organizational charts enable you to communicate roles and responsibilities within your company or project, clearly showcasing relationships between different departments and team members. We delve into this in detail in the article “ Creating Organizational Charts in PowerPoint .”
• Timelines: SmartArt timelines are ideal for illustrating project progress, historical events, or business growth. The crisp representation of data points and events creates a coherent chronology, facilitating understanding and analysis of chronological sequences. We explore this in depth in the article “ Creating Timelines in PowerPoint .”
• Comparison Tables: SmartArt comparison tables are excellent for juxtaposing products, options, or concepts. They allow for quick comprehension of differences, similarities, advantages, and disadvantages, aiding informed decision-making.
• Hierarchies: SmartArt hierarchy diagrams effectively visualize intricate structures such as company hierarchies or decision pathways. The visual representation of levels and connections enhances the comprehension of relationships and facilitates clear communication.
• Infographics: SmartArt can be harnessed to craft informative infographics. Infographics serve as powerful tools to present complex data and statistics in a visually appealing and easily understandable manner.

Tip: Adding Interactivity to Your Presentation with SmartArt

Whenever possible, consider making your presentations interactive . This helps maintain your audience’s engagement at a consistent level and injects excitement into your talk. Even with SmartArt, you can incorporate interactive elements into your slides. Here are some examples:

• Hyperlinks to Detailed Information: Within a SmartArt graphic, you can place hyperlinks that lead to additional information or detailed explanations. For instance, clicking on a specific shape within the graphic can open a linked slide or an external website that provides extra insights on the topic.
• Interactive Navigation Elements: SmartArt graphics can serve as interactive navigation bars, allowing the audience to navigate between different sections or topics of the presentation. By embedding links to various sections of your presentation within the SmartArt graphic, you can create a non-linear structure and encourage the audience to explore the presentation on their own terms.
• Quizzes or Interactive Polls: SmartArt graphics can also be integrated into quizzes or interactive polls. For example, you can use a SmartArt graphic to present different answer options, prompting the audience to choose the correct answer.
• Interactive Presentation Tools: There are specialized presentation tools and software that can introduce additional interactivity to your presentations. With these tools, you can transform SmartArt graphics into multimedia elements like sliders, pop-up windows, or interactive maps. These elements actively engage the audience in the presentation and create an appealing experience.

For more in-depth tips on interactive elements, you can refer to the article “ Interactive Presentations .”

Conclusion: Inspire your audience with PowerPoint SmartArt!

Whether it’s bullet points, images, or processes, all of these can be simplified and streamlined with PowerPoint SmartArt, making your work beforehand much easier. Moreover, harnessing PowerPoint SmartArt can leave a lasting impression on your audience, ensuring that you remain in the memory of many viewers long after your presentation.

Do you have any questions about SmartArt or PowerPoint in general? Don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] . We’ll be happy to help you!

Are you looking for professionally designed slide templates as a basis for your presentation? Take a look around our shop. We have numerous slide templates prepared for you on a wide range of (business) topics. Take a look directly! ► To the shop

Other articles that might also interest you:

• PowerPoint layout: Tips & Tricks!
• Create PowerPoint flowcharts

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Using Smart Art PowerPoint Graphic Designs

Do you ever feel like your PowerPoint slides are a little too...plain? Maybe you're looking for a way to jazz them up without going overboard? If so, then you'll want to check out the world of smart art diagrams. Smart art is a great way to add visual interest to your slides, and there are plenty of options to choose from. In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the best SmartArt diagrams for PowerPoint, and we'll show you how to use them. Let's get started!

This blog post will explore six key points about smart art diagrams.

1. What are Smart Art diagrams in PowerPoint.

2. How to create a Smart Art diagram. 

3. The different types of Smart Art diagrams. 

4. Tips for using your new diagram effectively.

5. Ways to edit the text inside the diagram.

6. Examples of how you might use this type of diagram in an actual presentation or report.

So, what exactly are smart art diagram designs in PowerPoint?

SmartArt is a built-in PowerPoint feature that allows you to create professional-looking diagrams with just a few clicks. They also make it easy to create professional-looking slides that convey complex information in an easily understandable manner. They're easy to use - select the one from the many options that best fits your data, and start typing! Next, we will explore how to create a Smart Art diagram.

So, You've learned what they are, now let's create a Smart Art diagram.

Here are some easy-to-follow steps on making and editing Smart Art in PowerPoint.

1.  Select Insert from the top PowerPoint menu. Then, click on SmartArt from the Insert options.

2.  The SmartArt option window will now open. The menu highlighted in yellow contains all the diagram categories to choose from, and the middle window shows all the layouts available for that category.

3.  For this example, I will use a layout from the process category. I'm choosing an arrow process that shows three steps.

Below is the list of categories to choose from:

•  Diagram lists to show points.
•  Cycle charts to show continuation flow.
•  Process flow to chart data along a timeline.
•  Pyramid level to show the importance of information.
• Diagram layouts to compare the relationship of data.
• Matrix charts to map out sections of information.
• Diagram layouts provide picture inserts.

4.  With the process diagram now loaded, click to change the text areas on the left menu bar. A yellow box shows the text in the blue box and the description to the left. Add your text here, and it will update in the diagram instantly.

5.  At this time, or any other time, you can choose to resize the diagram if desired. To do this, click to select the diagram, then click, hold, and drag the corner point of the selection box out or in to make it smaller or bigger. If you hold down the Shift key on your keyboard as you resize, it will lock the shape of the diagram.

6.  Okay, let's look at how to customize the process diagram further. With the SmartArt diagram selected, go to the top menu bar and select (SmartArt Design).

You will now see all the smart art sections create graphics, layouts, smart art styles , and reset . Let's explore the options in those sections and see what they all do.

Create Graphics Section:

• The first option in this Section is the add shape button. When you click this, PowerPoint will add another shape. For this list diagram, you see it add another blue shape containing the same text placeholders as in the previous shapes.
• The next option we look at is the Text Pane. This option simply shows or hides the text menu bar for the diagram.
• The following options control the position of the elements in the diagram. With a component inside the diagram, you choose to move up / move down to reposition where you want it along the chain. Select the (Right to Left) option to flip the diagram. The (Demote) option will eliminate the element and add your text to the previous component of the chain.
• Also, with an element selected, you can choose (Add Bullet) to insert another bullet point for that diagram element.

Diagram Layouts Section:

• In this Section, a menu to change the layout of your diagram. Changing the design from here will not delete your text but add it into the new design you choose.

