--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you'd put it in a Powerpoint deck…" description: "\"If you'd put it in a Powerpoint deck don't put it in your ad\" — Lee Clow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/lee-clow-14137_ads_if-you-d-put-it-in-a-powerpoint-deck-don_1656832.png" --- # If you'd put it in a Powerpoint deck don't put it in your ad ![“If you'd put it in a Powerpoint deck don't put it in your ad” quote by Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/lee-clow-14137_ads_if-you-d-put-it-in-a-powerpoint-deck-don_1656832.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/lee-clow-14137_ads_if-you-d-put-it-in-a-powerpoint-deck-don_1656832.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/lee-clow-14137_ads_if-you-d-put-it-in-a-powerpoint-deck-don_1656832.png) > “If you'd put it in a Powerpoint deck don't put it in your ad” [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advice against over‑designing ads with unnecessary presentation fluff. **In simple terms:** Keep ads simple, not a Powerpoint. Key Takeaway Avoid flashy decks in ad creation. Themes advertising design clarity Mood pragmatic direct Type advice practical When to use this quote - marketing meetings - client presentations - creative brainstorming Key Concepts visual communication simplicity Questions to Reflect On - Is simplicity always better? - When does visual flair help? A Different Perspective May lose impact if stripped of visual aids. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ads/) [Deck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deck/) [Deck Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deck-don-713937/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Powerpoint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerpoint/) [Powerpoint Deck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerpoint-deck-713936/) ## Related quotes > [Your ad begins as an interruption. Make paying attention to it feel like a reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/your-ad-begins-as-an-interruption-make-paying-attention-to-it-feel/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [PowerPoint presentations, the cesspool of data visualization that Microsoft has visited upon the earth. PowerPoint, indeed, is a cautionary tale in our emerging data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/powerpoint-presentations-the-cesspool-of-data-visualization-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how good your PowerPoint slides are or your strategy or concept. What it really comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-gutsche/at-the-end-of-the-day-it-doesn-t-matter-how-good-your-powerpoint/) [Jeremy Gutsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-gutsche/) > [“Well-designed visuals do more than provide information; they bring order to the conversation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/well-designed-visuals-do-more-than-provide-information-they-bring/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Let me just say that, if you ever have the choice of putting your words in powerpoint or having them carved into 30-foot high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/let-me-just-say-that-if-you-ever-have-the-choice-of-putting-your/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [Work hard, but make time for your love, family and friends. Nobody remembers PowerPoint presentations on your final day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chetan-bhagat/work-hard-but-make-time-for-your-love-family-and-friends-nobody/) [Chetan Bhagat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chetan-bhagat/) > [My best advice is to not start in PowerPoint. Presentation tools force you to think through information linearly, and you really need to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-duarte/my-best-advice-is-to-not-start-in-powerpoint-presentation-tools-force/) [Nancy Duarte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-duarte/) > [PowerPoint presentations too often resemble a school play - very loud, very slow, and very simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/powerpoint-presentations-too-often-resemble-a-school-play-very-loud/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [People over the age of thirty were born before the digital revolution really started. We've learned to use digital technology-laptops, cameras, personal digital assistants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/people-over-the-age-of-thirty-were-born-before-the-digital-revolution/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“Your slides should be a billboard not a document!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-jackson/your-slides-should-be-a-billboard-not-a-document/) [Lee Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-jackson/) > [The most used program in computers and education is PowerPoint. What are you learning about the nature of the medium by knowing how do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/the-most-used-program-in-computers-and-education-is-powerpoint-what/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [Launch your product or service before you have funding. See how people respond to it before you have a PowerPoint and business plan -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hurley/launch-your-product-or-service-before-you-have-funding-see-how-people/) [Chad Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hurley/) > [“At the morning's PowerPoint It's full of unique bullet points”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-ratliff/at-the-morning-s-powerpoint-it-s-full-of-unique-bullet-points/) [Richard L. Ratliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-ratliff/) > [PowerPoint doesn't kill meetings. People kill meetings. But using PowerPoint is like having a loaded AK-47 on the table: You can do very bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/powerpoint-doesn-t-kill-meetings-people-kill-meetings-but-using/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [I hate the way people use slide presentations instead of thinking. People would confront a problem by creating a presentation. I wanted them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-hate-the-way-people-use-slide-presentations-instead-of-thinking/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) ## More by Lee Clow > [Most ideas are a bit scary, and if an idea isn't scary, it's not an idea at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/most-ideas-are-a-bit-scary-and-if-an-idea-isn-t-scary-it-s-not-an/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [Throughout history, the technology always comes first. It's just technology for a while, until the day we artists inherit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/throughout-history-the-technology-always-comes-first-it-s-just/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [ \[In 2011 on Steve Jobs\] He was the most amazing person I have ever know. He was a genius. He was an innovator. He… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/in-2011-on-steve-jobs-he-was-the-most-amazing-person-i-have-ever-know/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [A thing that most creatives don't do well is that you've gotta learn to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/a-thing-that-most-creatives-don-t-do-well-is-that-you-ve-gotta-learn/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [What I've always loved to do is build a brand that's so cool that you want to wear their T-shirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/what-i-ve-always-loved-to-do-is-build-a-brand-that-s-so-cool-that-you/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [ \[In 2007\] People's relationship with a brand is becoming a dialog, not a monolog. