Recently I needed to pucker up and work on one of the biggest pitch documents I’ve ever done for a project. I had some difficulty to hold concentration at the office and reverted to my regular habit, to sit and work in coffee shops. I thought to share some of my insights and progress here to tell you how that worked out for me, and also how the project takes shape.
And so I landed up early on a Saturday morning at The Factory in Norwood, to chisel away at the first of what I imagine will become at least a hundred-and-one cappuccinos to get to where I need to be with this pitch.
At heart I am a visual person, and so I like to “see” where a project goes. I have found it best to work with a kind of info-graphic of the scope. It is something I cobble out in PowerPoint. I use icons and simple graphics I find online, usually in a color scheme I find comfortable to describe the overall project. It eventually becomes my Pitch Deck of about ten slides.
The look is everything, right next to the logo of the project. Descriptions of high-level concepts through simple visuals quickly help to put everyone on the same page when you need to explain stuff later to the core team. And if it has design-sensibility, you’re already laying down the groundwork of a brand DNA.
A logo helps create excitement because it embodies the personality and character of the brand that will take shape over the next few weeks.
While one tinkers and plots on the graphics, your mind gets to shape the thoughts and put them into the right order for presentation. Slowly a visual blueprint of the grand scheme of things starts shaping on the pages.
Next comes defining the grand vision and plotting a BHAG for the company. I hope to share thoughts on these concepts here soon.
It was a fine cappuccino, and I am pretty sure I’ll be back at The Factory.