CTEv25 • The Joshua Tree Epiphany Presentation •  Category: Portfolio

Project Summary

The Joshua Tree Epiphany is that “aha” moment when you suddenly see design principles everywhere, like a filter you didn’t know was on. Robin Williams (the design author, not the comedian) coined this in The Non-Designer’s Design Book, and it’s one of the most important sparks of awareness you’ll get as a designer.

For this project, you’ll be creating a 10-slide presentation that explains and demonstrates the Joshua Tree Epiphany. Here’s the twist: you can’t rely on images from the internet. Every visual choice you make has to come from shapes, color, typography, and layout inside Google Slides. No shortcuts. This challenge forces you to show how powerful simple design choices can be when you strip away the crutch of stock photos.

Student Showcase: Helen Sarmiento

Creative Focus

Design is not about decorating with pictures — it’s about communication. By removing outside images, this project pushes you to focus on pure design elements: hierarchy, contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity (CRAP). The epiphany here is that those tools are enough to create visuals that are clear, striking, and memorable. Professionals in branding, UX/UI, and advertising do this daily. Think of a bold Apple keynote slide: usually it’s just text and color used with laser precision. That’s your goal — show that you can take one sentence and make it look powerful through layout and style alone.

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Project Requirements

You must submit the following:

• Final Deliverable:
  • A 10-slide Google Slides presentation.
  • Each slide contains exactly one sentence (short, clear, intentional).
  • Visuals must be created only with shapes, colors, typography, and layout tools inside Google Slides.
  • No external images, stock photography, or AI art allowed.
• Slide Structure:
  • 1 Title Slide
  • 8 Concept Slides (explaining and demonstrating the Joshua Tree Epiphany)
  • 1 Closing Slide
• WordPress Portfolio Requirements:
  • Embed the finished Google Slides presentation in your portfolio post (don’t just link).
    • Not sure how to embed a presentation? I already made you a full tutorial right here on the website!
  • Include at least 1 Project Type.
  • Add 5–10 Tags (examples: design, presentation, typography, CRAP principles, Google Slides, epiphany project, layout, contrast).
  • Create a unique Featured Image (not just a screenshot of a slide).
  • Write a project explanation (250–350 words) that covers:
    • How you approached the challenge without images.
    • Which design principles you focused on most.
    • How your slides demonstrate the Joshua Tree Epiphany concept.

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Project Grading Rubric

This project is a test of understanding both the principles of design, but your knowledge of common online presentation software. You will be awarded points for your project based on the following criteria as listed below.

Criteria	Description	Points
Slide Content	10 slides, each with one sentence	20 pts
Visual Design	Images are clean, relevant, and support the message	20 pts
Design Principles	Evidence of CRAP principles on each slide	20 pts
Copyright Compliance	Only royalty-free or student-created images used	10 pts
Portfolio Integration	Properly embedded with a short intro on WordPress	20 pts
Professionalism	Clean formatting, legible text, cohesive look	10 pts
Total		100 pts

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OCP & Standard Alignments

01.06 – Use appropriate communication skills to interact effectively with others. …because writing one-sentence slides forces clarity and precision in communication.
02.01 – Apply knowledge of design elements and principles. …because the project is built entirely around practicing CRAP principles.
02.04 – Demonstrate knowledge of composition. …because layout, spacing, and visual hierarchy carry the entire presentation.
03.04 – Use appropriate tools for Web Design. …because embedding Google Slides into WordPress connects design to publishing.
04.01 – Use multimedia terminology and concepts to create presentations. …because students must apply correct design vocabulary when writing and presenting.
04.04 – Prepare and present projects using effective communication skills. …because this project develops both written and visual storytelling skills.