Marp Deck Planner
Purpose
Generate a presentation plan, not a finished deck.
The output must describe:
- slide sequence
- slide intent
- content structure (with refined, presentation-ready language)
- suggested visuals (described, not generated)
The planner must not generate diagrams, Mermaid code, or images.
Critical difference from a simple outline: This is a *transformation* task. Raw definition content must be refined into compelling presentation language that maintains fidelity to the original intent while improving clarity, impact, and professionalism.
Content transformation principles
What to preserve
- Core message and intent - never change what the definition is trying to communicate
- Key facts, data, and claims - maintain accuracy
- Logical flow and relationships between concepts
- Constraints specified in the definition (tone, audience, scope)
What to transform
- Wording and phrasing - convert casual/raw language into presentation-ready copy
- Structure and emphasis - reorganize for maximum impact
- Framing - find the most compelling angle for each message
- Specificity - make vague statements concrete; make verbose statements concise
Quality standards for presentation language
DO:
- Use active voice and strong verbs
- Lead with the insight, then support it
- Make titles declarative and specific (not generic labels)
- Use parallel structure within slide content
- Employ concrete, vivid language over abstractions
- Frame messages from the audience's perspective
DON'T:
- Copy-paste wording from the definition verbatim
- Use filler words ("basically", "essentially", "in order to")
- Create titles that are just topic labels ("Overview", "Background")
- Stack multiple complex ideas on one slide
- Use jargon without defining it first
Output format
Produce a single Markdown file with this structure:
- Deck title:
# <Deck Title> – Presentation plan - Slide separator: A line containing only: ---
- Standard slides must contain:
- ## Title - ## Structure - ## Content - *(optional)* ## Image
- Section divider slides must contain:
- ## Section - The section name on the next line *(no other fields)*
- The file must be saved as:
planning/deck-plan.md
Formatting rules
- Use bullet points, short phrases, and tables
- Include a full prose paragraph only when the message is important enough to warrant an entire slide
- No slide numbering
- Keep titles short, specific, and high-signal
- Prefer parallel phrasing across slides in the same section
Workflow
1. Parse and internalize the definition
From definition/deck-definition.md, extract:
- Deck title (if present)
- Ordered section names
- Key messages for each section
- Explicit constraints (tone, audience, slide limits, mandatory topics)
Important: Understand the *intent* behind each message, not just the literal words.
2. Plan the slide sequence
- Optionally add 1–3 introductory slides before the first section when context is required
- For each section:
- Add one section divider slide - Add 2–5 standard slides to cover the section's key messages
- Add a closing / next-steps slide only if the definition implies a call to action
3. Map and refine key messages
For each key message:
- Identify the core insight - what's the one thing this message needs to communicate?
- Find the compelling angle - why does this matter to the audience?
- Craft a declarative title that captures the insight (not just labels the topic)
- Structure supporting points to build toward the title's claim
Example transformation:
*Definition says:* "We need to talk about how our current system has problems with scalability and this causes issues when we try to grow"
*Presentation plan says:*
Title: "Current architecture cannot scale beyond 50K users"
Content:
- Three infrastructure bottlenecks limit growth
- Database queries degrade 40% per 10K user increase
- Resolution requires fundamental re-architecture, not patches
4. Define slide content (planning level)
For each standard slide:
## Title
Create a specific, declarative title that:
- States the slide's core message (not just the topic)
- Uses concrete language
- Could stand alone as a key takeaway
Bad: "Market Overview" Good: "Enterprise SaaS market growing 23% annually"
## Structure
Describe layout intent using presenter's perspective:
- "Two columns: problem left, solution right"
- "Vertical flow building to conclusion"
- "Three-part framework with equal emphasis"
## Content
Provide refined bullet points describing what goes on the slide.
This is where transformation happens:
- Rewrite definition content in presentation voice
- Use specific, active language
- Structure points for progressive disclosure
- Lead with the "so what"
Example:
*From definition:* "Users don't really understand how to use the feature and there's confusion about when to apply it"
*In Content section:*
- 67% of users unaware the feature exists
- Those who discover it misapply it in 40% of cases
- Root cause: hidden in settings, no contextual triggers
- Proposed: in-line prompts at relevant workflow moments
5. Describe visuals (no generation)
Add a ## Image section only when a visual clearly reinforces understanding
The ## Image section must contain:
- A natural-language description of the visual
- The purpose of the visual (what it clarifies or reinforces)
Examples:
- "Simple flow diagram: User action → System response → Feedback loop. Purpose: Show the circular nature of the interaction, not linear."
- "Side-by-side comparison: Current state (fragmented tools) vs. Future state (unified platform). Purpose: Visual contrast makes the value proposition immediate."
- "Stacked bar chart showing cost breakdown across three scenarios. Purpose: Make financial impact concrete and comparable."
Rules:
- Do not generate Mermaid code
- Do not reference files, assets, or tasks
- Do not assume the visual will actually be created
If a slide works better with text alone, omit ## Image.
Slide patterns (recommended)
Use these as defaults unless the definition suggests otherwise:
Opening framing slide
- Lead with the high-stakes context or question
- 2–4 brief statements that establish why this matters
- Title: Problem statement or opportunity framed
Insight slide
- One core principle or finding
- 3–5 supporting points building the case
- Title: The insight itself, stated declaratively
Comparison slide
- Two-column parallel structure
- Mirrored bullet points for easy scanning
- Title: What's being compared and the conclusion
Process/journey slide
- Sequential steps or phases
- Each with brief outcome or milestone
- Title: The transformation or path being described
Framework/model slide
- 2×2 matrix, Venn diagram, or categorization
- Each segment defined and labeled
- Title: The organizing principle
Evidence slide
- Data points or examples supporting a claim
- Visual emphasis on the key number or pattern
- Title: The claim being supported
Quality checks (mandatory)
Before finalizing, ensure:
✓ Every section in the definition has a section divider slide ✓ All key messages are represented (though reworded and refined) ✓ No slide contains long-form prose (unless intentionally emphasized) ✓ Slide titles are specific and declarative, not generic labels ✓ Content bullets are in presentation voice, not copied from definition ✓ Slide intent is unambiguous and builds a narrative arc ✓ Visuals are described with clear purpose, not implemented ✓ The plan reads like a professional presentation structure, not an outline
Example transformation
From definition:
"Talk about the reasons why we should consider moving to cloud infrastructure and what benefits that might bring"
In presentation plan:
Title: Cloud migration reduces costs 35% while improving reliability
Structure: Two-part reveal: Cost impact first, then operational benefits
Content:
- Current on-premise infrastructure costs $2M annually
- Cloud-native approach projects at $1.3M (35% reduction)
- Built-in redundancy eliminates single points of failure
- Auto-scaling handles traffic spikes without over-provisioning
- Team shifts from maintenance to feature development
Image: Cost comparison graphic: Stacked bars showing on-premise vs. cloud total cost of ownership over 3 years. Purpose: Make the financial case visual and undeniable.
Final note
The output must remain a planning artifact that can be directly executed by a deck builder, but the language and framing should already be presentation-ready. Think of this as the work a professional presentation consultant would do: understanding the raw content and transforming it into a compelling narrative structure.