SmartArt Style Section:

• This Section allows choosing visually how your diagram will look. With seven visible preset options, click a look, and your chart will update. To access more presets, click on the tiny drop-down arrow.

• You can change the color of the diagram pretty quickly. Click on change colors on the left side of the styles section.

• These colors are linked to the theme colors in PowerPoint. For information on that, see a video explaining more about PowerPoint theme colors .   

Reset Diagram Section:

• This section is where you reset your diagram to its original settings. Note, doing this will not erase the text but revert the diagrams options that have changed. 
• The last option is the Convert drop-down, which allows you to convert your diagram to just text or turn it into PowerPoint shapes. If you choose the Convert to Shapes option, you can right-click on the design and Ungroup all the elements. The main reason I see for doing this would be to animate the shapes in a way you can't do with it as a SmartArt diagram.

What are the best ways to use SmartArt on your presentation slides?

1. Use SmartArt to organize your slides into sections.

2. Create a hierarchy of importance using different shapes and colors.

3. Add text boxes that display important information.

4. Make sure you have an introduction slide to let people know what they are looking at.

5. Include a summary or conclusion slide at the end, summing up all the main points made in your presentation.

6. Include one Powerful visual element to accompany your graph. This element could be a photo, animation, or clipart image. Exploring the PresenerMedia Clipart and Animations will help you track down a perfect piece to incorporate with your SmartArt design.

7. Add a simple abstract slide design or abstract background video to enhance your design.

8. Easily create a new slide and add SmartArt to any of our PresenterMedia Powerpoint templates using the new skills you have learned. 

This is the end, what do you do now?

You've learned how to create a Smart Art diagram, so now the next step is deciding what type of layout you want. Do you need an organizational chart? Or would it be better for your report if you had a timeline? There are many different types of diagrams that can help present information in meaningful ways, and each one will work best depending on the subject matter at hand.  Learn more about how PowerPoint diagrams can help make your presentations better.  If you would like to view animated PowerPoint digrams and charts check out our PowerPoint Diagrams templates .

Check out two examples below to see some possibilities for slides you can create by combining this powerful PowerPoint SmartArt tool with engaging PresenterMedia graphics.  

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Using SmartArt Graphics with Purpose

Home  > PowerPoint Tutorials  > Smart Art > Smartart Graphics

SmartArt can do far more than merely decorating your slides. Discover the true potential of this useful tool to enhance your message effectiveness.

Are you using SmartArt Graphics just to decorate your slides?

There is a big difference between visual presentations and decorated slide decks. Boring bullet point slides don’t transform into visual presentations just because you converted them into SmartArt diagrams.

Answer: Neither.

The second slide may be more colorful than the first. But, it is not making the slide any more visual than the first one.

The issue is not with the tool. It is the way we use the tool that determines whether our message gets conveyed or gets ignored in a business presentation.

Related: What is Visual Thinking

The biggest reason for SmartArt abuse…

The one reason why most presenters fail to use SmartArt effectively is – they fail to define the underlying relationship in an idea clearly before choosing the SmartArt option. They get too absorbed in the ‘beauty’ of the layout, rather than the appropriateness of the layout.

One simple step that enhances your message effectiveness many times over:

Before you even browse through the various SmartArt options, take a moment to go through your slide content carefully and see how the elements in your concept are related.

Match the relationship closely with the type of SmartArt layout you use. You will automatically choose the right option. Otherwise, if you browse through the layout collection first, you will be tempted to pick the one that looks ‘cool’, rather than one that reflects the relationship accurately.

Let us work through an example to understand this better.

Making SmartArt Visual – An Example:

Here is a bullet point slide we want to convert into a visual presentation using Smart Art tool:

The slide looks dull and boring. So, using SmartArt graphics is a good idea here.

If we jump right away into browsing through the various options, we may end up choosing a ‘cool’ layout like this:

Here SmartArt doesn’t serve any purpose other than just decorating the slide.

Related: Creative Presentation Agenda Ideas

The critical step in making ideas visual:

Let us take a moment to understand the content of the slide before choosing the layout.

The content seems to be about ‘the steps involved in moving from vague idea to clear concept’. So, instead of blindly choosing a numbered list, we can choose the options under ‘Process’ layouts in the menu to depict ‘steps’.

Since the end result of the process mentioned in the slide is – ‘clarity and depth’, we can choose ‘descending process’ layout – to convey depth . Since we are moving from ‘bad’ to ‘good’ – we can choose Red colored font for vagueness (to stop) and Green colored font for clarity (to start). The result is:

Here, the right layout helped us make our slide visual and clear.

So, the next time you choose a SmartArt, take a moment to consider the underlying relationship. The closer you match your visual to your message; the better is your message effectiveness.

More options to create visual presentations:

If you make business presentations regularly, by now you would have realized that the number of options available to express relationships through SmartArt Graphics is limited. It takes a lot of time and effort to create diagrams that accurately reflect your ideas to your business audience.

That is why; we developed our ‘ 750+ PowerPoint Charts and Diagram Templates Pack for CEOs ’. The pack has more than 750 fully editable diagram templates to help you convey a wide variety of concepts accurately

Take a look at some of the templates from our CEO pack:

Filter & Funnel Diagrams

Creative Lists

Circles & Quadrants

Timelines & Roadmaps

Stages & Levels

You just need to copy our diagrams to your slides and replace the sample text. Your professional slide deck gets ready in minutes. You have full control in changing the colors, size, shape, animation, bevel or any of the characteristics of the elements using the basic PowerPoint tools. In fact, you can pick elements from different templates and create custom diagram templates of your own to suit your specific needs. Creating professional slides for business presentations has never been easier.

If you are a business presenter and you have not taken a look at our SmartArt Graphics Style collection yet, you are missing something. Discover a whole new and efficient way to create stunning presentation in minutes. See More Templates from CEO Pack

Related: PowerPoint SmartArt Featured you did not know

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SmartArt in PowerPoint – A Complete Guide [With Pictures!]

By: Author Shrot Katewa

If you want to make your presentation slides look aesthetically pleasing but you lack the design skills to make that happen, SmartArt in PowerPoint will certainly be a good place to start!

SmartArt is a feature in PowerPoint that allows you to automatically create visually engaging designs and charts for your content. Using SmartArt in PowerPoint requires minimal design skills but provides a significant design improvement to the content on the slides.

SmartArt provides design options for lists, processes, hierarchy, relationships, and many other content types.

In this article, we shall understand the SmartArt feature in PowerPoint in complete detail, and also learn how to use SmartArt in PowerPoint even when you are a beginner!

So, without any further delay, let’s get started!