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/in-2007-people-s-relationship-with-a-brand-is-becoming-a-dialog-not-a/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [I found my own way of doing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/i-found-my-own-way-of-doing-things/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [Managing brands is going to be more and more about trying to manage everything that your company does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/managing-brands-is-going-to-be-more-and-more-about-trying-to-manage/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [The only reason you should move to a new job is if you are not getting the opportunity to do what you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/the-only-reason-you-should-move-to-a-new-job-is-if-you-are-not/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [TV spots are short. If you can't hold folks' attention for 20 seconds before revealing the brand, find another line of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/tv-spots-are-short-if-you-can-t-hold-folks-attention-for-20-seconds/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [ Steve \[Jobs\] is unique. There aren't many clients that are like that. You have one guy that you really work for. That's very rare. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/steve-jobs-is-unique-there-aren-t-many-clients-that-are-like-that-you/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [ \[In 2004 on being at TBWA Chiat Day for 30 years.\] Different people are different in terms of the way they're made. I knew… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/in-2004-on-being-at-tbwa-chiat-day-for-30-years-different-people-are/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [Your ad begins as an interruption. Make paying attention to it feel like a reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/your-ad-begins-as-an-interruption-make-paying-attention-to-it-feel/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [Most people who are deemed 'mean' are usually perfectionist who make mediocre people unhappy, cause they put more pressure on them then they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/most-people-who-are-deemed-mean-are-usually-perfectionist-who-make/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [Good advertising is a dialog with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/good-advertising-is-a-dialog-with-people/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) [Explore all 47 Lee Clow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) ## More Ads quotes > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) > [As a Fundamentalist I had discovered while I was in college that it is possible to dismiss the entire Church as having gone off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-howard-3rd-duke-of-norfolk/as-a-fundamentalist-i-had-discovered-while-i-was-in-college-that-it/) [Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-howard-3rd-duke-of-norfolk/) > [ The most recent incarnation of \[Bob\] Dylan has been the traveling journeyman/ charlatan who sings roots music, snarls dark lyrics that make "All Along… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/the-most-recent-incarnation-of-bob-dylan-has-been-the-traveling/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [One performer whose band played my music better than I could myself was Art Farmer. He recorded 'Sing Me Softly of the Blues' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-bley/one-performer-whose-band-played-my-music-better-than-i-could-myself/) [Carla Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-bley/) > [What every human being should do is eat a vegetarian diet based on whole foods. Period. That's it. Animal protein is bad for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/what-every-human-being-should-do-is-eat-a-vegetarian-diet-based-on/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [In market research I did at Microsoft Corp. in the early 1990s, I estimated that the 'Wall Street Journal' took in about 75 cents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/in-market-research-i-did-at-microsoft-corp-in-the-early-1990s-i/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [Donald Trump threatened to file a defamation suit against me for running a TV ad that consisted only entirely of his own words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-threatened-to-file-a-defamation-suit-against-me-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [There is nothing personal about a personal ad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-smith/there-is-nothing-personal-about-a-personal-ad/) [Wes Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-smith/) > [Google has - at least at this point - maintained the line where it keeps organic results separate from the advertisements. But over time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/google-has-at-least-at-this-point-maintained-the-line-where-it-keeps/) [Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/) > [I am terrible at memorizing things. Hence, ad-libbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-weatherly/i-am-terrible-at-memorizing-things-hence-ad-libbing/) [Michael Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-weatherly/) > [In a recent attack ad, the NRA claims that President Obama cares about his own children more than he cares about other children. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/in-a-recent-attack-ad-the-nra-claims-that-president-obama-cares-about/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [Nothing's going to keep me from making music. If I were in the want-ads in the back of the paper or playing to six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/nothing-s-going-to-keep-me-from-making-music-if-i-were-in-the-want/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [For me, being on set is no different than being at a dinner table or riding the subway next to someone; inevitably their life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-mahoney/for-me-being-on-set-is-no-different-than-being-at-a-dinner-table-or/) [Victoria Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-mahoney/) > [We assumed the customers were smart and that they'll buy what they like, not what the ads tell them to buy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renzo-rosso/we-assumed-the-customers-were-smart-and-that-they-ll-buy-what-they/) [Renzo Rosso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renzo-rosso/) [Browse all 856 Ads quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ads/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you'd put it in a Powerpoint deck don't put it in your ad", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee Clow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/if-you-d-put-it-in-a-powerpoint-deck-don-t-put-it-in-your-ad/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ads" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/if-you-d-put-it-in-a-powerpoint-deck-don-t-put-it-in-your-ad/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/lee-clow-14137_ads_if-you-d-put-it-in-a-powerpoint-deck-don_1656832.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/lee-clow-14137_ads_if-you-d-put-it-in-a-powerpoint-deck-don_1656832.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/lee-clow-14137_ads_if-you-d-put-it-in-a-powerpoint-deck-don_1656832.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you'd put it in a Powerpoint deck don't put it in your ad” — Lee Clow", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lee Clow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you'd put it in a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/if-you-d-put-it-in-a-powerpoint-deck-don-t-put-it-in-your-ad/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/if-you-d-put-it-in-a-powerpoint-deck-don-t-put-it-in-your-ad/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```