Recently, I had the chance to catch up with Marcos Xalabarder, a top Prezi Expert from Spain known for his expertise in visual storytelling and agile presentation techniques. Our conversation was packed with insights on how we can all up our presentation game.
If you’ve been following my work, you might know that I’ve covered topics like Storytelling in Business and shared insights on creating compelling narratives. But this time, it was great to hear from someone who’s helped major companies across Europe, especially in Spain, transform their visual presentations. Marcos, who has evolved from a Prezi Expert to what he calls a “Story Angel,” now mentors businesses on how to craft stories that truly resonate.
During our chat, he broke down three go-to structures that can help elevate your visual storytelling. Let me share those with you:
Solar System Structure
When you’re building a Prezi presentation, organizing your ideas is step one. One of Marcos’s favorite approaches is the “Solar System” structure. Picture this: your central idea is the sun, and all other points in your presentation orbit around it, like planets.
Start by identifying your “sun”—this is your main message. Once that’s nailed down, place your supporting points (your “planets”) around it. You can even get more granular by adding sub-topics, like moons orbiting the planets.
This structure not only helps your audience follow along easily but also keeps your message clear and focused. Marcos likes to encourage presenters to mix it up sometimes, maybe even use a smaller idea as your sun to see the story from a fresh angle.
Need help putting this together? Get Prezi help now—we’re ready to guide you.
Two Scenarios Structure
The “Two Scenarios” structure is a favorite in the business world, especially when you need to compare ideas. It’s ideal for showing where you are now and where you’re heading.
Marcos pointed out that businesses love using this format for strategy presentations and business plans. If you’ve seen some of my work, you know I often incorporate this structure into my Prezi designs. Want to see it in action? Check out my portfolio, and if you have questions, just reach out.
This structure is particularly great for visual thinkers. You can lay out both your starting point and end goal, with a clear path showing how you’ll get from one to the other.
Three-Act Structure
Marcos is also a big believer in the timeless Three-Act Structure, which breaks your presentation into three simple stages:
- The setup or context
- The development or growth
- The resolution or outcome
This structure is tried and true for a reason—it sticks with people. We’ve used it in countless projects, including one for Carmine Gallo, a well-known speaker and business coach. In one of his videos, Carmine uses a Prezi I designed to explain three types of business stories. It’s a perfect example of the Three-Act Structure in action.
Narrative Kung-Fu
Marcos also introduced a concept he calls Narrative Kung-Fu. The idea here is flexibility—rather than following the typical narrative path, you start at the end and work your way backward, guiding your audience through your story in reverse. It’s a great exercise for keeping your storytelling agile and adaptable to your audience’s needs.
Whether you’re looking for storytelling consulting or need help crafting your next presentation, contact my team. We’re here to help you become a visual storytelling pro.