1. What is SmartArt in PowerPoint? 

SmartArt is an engaging way to present your messages to an audience using Microsoft PowerPoint. Through SmartArt, you can convey the information of your presentation through graphical charts, lists, diagrams, and you can also create complicated graphics such as Ven diagrams and organizational charts. 

SmartArt makes it easier for you to get your message across by presenting them in visual graphics.

2. Where is SmartArt in PowerPoint? 

To use SmartArt in your presentation, you have to use the “ SmartArt ” option located in the “ Illustration ” section of the “ Insert ” tab.

The icon for “SmartArt” looks like a green arrow pointing towards the right with a small rectangular box over one portion of the arrow. It is the second option in the right of the “ Illustration ” section, immediately under the “ 3D Models ” section.

3. Types of SmartArt Graphics in PowerPoint

There are a total of 9 different categories in SmartArt. The categories have been divided according to the purpose of their use and style. A description of the 9 categories is given below;

In this category, you will find a lot of suitable SmartArt options ranging from Basic Block List, Alternating Hexagons, to Horizontal Bullet List, and many more. You can use them to make your lists stand out in your PowerPoint presentation.

2. Process:

Using the SmartArt from this category, you will be able to engagingly present different processes in a way that the process will be clearly, precisely, and simply understood by the audience.

Some of the most noteworthy options include Picture Accent Process, Continuous Arrow Process, Vertical Bending Process, and many more.

The options in this category will help you to present cyclical graphs and processes. All the options in this SmartArt category are different variations of designs that help to express cyclical topics.

This includes the Basic cycle, Text cycle, Block cycle, Basic pie, and many more.

4. Hierarchy:

With the help of the options that are available in this SmartArt category, you will be able to present hierarchical structures or and connections between two subjects.

The SmartArt in this category is provided as a different combination of rectangular boxes connected to each other. These include Organizational Chart, Picture Organizational Chart, Labelled Hierarchy, etc.

5. Relationship:

This SmartArt category will help to present topics that are related to each other, whether it be for pointing out differences, weighing two options by comparing them, or simply graphically present the relationship between them.

Notable options in this category are Segmented Pyramid, Basic Venn, Interconnected Rings, etc.

This smart art is used to graphically present different matrices. It differentiates different subjects in quadrants and ties them together to show what they mean to each other as a whole.

All the options in the category are four boxes that are connected to reveal that they are a part of the same unit.

7. Pyramid:

The SmartArt options in this category give you different choices to graphically present pyramidal hierarchies. The options are all variations of a hierarchical pyramid structure.

8. Picture:

The SmartArt options in this category give you the choice to choose from different graphical charts that you can use to present pictures with captions and other details in your PowerPoint presentation.

4. How to Use SmartArt in PowerPoint? 

To use SmartArt in your PowerPoint presentation, you will have to use the “ SmartArt ” function in the “ Illustration ” section of the “ Insert ” tab. The whole process is described in easy steps below.

Step-1: Click on the “SmartArt” function

To begin, you have to select the slide where you want to add your SmartArt and then go to the “ Insert ” tab of the ribbon of your PowerPoint window. In the “ Insert ” tab, you will find the “ SmartArt ” function in the “ Illustration ” section. Click on the “ SmartArt ” button.

Step-2: Select your preferred SmartArt

After clicking on the “ SmartArt ” function, a pop-up window will appear at the centre of your PowerPoint window. From the pop-up window, select your preferred style of SmartArt and then click on the “ Ok ” button which is located at the bottom right corner of the pop-up window.

The SmartArt will be added to the selected slide immediately.

5. How to Edit SmartArt in PowerPoint? 

The process of editing SmartArt in your PowerPoint presentation is explained is 2 easy steps below.

Step-1: Click on the arrow in the margin line

After you have added a SmartArt in your PowerPoint presentation, to edit the boxes, you can type in your text directly into the boxes but the most reliable way to do it is to use the “ Text Pane ”.

To open the “ Text Pane ” click on the tiny arrow pointing towards the left which is located at the middle part of the left margin of the newly added graphic SmartArt.

Step-2: Edit the texts in the “Text Pane”

In the “ Text Pane ” there are corresponding sections for each of the boxes in the SmartArt graphics. To add text, simply edit the text in the “ Text Pane ” and the text in the box of the SmartArt will change accordingly.

5a. How to Add More Boxes to SmartArt in PowerPoint? 

Adding more boxes to SmartArt is very easy.

To add another box to the SmartArt in your PowerPoint presentation, simply press the “ Enter ” key on the keyboard of your computer, while the blinking cursor is on the box right before the place where you want to add another box.

Hitting “ Enter ” on the “ Text Pane ” will add a box immediately below where the blinking cursor is located.

6. How to Add Icons to SmartArt in PowerPoint? 

Adding icons to your SmartArt in Powerpoint is not. as straightforward as you would like. But, here’s one way you can insert icons to your SmartArt. Keep in mind, this method works only if you have an Office 365 version of PowerPoint ! If you don’t use Office 365, I highly recommend that you get it as it provides several advantages over other versions of Microsoft Office (including the Design Ideas feature !)

Let’s learn the steps to add icon to your SmartArt –

Step 1 – Insert a SmartArt with a Picture

The first step is to insert a SmartArt to your slide. To do that, simply go to the “ Insert ” tab and click on the “ SmartArt ” icon.

Now, it is important to choose the right type of SmarArt for this purpose.

It is best advised to go with a SmartArt that contains a picture placeholder. Alternatively, simply go to the “Picture” section, and choose a SmartArt that you like.

Step 2 – Edit the SmartArt

Once you’ve chosen the SmartArt, edit the text as per the content of your slide. For some designs, you may also want to adjust the size of the image placeholder.

To adjust the size of the image placeholder, simply select all the placeholders in the SmartArt, hold the “ Shift ” key on your keyboard, and drag from any one corner of the placeholder inwards.

When you’re done, simple let go off the mouse and then the shift key of your keyboard.

Step 3 – Change Picture Graphic to Icon

Now this is an important step. We need to change the graphic for the SmartArt from an image to an icon.

To do that, right-click on the picture placeholder, then click on “ Change Graphic “, and from the options, click on “ From Icons “.

If you are not using Office 365, you may not see this option as the option of adding icon directly in PowerPoint is available only in Office 365 version.

Step 4 – Add an Icon

Now it is time to add an icon.

In the new window that opens up, click on the “ Icons ” tab. Then, in the search box, look for an icon appropriate to the text on the slide.

Finally, select an icon that you like and click on it and click on “ Insert “. This will insert the icon to one of your picture placeholders.

