Mike Parkinson is teaching at the virtual Presentation Summit from October 19–22, 2025. In his workshops, he’ll share his practical design fixes and habits with attendees.

Geetesh Bajaj interviewed Mike for his Indezine.com site. If you don’t subscribe to Indezine.com, then you’re missing out. Geetesh has curated a wealth of interviews, tips, and resources for presentation industry professionals.

Below is an excerpt from the interview. Read the rest on Indezine.com.

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Geetesh: Mike, in your Design Doctor session, you’re helping presenters turn “just okay” slides into stunning ones. What are some of the most practical fixes or design habits attendees will walk away with that they can apply immediately to their own decks?

Mike: My five favorite fixes are maxi type (using text as a design element), bleeding photos (full-slide images), chunking (organizing content without bullets), flirting (overlapping elements for impact), and masking (hiding parts of elements for depth). Each is a quick, easy edit that can transform a slide in seconds.

What makes them so powerful is that they instantly transform a flat, forgettable slide into something dynamic and polished without needing advanced design skills or special software. Attendees will not only do step-by-step makeovers in real time, but they’ll also get practical strategies and tools they can apply the moment they return to their own decks. My goal is for everyone to leave with a toolbox of quick design habits that will make their presentations more professional, engaging, and persuasive—whether they’re pitching to a client, teaching a class, or briefing executives.

There’s still time to register for the Presentation Summit. Learn more about this special conference supporting presenters for over two decades.