Design Ideas, also known as Designer, is a tool built into PowerPoint that can transform your old and boring presentation and make it cleaner and more modern. You can also use it when making presentations from scratch.
Although using the Design Ideas feature is pretty straightforward, you must maintain a few conditions to use it correctly.
Furthermore, not every user that has PowerPoint can access the Designer tool.
So, in this article, I’ve explained what you need to do to get the Designer tool in PowerPoint and how to use it properly.
Let’s begin!
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Why Should You Use Design Ideas in PowerPoint?
Microsoft has created the Design Ideas tool to help its users to focus on the content and leave the design part to professional designers. It instantly provides unique designs saving a lot of time, and automatically illustrates your slides.
Below I’ve explained how vital the Designer tool is for your presentation and why you should start using it more.
Here’s why you should use Design Ideas in PowerPoint:
Get Pre-made Professional Designs
Design Ideas generates different designs and layouts made by skilled designers for your slides according to the content you already have on your slides.
You just think about what your content will be on the slides and let the Designer tool show you how you will display the content.
Save Time on Your Presentations
In addition to getting tons of professional designs, Design Ideas will also help you save time.
Rather than spending hours designing your slides from scratch and matching fonts and colors together, you can simply use Design Ideas, and you’ll get plenty of designs. And choose whatever you like.
When you pick designs from this tool, you will definitely save tons of time, and you should use the Design Ideas feature when you are on a tight deadline.
Add Images & Visual Components Automatically
The Designer tool uses AI to understand what items you have inserted on your slides and what you have written on them. And then, it suggests different designs according to our content. It doesn’t show random designs.
Design Ideas provides graphical elements, vectors, icons, pictures, font size and colors based on your presentation topic.
Transform Your Text into Illustrations
This feature understands what type of text format you are using. For example, it knows whether you are writing on a table or charts or just typing plain text and suggests graphical designs that give new life to the boring text.
Edit After Choosing Your Design
If you pick a design from the Designer tool and think it still needs some tweaks, don’t worry, you can edit it further. You can choose every item on the design and modify them however you like. You can also add different elements to the design.
Thus you can combine your design with a professional designer that will take your slides to another level.
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What are the Requirements for Using Design Ideas in PowerPoint?
Before, Design Ideas was available on different levels of Microsoft Office 2016. But as of now, in 2022, you have to be a regular paying customer to use this feature. You must purchase an Office 365 account, or the Design Ideas will disappear from PowerPoint.
Below I’ve explained what you need to use the Design Ideas tool.
Here are the requirements for using Design Ideas in PowerPoint:
On the Desktop App
You can use the PowerPoint desktop version on Windows or Mac with the Design Ideas feature enabled if you get the Office 365 subscription. Before, buying a one-time standalone Office license was enough to use the tool, but this process doesn’t anymore.
On the PowerPoint Web Version
To use the Designer tool without a subscription, you’ll need to open the PowerPoint web version on your browser. You also have to make a Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint Online account.
On Android & iOS
You cannot use the feature on a smartphone, regardless of whether it runs on Android or iOS. However, you can get the Design Ideas tool on Android-operated tablets and iPads running on iOS.
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How to Use Design Ideas Tools for Free
The Design Ideas feature is currently available for users with an Office 365 subscription. It will cost you at least $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually. However, you can still use the Designer tool in the PowerPoint web version on your browser.
Below I’ve provided the steps to use the Design Ideas feature in PowerPoint without an Office 365 subscription.
Here’s how to use Design Ideas for free in PowerPoint:
- Open your browser and go to account.microsoft.com.
- Click on Sign In and log in to your account. If you don’t have one, select Create account and make a new Microsoft account for free.
- Go to Office 365 and sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Click on the App launcher at the top left corner and select PowerPoint.
- Go to the Home or the Design tab.
- Select Designer, and you will get various designs for your slides.
What other users are paying money to get, you are using it for free; sounds too good to be true. And sadly, it is. You can use the Designer feature on PowerPoint online without any Office 365 subscriptions for only 3 presentations every month.
Now that you know what you need to use the Designer feature in PowerPoint, but don’t see the option, go to the following section, where I’ve described how to enable it.
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How to Enable Design Ideas on PowerPoint
Once you have purchased an Office 365 subscription and launched PowerPoint on your device, you will see the Design Ideas option both in the Home and Design tabs. But if you don’t have the option, you have to enable the feature from PowerPoint Options.
Below I’ve described the process that will allow you to use the Design Ideas feature.
Here are the steps to activate Design Ideas on PowerPoint using Windows:
- Open PowerPoint on your Desktop.
- Select File from the top left corner of the screen.
- Choose Options.
- Select Automatically show me design ideas under the PowerPoint Designer It will enable Design Ideas.
- Check Enable services under Office intelligent services so the Design Ideas can give you better results.
- Click on OK.
Here’s how to enable Design Ideas on PowerPoint using Mac:
- Launch PowerPoint on your Mac.
- Select PowerPoint Preferences.
- Click on General from the Authoring and Proofing Tools section.
- Turn on Automatically show me design ideas and Automatically show me suggestions when I create a new presentation.
- Click on OK to update the changes.
Now you should see the Design Ideas option in the Home and Design tab.
If you are having trouble using the tool, in the next section, I’ve explained the correct way to use the Designer tool in PowerPoint.
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How to Use the Design Ideas in PowerPoint
When trying to make a presentation in PowerPoint with the help of Design Ideas, you should always create your slides with your content before you start picking designs from the Designer tool. Otherwise, different designs can mess up your presentation.
Below I’ve described how you can use the tool correctly.
Here’s the process for using Design Ideas in PowerPoint:
- Create the slides in PowerPoint without any designs. Make sure not to use any animations, or else Design Ideas won’t work.
