How to Open Designer in PowerPoint 2016

Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 introduced a feature called "Designer" to help users enhance their presentations with design ideas and layout suggestions. This tool provides automated design recommendations and helps improve the overall visual appeal of your slides. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to access and use the Designer feature in PowerPoint 2016.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint 2016
Launch Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 on your computer. Ensure that your application is up to date to access the latest features, including Designer.

Step 2: Create a New Presentation or Open an Existing One
You can either start with a blank presentation or open an existing file that you wish to enhance using Designer. To open an existing presentation, go to "File" > "Open" and select the presentation file from your computer.

Step 3: Insert Content into Your Slide
Designer works by analyzing the content on your slide and providing design recommendations based on that content. To activate Designer, you need to have content on your slide. For example, add text, images, or charts to your slide.

Step 4: Enable the Designer Feature
Designer should be enabled by default in PowerPoint 2016. If it's not visible, follow these steps to ensure it's turned on:

1. Click on the "File" tab in the ribbon.
2. Select "Options" to open the PowerPoint Options dialog box.
3. Click on "General" in the left pane.
4. Scroll down to the "PowerPoint Designer" section.
5. Check the box that says "Automatically show me design ideas."

Step 5: View Design Ideas
Once Designer is enabled, select a slide with content and click on the "Design" tab in the ribbon. On the far right side of the tab, you'll see a "Design Ideas" button. Click this button, and PowerPoint will display a pane on the right side of the window with various design suggestions based on the content of your slide.

Step 6: Choose a Design
Browse through the design suggestions provided by Designer. Click on a design to apply it to your slide. Designer will automatically adjust the layout and formatting of your content to match the selected design.

Step 7: Customize Your Slide
After applying a design, you can still make manual adjustments to your slide. You can move elements around, change fonts, or modify colors to better fit your presentation's theme.

Step 8: Save Your Presentation
Once you’re satisfied with the design changes, save your presentation by clicking on the "File" tab and selecting "Save" or "Save As" to choose a location on your computer.

Tips for Using Designer Effectively

• Ensure your content is well-organized and visually appealing before applying design ideas.
• Use Designer as a starting point and make additional customizations to match your presentation style.
• Regularly check for updates to PowerPoint 2016 to benefit from any improvements to Designer.

By following these steps, you can effectively use the Designer feature in PowerPoint 2016 to enhance the visual appeal of your presentations and create professional-looking slides with ease.