How to Start Using SmartArt in PowerPoint in 60 Seconds

PowerPoint has this great feature called SmartArt that helps you add graphic illustrations and infographics to your presentation. You have to see it in action to get some ideas about how you can best use SmartArt in PowerPoint to make flexible presentation graphics.

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Now let's get started.

How to Quickly Use SmartArt in PowerPoint

Note: Watch this short tutorial screencast or follow the quick steps below, that compliment this video.

1. Select SmartArt to Open Up the Tool

In PowerPoint I'm going to go up to the Insert menu and choose SmartArt.

Select the SmartArt tool to open up options — Select the PowerPoint SmartArt tool to open up your graphic options.

Note: This option is the same whether you're using PowerPoint on Windows or Mac.

2. Insert Process SmartArt Graphic into Your Presentation

On the left side here are all of these different types of charts and illustrations we can add. So let's choose one from the Process option as an example. I'll press OK.

So now we have this process map here in PowerPoint and we can fill it in with our very own content — Make a selection from the PowerPoint SmartArt graphic options.

3. Using PowerPoint SmartArt With Your Content

So now we have this process map here in PowerPoint and we can fill it in with our very own content. I can add content in the bullets here and it adds it to the chart itself.

Add steps to your SmartArt process chart.

Now notice that this SmartArt can actually evolve over time to reshape itself based on the content inside of it.

Finishing Up!

Returning to the Smart Art menu you can see many other options for different types of illustrations that you can fill in with your own content to create helpful illustrations for your viewers.

You can pick from chart types like lists, processes, cycles, hierarchies and more. So SmartArt is an easy way to add these professional illustrations without having to build them in separate apps.

More Great Envato Tuts+ PowerPoint Tutorials

Learn more in our PowerPoint tutorials and quick video tutorials on Envato Tuts+. We have an assortment of PowerPoint material to help you make a great presentation:

You can also find great PowerPoint presentation templates with premium designs on GraphicRiver or Envato Elements. Or, browse through our selection of the best Microsoft PowerPoint designs:

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