Brief

Research in Finance is a specialist financial services research and consultancy company. The team needed a single PowerPoint template that would support the main brand plus seven sub-brands. Analysts often combine slides from different practices into one deck, so each slide had to show which sub-brand it belongs to—but the client did not want multiple templates or multiple colour-ways. The solution therefore had to deliver one core template with a consistent look, while providing a clear, lightweight way to denote sub-brand ownership at slide level. In addition, research presentations are dense: charts, tables and long annotations must fit without clutter. We were asked to maximise usable space, tune typography and spacing, and supply chart templates (CRTX) so visuals remain legible and on brand. Finally, we provided a focused handover so analysts could apply tabs, add logos correctly and use the chart styles with confidence.

Approach

We rebuilt the identity natively in PowerPoint: theme colours, font themes and a grid that governs margins, columns and safe areas. A disciplined slide master with custom layouts covers openers, section dividers, comparison spreads, image-led stories and data pages. To support many brands inside one file, we created a tab system down the side of each layout: up to four tab placeholders can be populated on a slide. Editors type the brand name and switch the tab’s fill to the appropriate accent colour from the template’s custom palette. Tabs are vector components with snap-to alignment, so they scale neatly without drifting. We also fixed the logo position in the footer, providing a dedicated placeholder so sub-brand marks sit consistently across all slides. For data-heavy content, we produced a pack of CRTX chart templates (bar/column, line, combo, pie/donut, stacked, waterfall) with accessible palettes, legible labels and consistent axes; we documented the import steps and usage notes. Several rounds of spacing and type tuning balanced density and clarity. Finally, we delivered a short handover and reference sheet so analysts can apply tabs, logos and chart styles quickly and correctly.

Outcome

Analysts now assemble presentations faster and with fewer formatting fixes. Because one template serves all brands, maintenance is simple, yet tabs and the fixed logo position make slide ownership obvious. The CRTX styles keep charts legible and on brand, while tuned spacing improves readability in dense pages. Editors focus on insight rather than formatting, and mixed decks clearly show which sub-brand each slide represents—even when multiple brands appear on a single page. Exports to PDF and projector output are clean and predictable, giving stakeholders a consistent experience across research, marketing and client presentations.