MS PowerPoint is an excellent tool. And its uses go beyond making great PowerPoint presentations. From creating a poster to customizing your own presentation ideas in video, you can do a lot with this tool. In this tutorial, we will discuss how to create a roadmap in PowerPoint.
Let’s dive in:
What is a Roadmap?
A roadmap is a high-level overview of a project’s vision and direction over time. A typical route includes:
- Objectives
- A milestone
- Key deliverables
Although roadmaps visually show the overall strategy and work required to reach certain milestones, roadmaps are sometimes also used to present timelines of how companies have grown over time.
Can you add a Roadmap to a PowerPoint Presentation?
Yes, you can add a roadmap to a PowerPoint presentation. Microsoft has a rich library of timeline templates, including a timeline template for a product timeline, a growth timeline, and more.
However, you may need to subscribe to Microsoft 365 to download the premium template.
How to Create a Roadmap in PowerPoint
There are many design elements to play with when creating a roadmap in PowerPoint. Depending on the theme of the presentation, you can include different icons, shapes, and other elements in your roadmap presentation.
The following is a step-by-step process for creating a roadmap in PowerPoint:
Step. 1
Click on the new tab and select Blank Presentation to open a blank PowerPoint presentation slide.
Step. 2
After opening a blank slide, you will see two text boxes where you can add a title and subtitle for the presentation. Remove both text boxes to have a clear, blank white presentation slide.
Step. 3
Click on the Insert tab and go to the Shapes menu. Add a line shape to your slide. Adjust it so that it is horizontal.
Step. 4
Select the line and click on the Shape Format tab. Go to the Shape Frame menu to change the line color. You can also increase the weight of the line and make it thicker by selecting the Weight option from the same dropdown section.
Step. 5
Click the Insert menu and select the circle shape. Holding the ctrl and shift keys together, make a small circle and place it at the end of the line.
Step. 6
Select the circle and go to Shape Format. Click on the Fill Shape tab and change the color of the circle as you want.
Step. 7
Go to the shape menu again and insert an empty circle. Make the empty circle smaller and place it next to the circle you just made. After selecting the empty circle, you can change the color of the empty circle in the Shape Fill tab.
Select the empty circle and duplicate it (by pressing ctrl+D). Change its color and place it over the empty circle design created earlier. Holding the ctrl and shift keys together, make the second empty circle a little bigger.
Step. 8
Select a straight line and duplicate it. Go to the Shape format tab and click Rotate. Select Rotate Right 90°. Place a straight line directly through the hollow circle. Holding the shift key, you can change the line size.
Step. 9
Select the arc shape from the Shapes menu under the Insert tab. Move the yellow dot, make it a circle and place it next to the empty circle design we’ve made so far.
Drag the yellow dot and change the direction of the arc to match the road diagram shown below. You can change the border color and weight of the arc shape in the shape format menu.
Step. 10
Select the oval circle. Holding ctrl and shift, drag it to the other end of the vertical line as shown in the picture.
Click on the Text Box tab from the Insert menu to add a text box. You can add as many text boxes as needed for your roadmap template design.
Once text boxes have been added to the roadmap, you can change the size, color, and font type.
Step. 11
Select the entire design. Holding ctrl and delete drag everything to the right and it will be duplicated. Adjust text boxes and horizontal line as per design requirement.
Step. 12
When you’re done repeating and adjusting all the elements, change the color of the lines and shapes. Click on the Format menu Shape. Go to Fill Shape, select the appropriate color, and fill the shape with that. Change the color of the lines on the shape frame tab.
Your road template design will look like this:
Step. 13
Once your roadmap is ready, create a file name and save it for future use. There are many options for saving a file.
Choose the .pptm format to save the file for easy editing in the future.
To print the file, save it in .jpg or .pdf format.
How to Create a Curved Roadmap in PowerPoint
Here’s an easy-to-follow process to create a curved road map in PowerPoint:
Step. 1 – Create a New Blank Presentation Slide
Click on the new tab and select Blank Presentation to open a new blank slide.
Step. 2 – Create a Road Map
Go to the Insert menu and click on the Shapes tab. Select the Block Arc shape and add it to the slide.
When you’re done adjusting the shape of the block arc, choose an arc shape from the Shapes menu.
Place the arc over the block arc shape and create a semicircle. Select both the arc and the block arc, click the Edit menu, and choose Align Center. Then again go to the Edit menu and select Center Alignment.
Select the arc shape and go to the Shape format menu. Click on the Shape Frame tab and select an arc color from the Theme Colors option. You can change the weight of the arc in the Weight menu. From the Dashes menu, change the nature of the arc by selecting the square dot option.
Select the entire drawing, press ctrl+G to make a group, then ctrl+D to duplicate it. Go to the Edit tab, click Rotate and select the Flip Vertical option. Place the flipped road shape next to the previous one.
Make adjustments to keep the curvature properly aligned. After that, make your own copy and place the copied one next to the previous one.
Step. 3 – Add shape elements
Select the line shape from the Shapes menu under the Insert tab and draw a straight line.
Then from the same Shapes menu, select Flowchart: Punched Tape shape. Place it along a straight line and create a flag shape. Select both shapes and click ctrl+G to group the shapes together. Your flag is ready.
Step. 4 – Install Icon
Add an icon from the Insert menu.
We have made three copies of the icon and flag here to give a complete look to the roadmap.
Step. 5 – Add text components
Click on the Text Box tab from the Insert menu to add a text box.
You can add as many text boxes as your roadmap needs. Once all the necessary text boxes have been added, you can add text and change the font type, size, and color.
Your final guide in PowerPoint will look like this below:
Step. 6 – Save Your Final Curved Road Design
Don’t forget to save the roadmap in .pptm for easy editing of the file in the future. To print the file, save it in .pdf or .jpg format.
Roadmap design
Roadmaps are not just timeline representations, they include images, icons, shapes, etc. Represent your business as well. Using random fonts, colors, and graphics on your roadmap will not create a lasting impression on your audience.
Whether you’re using a slide for your employees or customers, make sure the design elements match your brand. Doing so will help them connect with your product.
Roadmap PowerPoint Templates
If you don’t have time to create a roadmap from scratch using this tutorial, you can use a roadmap template to save time. A great template comes with a beautiful design that you can easily customize.
From creating a simple timeline of progress to showing the different stages of complex project management, you can use the fully structured roadmap PowerPoint template design in many ways.
You can download popular templates here, here, and here for free.
Use of Project Roadmap in Business
Here are the key benefits of using a project roadmap for your business:
- You can present your vision and overall product/business goals in an attractive way
- You can write how you will present your opinion and your goals
- A roadmap helps you convey all the necessary information to stakeholders
- It can help you set priorities so you can stay focused on important tasks
Also, a roadmap can help you keep everyone on the same page when launching a new product or implementing a new process.
Final thoughts
Now that you know how to create a roadmap in PowerPoint from scratch. It’s time to explore other uses of PowerPoint, such as how to turn PowerPoint into a video, how to embed a video in PowerPoint, how to make a Venn diagram in PowerPoint, and how to make speech in PowerPoint. And if you want to shine your presentation skills, avoiding these PowerPoint mistakes can help.
Photo: Envato Elements