Step 5 – Repeat the Process for All Picture Graphics

Now all you need to do is repeat the steps 3 & 4 for all the picture placeholders in your SmartArt, and you will have a complete SmartArt with icons!

Now, if you are using an older version of powerpoint (or any version other than that in Office 365), you will need to first download an icon to your computer in a PNG or JPEG file. Then, click on the image placeholder, navigate to the folder where you’ve saved the icon file, and select the file to add to SmartArt.

The difference between the two methods is that in the first method, we are converting an image to an icon graphic. Whereas in the second method, we are basically converting an icon directly to an image and adding that to the image placeholder.

7. How to Convert Text to SmartArt in PowerPoint? 

To convert the text in your PowerPoint presentation easily into SmartArt, you can use the “ Convert to SmartArt Graphic ” option in the “Home” tab . The whole process is described in simple steps below.

Step-1: Select the text

The first step to converting the text in your PowerPoint to SmartArt is to select the text. So at first, go to the slide that has the text you want to convert into SmartArt and hold the “ Left ” mouse button while dragging the cursor over the text.

Step-2: Click on the “Convert to SmartArt Graphic” option

After you have selected the text that you want to convert into SmartArt, click on the “ Convert to SmartArt Graphic ” button which is located in the “ Paragraph ” section of the “ Home ” tab.

It has the same icon of the “ SmartArt ” function from the “ Insert ” tab.

Step-3: Select your preferred style of SmartArt

After you click on the “ Convert to SmartArt Graphic ” button a drop-down menu will open. From the drop-down menu, select your preferred style of SmartArt and the text will be converted into that SmartArt graphic.

If you want more options to choose from, click on the “ More SmartArt Graphics ” option which will open a pop-up window. From there, select your preferred SmartArt graphic and hit the “ Ok ” button at the bottom right corner of the pop-up window.

8. How to Convert Bulleted List to SmartArt in PowerPoint? 

Converting bullet points into SmartArt is identical to converting text to SmartArt.

Simply select the bullet points that you want to convert into SmartArt and then choose your preferred SmartArt graphic from the “ Convert to SmartArt Graphic ” option and the bullet points will be converted to your preferred SmartArt.

One suggestion would be to choose any list type of SmartArt to get the best results.

9. How to Rotate SmartArt in PowerPoint? 

To rotate SmartArt in PowerPoint, you have to use the “ Rotate Objects ” option in the “ Format ” tab. The whole process is described step-by-step below.

Step-1: Select the SmartArt graphics

To start, you have to select all the SmartArt graphics in your PowerPoint presentation that you want to rotate. Simply click on them while holding the “ Shift ” button on the keyboard of your computer to select multiple SmartArt graphics simultaneously.

Step-2: Click on the “Rotate Objects” button

In this step, you have to go to the “ Format ” tab and select the “ Rotate Objects ” button which is located in the “ Arrange ” section of the tab. The icon looks like a right-angled triangle with a twisted arrow point towards the right.

Step-3: Select your preferred rotation

After clicking on the “ Rotate Objects ” button, a drop-down menu will appear on screen. In that drop-down menu, you will be given the option to rotate the object 90 degrees to the left or right and flip the object horizontally or vertically.

Simply select the rotation you want to give to the SmartArt graphics and the selected SmartArt will change accordingly.

10. How to Modify Organizational Chart in PowerPoint? 

You can modify organization chart in PowerPoint in plenty of ways. You can modify the style, colour or even the entire layout of the SmartArt if you want to.

The first step is to select the organizational chart and click on the “SmartArt Design” ribbon. Then, follow the descriptions given below to modify the style, colour, and layout of an organizational chart (or any SmartArt graphic) in your PowerPoint presentation.

Modify the Style

On the SmartArt Design ribbon, click on the “ Style ” option. You will see an arrow to open the drawer with more options. Click on it. This will open a dropdown menu.

From here, select your preferred style of organizational chart and the chart will change accordingly.

Modify the Color

To change the color, again, choose the “ Color ” option from the SmartArt Design ribbon. Then, select your preferred colour from the dropdown menu and the color will be applied to your graphic based. onyour selection.

Modify the Layout

You can also change the layout of your graphic. For instance, if you don’t like the type of SmartArt you’ve chosen for your organizational chart, you can choose a different design option from the layout.

To change the layout of the organizational chart entirely, select the “ Layout ” option from the SmartArt Design ribbon, and select your preferred layout from the dropdown menu that appears on the screen.

The layout of the organizational chart will change accordingly based on your selection.

Reset the SmartArt Graphic

If you are not completely satisfied with the revised design option, you can also choose to reset the graphic and start from scratch once again.

To reset the SmartArt graphic, select the graphic and right-click on it. From the options, click on “Reset Graphic”. You can also select the SmartArt graphic. Then, click on the “SmartArt Design” tab, and select the “Reset Graphic” option from the ribbon.

This will reverse the design changes done to the SmartArt after it was inserted.

11. How to Get Additional SmartArt Graphics in PowerPoint?

To get additional SmartArt graphics in your PowerPoint presentation, you can check out other third-party websites that provide infographic templates.

There are plenty of websites that offer this service but the one that I recommend the most is Envato . Envato is a great platform that provides creative assets and resources for you to use in your PowerPoint presentation. The templates that they provide are not only affordable but also one of the highest quality and match with the latest design trends.

I personally use Envato from time to time for my projects. So, it is only fair that I share some of my personal favorite SmartArt-like infographic templates to help get started.

Below are 3 recommendations for SmartArt infographics from me to add to your SmartArt arsenal.

1. Infographic General Template

This Infographic General template provides multiple different options for a variety of generic uses. These can be used in multiple different PowerPoint presentations.

If you are looking for great infographic designs that are not specific to any particular niche or theme, you should definitely consider this option!

2. Infographic Complete Bundle

If you want to get an infographic set that should serve as an ultimate pack, then this complete bundle is exactly what its name suggests.

Although it comes at a fairly affordable cost, and it does provide a ton of different infographic options that most usual templates don’t provide, I felt like the design of the infographics is just a bit old.

But, that won’t be a concern for most people and you will most likely appreciate the variety provided.

Click on the button to check out the infographic template.

3. Pictorial Infographics

What most infographic templates won’t provide you is a set of picture-based infographics.

This is exactly where this pictorial infographic template comes into the picture (don’t mind my pun!). This template provides a huge variety of designs that not only look modern and minimalistic but also allow you to add images to the graphics.

Check out the template by clicking on the button below.

Credit to drobotdean (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited)

• E-Learning Presentations
• Graphic Designing
• Infographics
• Presentation Design

Making Impactful Presentations with SmartArt Graphics in PowerPoint

Introduction.

