Prompting for Layout

The layout of a slide — how elements are arranged on the page — is one of the most powerful things you can control with your words. When you describe spatial relationships ("put this on the left," "arrange these in a grid," "full-width image behind the text"), the AI builds exactly that arrangement. When you don't mention layout, the AI guesses — and the result often feels generic.

This article teaches you the layout vocabulary that Dev Decks responds to, with examples you can try on your own deck.

Why Layout Matters

Two slides can have identical content but feel completely different depending on how the elements are arranged. A list of four features stacked vertically reads like a boring document. The same four features in a 2x2 grid with icons feels like a professional product page.

Layout is the difference between "informative" and "impressive." And unlike template tools where you pick from a handful of preset layouts, you can describe any arrangement you can imagine.

The Layout Vocabulary

Here are the layout words and phrases that Dev Decks understands. Think of them as building blocks — you can combine them freely.

Grid

A grid arranges elements in rows and columns. It's the most versatile layout and works for almost any slide with multiple items.

Try these:

• "Show our 6 features in a 3x2 grid with an icon for each one"
• "Arrange the 4 team members in a 2x2 grid"
• "Put our 9 portfolio logos in a 3x3 grid"

When to use it: Any time you have 3 or more similar items to display — features, team members, clients, benefits, portfolio pieces.

Split Screen

A split screen divides the slide into two halves — left and right (or sometimes top and bottom). Each side carries different content.

Try these:

• "Put the problem statement on the left and our solution on the right"
• "Show the key metric on the left side, with a supporting chart on the right"
• "Image on the left, text on the right"

When to use it: Problem/solution slides, before/after comparisons, any time you want to contrast or pair two things side by side.

Full-Width (Full-Bleed)

A full-width layout uses the entire slide as a canvas, often with a background image or colour that stretches edge to edge. Text sits on top.

Try these:

• "Full-width background image with our tagline centred on top"
• "Dark background covering the whole slide with a large quote in the centre"
• "Hero image filling the entire slide with the company name overlaid"

When to use it: Opening slides, closing slides, section dividers, or any slide where visual impact matters more than information density.

Centred

A centred layout puts the main content in the middle of the slide with space on all sides. It draws the eye to one focal point.

Try these:

• "Centre the revenue number in the middle of the slide, large, with a small label underneath"
• "One big quote in the centre with the author's name below"
• "Company logo centred with the tagline underneath"

When to use it: Hero metrics, powerful quotes, title slides, or any slide with a single focal point. Less is more here — centred layouts work best when the content is minimal and punchy.

Stacked

A stacked layout arranges elements vertically, one on top of the other. It reads like a natural top-to-bottom flow.

Try these:

• "Stack the headline, then three bullet points, then a call-to-action button at the bottom"
• "Title at the top, a large image in the middle, caption at the bottom"

When to use it: Slides with a clear reading order, narrative slides, or when you want viewers to read top to bottom.

Sidebar

A sidebar layout dedicates a narrow column on one side for navigation, labels, or supporting information, with the main content taking up the larger area.

Try these:

• "Put a narrow sidebar on the left with section labels, main content on the right"
• "Small profile photo and name on the left side, the full bio on the right"

When to use it: Slides with a primary focus and secondary context, team bios, or content that benefits from a visual anchor on one side.

Timeline (Horizontal Flow)

A timeline arranges elements from left to right (or occasionally top to bottom) to show progression, milestones, or a sequence of steps.

Try these:

• "Show our 4 milestones as a timeline from left to right"
• "Display the 5 steps of our process as a horizontal flow with arrows between them"
• "Timeline showing company history: founded, first customer, Series A, 100 customers"

When to use it: Company history, roadmaps, process explanations, project phases, any sequence of events.

Asymmetric

An asymmetric layout deliberately makes one element larger or more prominent than the others. It creates visual hierarchy through size differences.

Try these:

• "Make the main stat take up two-thirds of the slide, with three smaller supporting stats on the right"
• "Large product screenshot on the left, small feature list on the right"
• "One testimonial quote large in the centre, two smaller quotes underneath"

When to use it: When one piece of content is more important than the rest and you want the design to reflect that priority.

Combining Layouts

The real power comes from combining these building blocks. You're not limited to one layout concept per slide.

Examples:

• "Split screen — problem on the left, solution on the right. Under the solution, show 3 features in a grid." (Split + Grid)
• "Full-width dark background with a large metric centred at the top, and three supporting stats in a row below." (Full-width + Centred + Grid)
• "Timeline across the top showing our journey, with a team grid underneath." (Timeline + Grid)

The AI handles the proportions and spacing — you just describe the arrangement you want.

Common Layout Mistakes

Cramming too much onto one slide

If you ask for 10 items in a grid PLUS a sidebar PLUS a title PLUS a footer, the slide will feel crowded. Each element competes for attention and nothing stands out.

The fix: Split the content across two slides, or decide what's most important and feature that prominently.

Not saying what should stand out

"Show our metrics and our team and our roadmap" gives the AI no signal about what matters most. Everything gets equal weight, and the slide feels flat.

The fix: Tell the AI what's most important. "Lead with the revenue number — make it the biggest thing on the slide. Put the other metrics smaller underneath."

Forgetting about white space

Beginners tend to fill every inch of the slide. But the space between elements is just as important as the elements themselves. Breathing room makes content easier to read and more professional.

The fix: You don't need to explicitly ask for white space (the AI handles this well), but avoid overloading slides with too many elements. If your message describes more than 6-8 items, consider splitting.

The Whiteboard Test

Here's a simple trick: if you were sketching this slide on a whiteboard for a colleague, what would you draw? Boxes on the left and right? A grid of squares? One big number in the middle?

Describe that sketch in words, and the AI will build it. You don't need design vocabulary — spatial language is enough. "This on the left, that on the right, those three things across the bottom" is a perfectly valid layout instruction.

What to Read Next

Now that you know how to direct layout, explore other dimensions of your slides:

• Prompting for Motion and Interaction — How to ask for hover effects, counting numbers, and elements that appear one by one.
• Prompting for Data Visualization — Transform "show our growth" into compelling visual data stories.
• The Prompt Spectrum: Vague to Specific — Understand the five levels of specificity and when to use each.