How to Design a Clean "Pros and Cons" Presentation Slide

Comparing two sides of a topic is one of the most common requirements in any business presentation. Whether you are evaluating a new software tool, proposing a strategy shift, or, as in our example, discussing Artificial Intelligence, you need a layout that presents the arguments clearly.

This tutorial will walk you through how to recreate a highly effective, split-screen "Pros and Cons" presentation slide. This specific layout works beautifully because it uses stark color contrast, perfect symmetry, and clean typography to make complex information easy to digest.

Let's break down the layout and build this infographic style step by step.

Understanding the Visual Strategy

Before opening your presentation software, it helps to understand why this slide looks professional and polished.

The Power of Perfect Symmetry

The human eye loves balance. This slide relies heavily on a mirrored layout. Everything on the left (Pros) has an exact, matching counterpart on the right (Cons). This symmetry instantly communicates that both sides of the argument are being weighed equally. It provides a structured framework that guides the viewer's eye smoothly down the page.

Color Psychology for Immediate Understanding

You do not need to read the text to understand the layout's premise. The use of a vibrant emerald green on the left signals "go," "positive," and "benefits." The stark salmon-red on the right signals "stop," "caution," and "drawbacks." Using these universally understood color cues reduces the cognitive load on your audience.

Setting Up the Canvas and Layout

Let's start building the foundation of the slide.

Preparing the Background

Keep it simple. The background here is a pure, clean white. This is necessary because the colorful elements and icons need a blank canvas to pop off the screen. Do not use gradients, patterns, or watermarks in the background for this specific design.

Establishing the Central Axis

To ensure perfect symmetry, you need a visual guide.

• Draw a thin, vertical line straight down the exact center of your slide.
• Change the line style to "dashed" or "dotted."
• Color the line a light, unobtrusive gray (e.g., #CCCCCC).
• Add a tiny gray circle at the very bottom of this line to anchor it visually.

Building the Main Header Banners

The words "PROS" and "CONS" act as the anchor points for the two columns.

Creating the Chevron Shapes

These are not standard rectangles. They have a subtle ribbon or chevron effect on the outer edges.

• In your shapes menu, look for the "Chevron" or "Pentagon" shape (often found under Block Arrows).
• Draw the shape so the flat end points toward the center line, and the pointed/notched end faces the outer edge of the slide.
• For the left side, fill it with your chosen green. For the right side, duplicate the shape, flip it horizontally, and fill it with your chosen red.
• Remove the shape outlines to keep the design flat and modern.

Formatting the Header Text

Place a text box inside each shape. Type "PROS" and "CONS" in all capital letters. Use a bold, highly legible sans-serif font and set the text color to pure white. Ensure the text is perfectly centered within the shape.

Designing the List Items (The "Pill" Shapes)

This is where the actual data lives. To make it look like an infographic, we will combine a few basic shapes.

Crafting the Background Shape

Instead of simple bullet points, this layout uses contained badges.

• Select the "Rectangle with Rounded Corners" tool.
• Draw a long rectangle. Drag the yellow adjustment handle on the corner all the way inward to create fully rounded ends (creating a "pill" shape).
• Fill this shape with a very light gray (e.g., #F4F4F4).
• Remove the outline.

Adding the Number Badges

To anchor each point, we use colored numbered circles.

• Draw a perfect circle holding the Shift key.
• Place this circle over the inner edge of your light gray pill shape (the edge closest to the center line).
• Match the color of this circle to the corresponding column header (green for left, red for right).
• Add a bold number inside the circle, colored white.

Aligning the Text

Place a text box inside the remaining space of the gray pill shape. The slide uses a very specific typographic choice here: the text is small, well-spaced, and italicized. The italics give it a refined, slightly formal look that contrasts nicely with the bold, chunky headers.

Creating the Central Focal Point

The space where the central line meets the top headers needs a focal point to tie the whole slide together.

The Central Badge

• Draw a large circle directly in the top center of the slide, intersecting the dotted line.
• Fill it with a very light gray (lighter than your pill shapes).
• Add a subtle drop shadow to this circle to lift it off the background and give the slide a hint of depth.

Finding the Right Icon

Since the slide is about Artificial Intelligence, the designer used an icon that merges a human brain with a digital circuit board. When choosing an icon for your own presentation:

• Ensure it is a solid color (dark gray or charcoal works best here).
• Make sure the style matches the clean, flat look of the rest of the slide.
• Center it perfectly within the light gray background circle.

Duplication and Final Polish

Once you have built one "Pros" item and one "Cons" item, the hard work is done.

Cloning the Elements

Group your first gray pill, colored circle, and text together. Duplicate this group three times for each side. Use your presentation software's alignment tools (Distribute Vertically) to ensure the spacing between each item is mathematically perfect. Uneven spacing will immediately break the professional look of this slide.

Design Tips for Success

• Keep Text Brief: This layout fails if you try to paste whole paragraphs into the pill shapes. Stick to 3-5 words per point.
• Consistent Alignment: Ensure the text inside the pill shapes is vertically centered with the numbered circle.
• Typography: Recommended fonts for this style include Arial, Helvetica, Montserrat, or Open Sans.

Conclusion

By relying on symmetry, strong color coding, and clean container shapes, you can transform a boring bulleted list into a compelling visual comparison. This layout is highly adaptable. Simply change the central icon, update the colors to match your brand guidelines, and you have a reliable template for any presentation requiring an honest evaluation of options.