In this blog post, we will explore the power of SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint and how they can elevate your presentations to new heights. SmartArt graphics are pre-designed visual representations that enable you to communicate complex ideas and concepts in a visually engaging and easily understandable way. At Slide Marvels , we understand the importance of impactful presentations that leave a lasting impression on your audience. Join us as we showcase the range of SmartArt graphics available in PowerPoint and demonstrate how they can transform your presentations into compelling narratives. Let’s unlock the potential of SmartArt and create presentations that captivate, inform, and inspire action.

The Dynamics of Visual Communication

Visual communication is a universal language that transcends barriers and captivates audiences. People are naturally drawn to visual content, making it an effective way to convey complex information with clarity. From ancient cave paintings to modern infographics , the use of visuals has played a pivotal role in human communication. SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint take this concept to the next level by allowing you to translate ideas into visually appealing and structured representations.

Universality Beyond Words

Visual communication is a language everyone understands, transcending language barriers. Images and visuals resonate universally, making them a powerful tool for conveying complex ideas.

Captivation Through Visual Engagement

Humans are naturally drawn to visuals. Our brains process images swiftly, making visual content an engaging way to capture and retain attention.

Evolution from History to Present

Visual storytelling is as old as humanity itself, from ancient cave paintings to today’s infographics. This historical continuity underscores the enduring impact of visual communication.

SmartArt Graphics: Modern Visual Transformation

SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint bring visual communication to the digital era. They transform intricate concepts into visually appealing diagrams, charts, and processes.

Crafting Visual Narratives

SmartArt graphics act as translators, turning abstract ideas into tangible visual narratives. Choosing the right graphic aligns content with visual representation.

Demystifying SmartArt Graphics in PowerPoint

SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint serve as a dynamic conduit for transforming mundane data into captivating visual narratives. Unveiling their potential involves a series of strategic steps that Slide Marvels is excited to guide you through, enabling you to create presentations that resonate with your audience.

Choosing the Right SmartArt Graphic

Begin by selecting the appropriate SmartArt graphic that aligns seamlessly with your content. Whether it’s depicting a process, hierarchy, relationship, or a comparison, this pivotal step ensures your visual representation mirrors your message effectively.

Integration of Customization

Customization is the key to elevating your SmartArt graphics. Slide Marvels suggests harmonizing colors, fonts, and styles to echo your brand identity. This unity reinforces professionalism while enhancing visual appeal.

Content Insertion and Refinement

Each element within a SmartArt graphic is a canvas for your content. Slide Marvels recommends crafting concise, impactful text. Break down complex concepts into digestible fragments, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding.

Visual Enhancement

While subtlety is key, judicious visual enhancements can heighten impact. Use gradients, shadows, and 3D effects to add depth and dimension. Slide Marvels advises moderation to maintain focus on the content.

Data Fusion and Infographics

Integrating data into SmartArt graphics elevates credibility. Slide Marvels suggests importing data from Excel sheets to create vibrant charts and graphs. This transforms raw numbers into engaging visuals, enhancing comprehension.

Iterative Practice and Feedback

Mastery requires practice. Experiment with different layouts and styles to fine-tune your visual representation. Rehearse your presentation to ensure seamless delivery. Solicit feedback for valuable insights to refine your approach.

Cohesive Storytelling

Ultimately, the goal is cohesive storytelling. SmartArt graphics are the narrative thread that binds your ideas together. Slide Marvels emphasizes their role in weaving a compelling story that resonates long after your presentation concludes.

Choosing the Perfect SmartArt Graphic

Picking the right SmartArt graphic for your PowerPoint presentation doesn’t have to be complicated. Slide Marvels is here to walk you through the process with easy steps, ensuring your choice fits your content and wows your audience.

Get Clear on Your Message

Start by knowing what you want to say. Are you explaining steps, comparing stuff, or showing a structure? Having a clear idea helps you pick a graphic that matches your content.

Match Content with Graphics

Different graphics work for different info. Slide Marvels suggests using a graphic that’s meant for what you’re explaining. If you’re talking about processes, use a process graphic. It just makes sense!

Make It Look Nice

• Looks matter
• Pick a SmartArt graphic that your audience will find cool
• Bright colors and interesting layouts grab attention
• If you’re talking business, a more serious design might be better

Think Simple or Complex

Check how complicated your info is. If it’s a lot, choose a graphic that can handle all the details. But if it’s simple, go for a simpler graphic that’s easy to understand.

Match Your Brand

Your company’s style matters too. Slide Marvels says to pick colors and styles that go with your brand. It makes your presentation look pro and ties everything together.

One Graphic, Many Ideas

Some graphics can show lots of ideas in one place. These are great when you have different things to talk about that are related.

Try Before You Commit

See how your stuff fits in the graphic before you say “yes”. Make sure it flows logically and makes sense. Ask a friend to check if it’s easy to understand.

Think About the Future

Imagine using the same graphic later. Pick one that can work for different info. It saves time and keeps things consistent.

Easy to Follow

Slide Marvels reminds you to pick a graphic where people can follow along easily. Whether it’s a timeline or a process, it should make sense step by step.

Amp Up Your Storytelling

Last but not least, see how the graphic fits your story. It should add to what you’re saying and help people get your message.

Choosing a SmartArt graphic is simple when you follow these steps. With Slide Marvels, you’ll find the perfect graphic that turns your ideas into an awesome visual experience for your audience.

A Symphony of Customization

SmartArt graphics offer a canvas of adaptability, and Slide Marvels recommends a transformative touch: customization. This opportunity allows your brand’s essence to intertwine seamlessly within your presentation. By incorporating your brand’s color palette, typography, and even the corporate logo, SmartArt graphics become a conduit for your brand’s narrative.

Beyond aesthetics, Slide Marvels emphasizes the strategic significance of customization. The design harmonization creates a symphony of consistency, visually and conceptually. The impact extends further, solidifying brand recognition. In a digital landscape where trust matters, infusing your visuals with brand identity reinforces credibility and fosters a connection with your audience.

However, moderation is key. Slide Marvels advises that while customization enhances appeal, it shouldn’t overshadow your content. A balance ensures your message remains at the forefront while your brand’s identity complements the presentation.

In essence, customization through SmartArt graphics elevates your presentation’s impact. Slide Marvels encourages the fusion of your brand’s identity into visuals. The outcome is a harmonious and captivating presentation that not only engages but also resonates, leaving a lasting impression. Beyond the visual spectacle, it’s about weaving a consistent brand thread that runs through every slide, forging a connection that lingers in the minds of your audience.

