What Is SmartArt and Why Use It?
SmartArt is a feature in PowerPoint, Word and Excel, that allows you to create professional diagrams and visual representations of information quickly. It’s ideal for illustrating processes, hierarchies, relationships, and lists in a visually appealing way without manually designing shapes.
1. Insert SmartArt
- Open your PowerPoint presentation.
- Go to the Insert tab on the Ribbon.
- In the Illustrations group, click SmartArt.
- The Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box will appear.
- Select a category such as:
- List: For bullet points or sequential items.
- Process: For workflows or steps.
- Cycle: For repeating processes.
- Hierarchy: For organizational charts.
- Relationship: For comparisons or connections.
- Click OK to insert the SmartArt graphic on your slide.
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2. Add and Edit Text
- Click inside the SmartArt graphic or use the Text Pane (accessible via the SmartArt Tools → Design tab).
- Type your text in the placeholders.
- Press Enter to add new items (bullet points)
- or press Tab on a point to create sub-levels.
Picture
3. Customize SmartArt Design
- Select the SmartArt graphic.
- Go to SmartArt Tools → Design tab.
- Use options to:
- Change the layout (e.g., switch from a list to a process diagram).
- Apply SmartArt Styles for different visual effects.
- Change colors to match your theme.
4. Resize and Position SmartArt
- Drag the corners to resize the graphic.
- Use alignment tools in the Format tab for precise positioning.
Best Practices
- Choose a layout that suits your content type (e.g., process for steps, hierarchy for organizational charts).
- Keep text concise for readability.
- Use consistent colours and styles to maintain a professional look.