- Add the items and images that should be in the presentation and complete all the slides.
- Select a slide that you want to design.
- Go to the Home tab, click on Design Ideas, and you’ll get multiple designs to choose from.
- Click on See more Design Ideas to get more options.
- Choose the design you like to apply to your slide.
- Go to the next slide, and PowerPoint will show you new designs according to the content on that slide.
- Pick the designs you like for all the slides according to the theme of your presentation.
If the Designer tool is not suggesting any designs, go to the following section, where I’ve explained why your Design Ideas feature is not working.
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Why Can’t You Use the Design Ideas Feature in PowerPoint?
Firstly, you need an Office 365 account to use the Design Ideas feature. But, if you don’t have the option, even though you have a subscription, it can happen when you put too many types of items, add many images on a slide, or it can be an internet issue.
Below I’ve explained why the Design Ideas option is not showing up and suggesting designs.
Here’s why you cannot use the Design Ideas feature in PowerPoint:
Different Items on Your Slides
If there’s already an image on your slide and if you add a shape to it, the Design Ideas feature will disappear. You won’t be able to use the feature until you remove the shape from the slide.
Too Many Images on a Slide
You can use the Designer tool with up to 6 pictures on a single slide. As soon as you add the 7th image, Design Ideas will stop working.
Multiple Charts or Tables
The Design Ideas feature won’t work if you have multiple charts or multiple tables on a slide. Also, it doesn’t work when you put a chart and a table on the same slide.
Custom Slide or Template
If you upload a slide in PowerPoint and try to edit it using the Design Ideas feature, it might not work. It happens when the slide has different types of items on it.
PowerPoint Designer is Turned Off
Disabling the Automatically show me design ideas option in the PowerPoint Designer section will stop the Designer tool.
Problem with Internet Connection
All the design suggestions you get from the Designer tool come from an online database. So if you don’t have an internet connection, you won’t get to use the Design Ideas tool.
Now that you know what’s preventing you from using Design Ideas, I’ve provided the steps to solve the issues in the following section.
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How to Fix Design Ideas Not Working in PowerPoint
In case the Design Ideas tool is not working correctly in your PowerPoint, you should check and make sure you are using the latest PowerPoint file format. Also, try not to use too many pictures or add different types of items in a single slide.
Follow the instructions below to troubleshoot any problems regarding Design Ideas in PowerPoint.
Here are the steps to fix Design Ideas not working in PowerPoint:
1. Check Your Office 365 Subscription Status
If your Office 365 subscription has expired, you need to renew it; otherwise, you won’t be able to use the Designer tool.
From the Microsoft admin center, you can only view the licenses you’ve purchased but not the details of the licenses. You need to use Windows PowerShell to see the details.
Here’s how you check the Office 365 subscription status:
- Right-click on the Windows icon and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- Run the following commands to install the modules:
- Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope LocalMachine -Force;
- Install-PackageProvider -Name NuGet -Force;
- Set-PSRepository -Name “PSGallery” -InstallationPolicy Trusted;
- Install-Module -Name MSOnline;
- Connect-MsolService;
- Connect to the Azure Active Directory by signing in to your Microsoft account when prompted.
- Run the command below to get your license status:
Get-MsolSubscription | Select-Object SkuPartNumber,Status,TotalLicenses,DateCreated,NextLifeCycleDate
The DateCreated is the start time of your Microsoft 365 subscription, and NextLifecycleDate is the expiration date.
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2. Save PowerPoint Presentation to Latest Format
If you make or open a presentation in PowerPoint, which is in an old format, the Design Ideas option will be grayed out, and you won’t be able to use the feature. To fix this issue, you can just save the presentation to the latest format.
Here’s the process for saving PowerPoint presentations to the latest format:
- Open your presentation on PowerPoint.
- Select File.
- Choose Save As from the left menu.
- Click on the dropdown icon beside the Save button.
- Pick PowerPoint Presentation (pptx) and click Save.
After these steps, you will be able to use the Designer tool to modify the presentation.
3. Don’t Put Various Types of Items on a Slide
The Design Ideas tool can modify your slide with a text box and an image. But if you have multiple elements, such as shapes, charts, tables and images on a slide, the Designer tool won’t appear until you simplify the slide.
The Design Ideas feature works best with Title Slide, Title and Content, Section Header and Blank Slide. Try to use the feature with these types of slides.
Also, don’t use more than 6 pictures, 1 table or 1 chart in a single slide in order to use the Designer tool.
4. Check the Internet Connection
The Design Ideas feature does not work offline. You cannot use the feature if you don’t have an active internet connection. Make sure your internet is fine before using the Designer tool.
FAQs
How do I find Design Ideas in PowerPoint?
The Design Ideas option is on the left side of the toolbar in the Home tab and the Design tab of the PowerPoint Desktop app.
Why is my PowerPoint not showing Design Ideas?
You need an Office 365 account to use the Design Ideas feature. The feature can also disappear when you put too many types of items, add too many images on a slide, or you need a better internet connection.
How do I enable design suggestions in PowerPoint?
Follow the steps below to enable design suggestions in PowerPoint:
- Launch PowerPoint.
- Select File > Options.
- Check Automatically show me design ideas under the PowerPoint Designer section.
- Check Enable services under Office intelligent services.
- Click OK.
Which version of PowerPoint has design ideas?
Only Microsoft Office 365 subscribers can use the Design Ideas feature in PowerPoint.
Final Thoughts
With just a few clicks, the Design Ideas feature can tidy up your presentation and make it stand out from other presentations.
But to get the most value out of it, you need to know how to use it correctly, what factors stop the Designer tool from working and how to fix the issues, which I’ve explained thoroughly in this article.
Let me know if you have further questions regarding Design Ideas or other tools in PowerPoint. See you in the comment section.