Content Integration and Refinement

Content integration and refinement within SmartArt PowerPoint presentations is a meticulous process that brings your information and chosen graphics together harmoniously. Slide Marvels underscores the significance of crafting concise and impactful text, allowing your message to shine. This involves dissecting intricate concepts into easily digestible portions, enhancing audience comprehension.

Moreover, strategic transitions serve as guiding threads. Incorporating transition words like “Moreover” and “Consequently” creates a rhythmic progression, leading your audience seamlessly through your presentation. This fosters a coherent flow, enabling your audience to grasp your narrative effortlessly.

As you integrate and refine your content, you transform your SmartArt graphics into potent visual aids. Slide Marvels’ approach ensures your presentation is not just visually appealing but also intellectually stimulating. By aligning content with graphics and employing strategic transitions, your presentation becomes a polished masterpiece that resonates with your audience long after the final slide.

The Visual Panache

The visual panache in SmartArt PowerPoint presentations refers to the art of adding flair and sophistication to your graphics. Slide Marvels encourages the use of design elements like color gradients, shadows, and 3D effects to create depth and dimension. This touch of visual creativity elevates the aesthetic appeal of your presentation, making it visually captivating and engaging for your audience.

However, Slide Marvels advises a balanced approach. While visual enhancements can enhance your graphics, moderation is key. Overloading with effects can distract from your message. The goal is to strike a harmonious balance between design enhancements and the content itself, ensuring that your visual panache complements and amplifies your presentation’s impact.

Fusing Data and Design: SmartArt 

Fusing data and design in SmartArt PowerPoint presentations is the art of seamlessly integrating information with visual aesthetics. Slide Marvels recommends incorporating data from Excel sheets to create dynamic charts, graphs, and diagrams. This powerful combination not only enhances the visual appeal of your presentation but also transforms raw data into comprehensible and compelling visuals.

By using SmartArt graphics to present data, you provide context and clarity, making complex information easily digestible. Slide Marvels underscores the importance of aligning data representation with your content’s narrative, ensuring that your audience not only understands the data but also connects it to your overall message.

The marriage of data and design is a potent tool for enhancing credibility. Well-presented data underscores your expertise and strengthens your argument. However, it’s vital to strike a balance; data should enhance your story, not overpower it. Slide Marvels advises using design elements that support and amplify the data’s impact, creating a cohesive and persuasive presentation that effectively marries information and aesthetics.

The Path of Mastery

Becoming a master at crafting impactful presentations using SmartArt graphics demands dedication to practice and continuous improvement. Slide Marvels advocates setting aside time to explore diverse layouts, experiment with color palettes, and fine-tune content placement. Rehearsing your presentation is vital to guarantee a polished and uninterrupted flow. Constructive input from peers or mentors is a goldmine of insights, facilitating precise adjustments. This journey of refining your skills empowers you to transform ordinary content into extraordinary visual narratives, ensuring your message resonates seamlessly with your audience.

Presentation designers play a crucial role in transforming complex ideas into impactful visual presentations. SmartArt Graphics in PowerPoint provides a powerful toolset to enhance communication by simplifying information and adding visual appeal. By utilizing SmartArt Graphics effectively, you can engage your audience, leave a lasting impression, and deliver your message with clarity. So, next time you create a presentation, consider collaborating with a Presentation Design Agen cy like Slide Marvels to take advantage of SmartArt Graphics and make a memorable impact.

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Free SmartArt PowerPoint Templates & Google Slides

Library of 678+ free SmartArt infographics presentation templates to dynamically visualize your information.

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Looking for ways to makeover your presentation but got bored of bulleted lists and dull designs. Then, check out these amazing  free SmartArt PowerPoint templates and Google slides  that have powerful visuals that will enhance your presentation and engage with your audience.

Features of this PowerPoint SmartArt Templates

Adding bulleted points or numbering gives your presentation a dull appeal. This free SmartArt templates doesn’t just give your presentation a fresh look but is also packed with features to empower your presentations.

• Gigantic Collections: Our massive library includes 678+ unique SmartArt templates, covering a wide range of categories like process cycles, timelines, hierarchies, relationships, and more. Find the perfect visual to match your specific needs.
• Effortless Customization: Our SmartArt PowerPoint Templates offers easy customization. Every element is fully editable, allowing you to change colors, fonts, and graphics with a few clicks. Tailor each SmartArt to seamlessly blend with your presentation theme and brand identity.
• Dynamic Visualization: Bring your information to life with stunning visuals. These Free SmartArt templates go beyond static graphics, allowing you to present data and concepts in a clear, engaging, and dynamic way.
• Widespread Compatibility: Breathe life into presentations across platforms. These SmartArt designs is easily compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides, ensuring flexibility for your workflow.

Who Should Get this SmartArt PowerPoint Templates

If you’re struggling to make your presentations more engaging. Then these Free SmartArt for PowerPoint can add dose of visual appeal to your points and data, making it more readable.

• Anyone who wants to create impactful presentations: SmartArt’s includes catchy shapes, icons and illustrations that makes your points more noticeable.
• Professionals who need to present complex information: SmartArt templates are perfect for visually complex information in an easily digestible format. Using process diagrams, timelines, hierarchy charts, making them ideal for consultants, educators, project managers, and anyone who deals with complex information.
• People who are short on time: By downloading these Free SmartArt for PowerPoint users to save significant time compared to creating diagrams from scratch. This is especially helpful for busy professionals who need to create presentations quickly.
• Those who want to improve audience engagement: By replacing text-heavy slides with visually engaging SmartArt graphics, presenters can capture attention, improve understanding, and make their presentations more memorable.
• People who lack design experience: Even those with limited design skills can create professional-looking presentations with the help of these easy-to-use templates.

What are SmartArt’s? How Adding SmartArt’s Can Make Presentation Interesting?

Ever felt that your presentation is drowning in bulleted points and text heavy slides? Then you’re not alone.

Human’s are visual animals and audience only crave for engaging visuals that makes topics interesting and easy to understand. That’s where SmartArt comes in! That’s where SmartArt comes in!

SmartArt is an excellent feature within Microsoft Office that empowers you to create visually appealing graphics and diagrams.

It offers a vast collection of pre-designed templates covering a wide range of categories, from process cycles, roadmaps, workflows to timelines that showcase project milestones, and even relationship charts that depict connections between different entities.

