slidecentric

Slidecentric, also written slide-centric, is a term used to describe an approach that centers on slides as the primary units of a deck, interface, or educational material. In this usage, a slide-centric design treats each slide as a discrete unit that conveys a complete idea, with the sequence of slides providing the overall narrative.

In presentations, slide-centric design emphasizes visuals, charts, and concise text on individual slides, with transitions or speaker notes used to connect slides to a broader argument. Proponents argue that this approach makes content easier to skim, enhances visual impact, and supports modular modifications.

In software and user interfaces, slide-centric design appears in carousel components, onboarding flows, and multi-panel interfaces where users move between slides or screens that resemble slides. This can help manage cognitive load by segmenting tasks, but may also encourage fragmentation if the linking between slides is weak.

Advantages include clarity, modularity, and easier reuse of slides in different decks. Potential drawbacks include the risk of a disjointed narrative if slide boundaries are treated as impermeable, and a tendency to prioritize form over deeper contextual explanation.

Related concepts include slide-based design, carousel navigation, and story-centric or narrative-centric design, which emphasizes continuity across the whole deck or experience rather than isolated slides.