Design Lead (Contract / Freelance)

ABOUT PRESENTATION MODE

We prepare leaders to own the room.

Presentation Mode is a narrative strategy and presentation firm. We sit at the intersection of strategy, story, and design – and we exist to close one specific gap: the distance between what a company has built and what the room believes.

The difference between a yes and a no often isn’t the idea. It’s how clearly and convincingly it’s communicated. Great companies get passed on. Transformative ideas go unfunded. Products that could change markets never find their customers. Not because the work isn’t there. Because the story got in the way of a yes.

That’s what we’re here to fix.

We work with founders, GPs, executives, and leaders navigating high-stakes moments – fundraises, LP pitches, keynotes, brand launches, sales narratives, board presentations. We prepare them to walk into those rooms with a clear story, powerful materials, and the confidence to own every room they enter.

We are not a deck design shop. We are a strategic partner. Our clients are the heroes. We are the preparation.

WHAT SETS US APART

Others deliver a deck. We deliver a client who is ready.

Every engagement combines narrative strategy, presentation design, and coaching – including work with our Broadway-trained presentation coach. We don’t hand over a file and walk away. We stay in the room until the story is fully owned.

Our work has contributed to $500M+ raised by clients across fundraising, brand, and keynote moments. We’ve supported portfolio companies from Lerer Hippeau, Y Combinator, Point72 Ventures, Forerunner, Kleiner Perkins, Founders Fund, and more.

What truly sets us apart is our team. We are tight-knit, honest, and deeply collaborative. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of creative excellence, and we believe that working closely together – with humor, mutual respect, and genuine care for each other and our clients – makes us better every day.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Design Lead

As our Design Lead, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping our creative output and working directly with clients to bring their stories to life. At Presentation Mode, design is never just aesthetics – it is a key differentiator, tightly interwoven with strategy and narrative.

This is a part-time, contract role with real impact. You’ll collaborate with founders, GPs, and leadership teams on the moments that define careers and companies. You’ll work alongside strategists and coaches, applying your creative vision to high-stakes narratives where the design decisions genuinely matter.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Creative Excellence

• Set and uphold an extremely high bar for visual design quality across every engagement.
• Execute with precision, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of visual hierarchy.
• Weave typography, color, imagery, and data into presentations that are as strategic as they are beautiful.
• Collaborate closely with strategists to build narratives that go beyond the visual – supporting clients from emerging brands to established firms navigating brand evolution.

Process & Collaboration

• Share early drafts to invite feedback and drive momentum, not to seek approval.
• Meet deadlines consistently through clear prioritization and proactive communication.
• Participate in internal design critiques and team working sessions.
• Help build internal workflows that support quality and efficiency as we grow.

Client Engagement

• Lead focused, goal-oriented client meetings that drive clarity and next steps.
• Communicate with empathy, professionalism, and purpose.
• Be a steady and thoughtful partner who listens closely and reads between the lines.
• Present work with confidence and receive feedback with openness.

Team Contribution

• Contribute as a collaborative teammate who brings calm, clarity, and creative thinking to every project.
• Share tools, best practices, and fresh ideas that elevate the team’s work.
• Ensure every project blends narrative and design in a cohesive, powerful way.

WHO YOU ARE

The right person for this role.

You are a graphic designer with 3–5 years of experience, ideally within a creative agency environment, with strong expertise in presentation and deck design. You understand that a great presentation is a strategic document, not a decorative one.

You bring:

• A refined design sensibility and a strong grasp of visual storytelling.
• The ability to work across typography, color, imagery, and data with intention and precision.
• Clear, confident communication – you present work well, listen closely, and collaborate with purpose.
• An organized, self-starting approach – you manage your time well and bring energy to every project.
• Genuine care for the quality of the work and the people you work with.
• Startup familiarity or entrepreneurial experience is a plus.

TOOLS & PLATFORMS

• Strong proficiency in Google Slides (primary), PowerPoint, Figma, and Keynote.
• Familiarity with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office.
• Quick to learn new tools and adapt to client and project needs.

ONE MORE THING

If you’re preparing for a role that matters, we’d love to talk.

This is not a role for someone who wants to execute a brief and move on. It is for someone who wants to be part of something – a team that believes deeply in the power of a clear story, that cares about craft, and that shows up for each other and for clients in high-stakes moments.

If that’s you, reach out.

hello@presentationmode.co

No recruiting or staffing agencies, please.