How Adding Free PowerPoint SmartArt Templates to Presentations can Significantly Boost their Impact:

• Enhanced Clarity:  With SmartArt designs allows you to transform complex information into clear and concise visuals. By using well-designed layouts and icons, you can effectively communicate relationships, hierarchies, and processes in a way that’s easy for your audience to grasp. This eliminates confusion and ensures everyone is on the same page.
• Boosts Engagement: Let’s face it, we all skips reading text-heavy slides. SmartArt injects life into your presentations by replacing monotonous text blocks with captivating layouts. Images and graphics naturally capture attention, keeping your audience engaged and actively involved in your message.
• Improved Retention: People remember visuals more effectively than text alone. By adding SmartArt, you’re essentially creating visual aids that reinforce your key points and leave a lasting impression on your audience. This translates to better comprehension and increased knowledge retention.
• Saves You Time: Who has the time to meticulously craft diagrams from scratch? SmartArt offers a collection of ready-made templates that you can easily customize with a few clicks. This saves you precious time you can dedicate to refining your content and practicing your delivery.

With these PowerPoint SmartArt templates, you can communicate your messages or ideas with your audience effectively. All our smart ppt slides are 100% customizable, so you can easily change your SmartArt layouts. If you looking to create quick and simple diagrams, then our SmartArt infographics will be the perfect option.

Frequently Asked Questions

What smartart templates are used for, who can use these free smartart templates, are you looking for custom presentation template designs.

It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable

• Add pictures Video
• Format pictures Video
• Add a background picture Video
• Create a SmartArt graphic Video
• Group or ungroup objects Video
• Align and arrange objects Video
• Layer objects Video
• Rotate or flip an object Video

Create a SmartArt graphic

Add visual impact to your plain text and bullets and convert them to SmartArt from the Graphic gallery in PowerPoint.

Convert text into SmartArt

Select your text.

Select Home > Convert to SmartArt .

Select the SmartArt you want.

Insert pictures in SmartArt

Select a SmartArt option with pictures, and then insert your pictures.

Select More SmartArt Graphics and then select Picture .

Select the SmartArt you want and select OK .

To insert a picture, select the picture icon, go to where your picture is located, and then select it.

Select Insert .

Learn more about SmartArt Graphics

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• Presentations

How to Get Started With Using SmartArt in PowerPoint (+Video)

• Bahasa Indonesia

Building a presentation is a time-limited exercise. The last thing you've got time for is drawing your own illustrations in a slideshow. This is where PowerPoint SmartArt  comes into play. 

You may be wondering: What is SmartArt in PowerPoint exactly?  The SmartArt graphic below PowerPoint is an example.

Think of SmartArt as a time-saving graphic tool, built into PowerPoint—which allows you to choose among various ready-made layouts and preset styles to help you visualize your ideas with. SmartArt comes with ready-to-use charts, diagrams, process maps, and more.

In this tutorial, I want to teach you how to use SmartArt in PowerPoint. With it, we can add flexible and great-looking illustrations to our slideshows quickly.

Need Help? Download Our eBook on Making Great Presentations (Free)

We also have a useful compliment to this tutorial. Quickly grab it before you read on. Download our FREE eBook:  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations , which  will help you write, design, and deliver the perfect presentation. 

How to Use SmartArt in PowerPoint (Quick-Start Video)

If you want to learn more about how to use SmartArt in Microsoft PowerPoint, check out the quick screencast below. You'll see examples of how to use SmartArt in PowerPoint for graphics that you can always update and tweak.

Keep reading for a written step-by-step tutorial on how to use SmartArt in PowerPoint, and some more ideas on how to leverage it to quickly visualize information in your presentation.

How to Make Your First SmartArt Graphic in PowerPoint

Let’s get started building a SmartArt PowerPoint design. Your best bet is to use a premium template from Envato Elements. With thousands of designs to choose from , you’re sure to find a slide deck that works perfectly for you. 

For this tutorial, I’ll be working with the beautiful CLEAN PowerPoint template from Envato Elements. It includes over fifty unique custom slide designs. Download it today to follow along!

Insert Your First PowerPoint SmartArt

What's SmartArt in PPT? Let's learn how with a walkthrough of our first example.

To add your first piece of SmartArt, go to the Insert  menu on the PowerPoint ribbon. Find the  SmartArt  menu option and click on it to launch the SmartArt menu.

The next menu that pops up allows you to choose what type of SmartArt PowerPoint to add to your presentation. It's a list of SmartArt graphic PowerPoint templates. You can use any of these PowerPoint SmartArt templates as a starting point.

You'll notice that the app has a variety of SmartArt graphic PowerPoint designs. On the left side, you can choose from styles such as "List", "Process", "Cycle."  Choose one of these categories based on the content that you're working with (more on that later.)

The thumbnails in the center of the window are various types of SmartArt. Click on one to preview it on the right side of the window. There are helpful descriptions that explain what the SmartArt graphic PowerPoint design does.

Once you've selected a SmartArt type, click on  OK  to insert it into your presentation.

How to Add Meaningful Content to Your SmartArt

You've added SmartArt to your presentation. Now what? It's time to add some content and make it meaningful to your audience.

When SmartArt is added, a context menu opens up to the left of your data. If you can't see this menu, click on the small arrow to open it up. (The menu is labeled " Type your text here " in the screenshot below.)

This menu is used to populate the SmartArt. You can type over the bullet points to add text to the SmartArt. As you add that text, the SmartArt automatically updates with the text you type.

Another way to modify your SmartArt is to simply double-click on an individual object and type in it. 

Ready to customize SmartArt objects? Let's keep moving.

How to Modify SmartArt Elements

In the example above, the default SmartArt object has three bullet points that populate the SmartArt arrow. But, what if we wanted four, or five, or more objects on it?

To add another object to the SmartArt, you can do it one of two ways. The first is to find the Add Shape option, which is on the far left side of the Ribbon when you've selected SmartArt Design .

Plus, if you're working in the context menu (" Type your text here " on the left side) you can simply press return on your keyboard to add a new bullet point to the list, and a new object is placed into your presentation.

If you had too many objects on your slide, simply click on one and press delete on your keyboard. PowerPoint removes it from the presentation.

You can also manually reposition individual elements in the slideshow. Click-and-drag to move objects around within the SmartArt. In the screenshot below, you can see how I've moved the boxes around to show the steps as descending.

How to Change SmartArt Layouts

What if you start working on your SmartArt and realize you chose the wrong layout? You can easily change the layout and preserve your content. 

With a SmartArt object selected, find the Layouts section of the SmartArt Design tab. Simply click on a new layout, and PowerPoint converts your content to the new selection.

In the screenshot above, I'm working with the same SmartArt I've been using throughout this tutorial. The only thing that's changed is the layout I've applied to it.

How to Style Your SmartArt

Don't like the default style for your SmartArt object? No problem. Make sure that you've got your SmartArt selected and click on the SmartArt Design tab on the ribbon. 

There's a SmartArt Styles section of the menu where you can choose from preset SmartArt styles. Click the drop-down arrow to view all the available styles for your selected SmartArt.

Click the drop-down arrow and choose a new style to change your SmartArt to. In the screenshot below, I selected a more three-dimensional style and applied it to my SmartArt.

Although the original SmartArt layout is preserved, you can change the graphic style with a single click.

Finally, you can also change the colors used in a SmartArt presentation. Click on  Change Colors  in the drop-down and choose a new color scheme for your SmartArt object.

If you want to restyle individual elements, click on the  Format  tab. You can change the fill and outline colors of individual objects in your SmartArt chart.

8 Important Types of SmartArt (And When It's Best to Use Them)

As you can see on the SmartArt window, the app has a litany of options for SmartArt graphic PowerPoint designs. With so many options, you might wonder what the right type of SmartArt to use is.

Depending on the type of data that you're presenting, some types of charts work better than others. Keep in mind though, there are no rules on how to use SmartArt—only suggestions. 

Let's look at the important types of SmartArt and the right situations to put them to best use:

If you've got a simple bulleted list of data in PowerPoint, the SmartArt list style is an easy upgrade to make the data more visually appealing. 

Lists are pretty versatile. There's a wide variety of SmartArt styles in PowerPoint, ranging from simple "Basic Blocks" to "Vertical Lists" that show things in a sequenced, descending order. If you aren't sure what style to use, start with a list style and iterate from there.

Process flows are one of my favorite ways to use SmartArt. When I'm working with teams to document how a process should work, SmartArt is a great visual map to capture processes.

The Process SmartArt styles can help you record how things should happen, step by step. If you're making a product for example, use a Process to show how the product goes through each steps of the manufacturing process.

Cycles are like process maps, but the idea is that they're continuous. Use a Cycle type chart when you're mapping a process that'll keep on going.

Cycles are continuous, ongoing processes. If you run a company where processes flow similarly each month, use cycles to capture those processes.

4. Hierarchy

Hierarchies are designed to show how things descend in an organization or process. One natural use for this type of chart is building an organizational chart for a company or group of individuals.

Another use for a hierarchy is to show the individual parts of a larger whole. Imagine using a hierarchy to show the raw materials inside of a finished product.

5. Relationship

A relationship SmartArt is designed to show how individual parts relate. In the examples below, you can see that there are a variety of relationship charts: balance charts, funnels, and hexagons.

The common thread is that these charts show how parts relate to one another. 

Matrix charts are like relationship charts, but it's more about taking one object and splitting it into equal parts that make up the whole.

Pyramids are like hybrids between process charts and hierarchies. Each of the pyramids are unique and show how the parts of the pyramid fit together.

The Picture category in PowerPoint SmartArt is a bit of a wildcard. It contains styles from a variety of categories but makes it easy to add images from your computer.

5 Best PowerPoint SmartArt Templates (From Envato Elements - For 2023)

When you choose a premium SmartArt PowerPoint template, you’re sure to succeed. You can use even more PowerPoint SmartArt templates thanks to Envato Elements. Here are five that are trending now:

1. Ever PowerPoint Template

With the Ever SmartArt PowerPoint, you can build amazing slides quickly. Inside the template, you’ll find 250 slide layouts to work with. These include many animated objects and icons to bring your content to life. Master slide designs streamline the process of bulk edits. 

2. Leaf - Multipurpose PowerPoint Presentation

Leaf is a modern SmartArt graphic PowerPoint with a green design style. 150 unique slides help you present content in new and creative ways.

You’ll enjoy many custom infographics and style designs. Vector icons feature throughout. All design elements are editable. 

3. Sparta PowerPoint Template

Sparta is a powerful slide deck for SmartArt PowerPoint designs. The widescreen slide layouts look good on any display.

Drag-and-drop image placeholders make it easy to illustrate with your favorite photos. Plus, free fonts and editable graphics make this template a top choice if you need to adapt each slide to your own needs. 

4. Furi - Business PowerPoint Template

With 39 slides inside, Furi is a 2023 SmartArt PowerPoint meant for you. It’s flexible enough to adapt to any topic or subject that you’re presenting.

All graphics are resizable, and content placeholders help you drag and drop objects into place. Free fonts are used, and a  documentation file is available if you need a boost getting started. 

5. Dalton PowerPoint Presentation

Dalton is a SmartArt graphic PowerPoint template for 2023 projects. 16:9 widescreen layouts are used for all 30 slides. You can easily change text, colors, and more, thanks to fully editable graphics. Modern styles and sleek text designs appear throughout the template slide deck. 

More PowerPoint Presentation Resources

Giving a presentation isn't a genetic trait; it's a skill that you can build like any other. Here are more great tutorials on building your presentation skills:

• Brad Smith has a great list of quick-wins to improve your presentations, with 60 Effective PowerPoint Presentation Tips .
• Animations are another great skill for sequencing your presentations and can even be used in combination with SmartArt.
• Jump in our quick PowerPoint video tutorials to learn more presentation tools fast.

Check out our   Ultimate Guide to the Best PowerPoint Templates to find the perfect template for you.  Also, if you need more visual styles in PowerPoint, check out: 

Make Great Presentations (Free eBook Download)

We've got the perfect complement to this tutorial, which walks you through the complete presentation process. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully. 

Download our new eBook:  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It's available for free with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. 

Make Use of SmartArt in PowerPoint

What's SmartArt in PPT? It's a flexible graphics tool that you can use with no other apps needed. As you learn how to use SmartArt in PowerPoint, I hope you saw that this is the key to graphics that always look great - even if you're a beginner.

Stop drawing your own custom illustrations. Look for opportunities to use SmartArt to craft quick visualizations with instead. Leverage the SmartArt graphic PowerPoint starters now. It's a great time-saver that results in good quality graphic results.

Editorial Note: This post was first published in February 2017. It's been brought up to date and a video added by Andrew Childress . 

6-Layer Pyramid Projection

Google Slides , PPTX

5-Layer Pyramid Projection

4-Layer Pyramid Projection

3-Layer Pyramid Projection

Hierarchy Tree Road

Stacked 3D Blocks

Hexagon Hierarchy Tree

Multilayered Pathway Wheel

5-Position Org Chart

Neumorphic 5-Node Hierarchical

4-Position Org Chart

Neumorphic 4-Node Hierarchical

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