Turning an interview into a carousel post without losing context

A carousel needs a sequence of its own

A memorable phrase may look good on a slide while promising more than the person said. Give the series enough context: what problem was being discussed, when does the advice apply and what can the reader do afterwards?

Write the slide script before working on the design. That makes repetition and missing transitions easier to see. Check image sizes, technical limits and available formats on the intended platform. Those requirements can change and don’t determine the argument.

Turn the excerpt into a short piece that stands on its own

1. Choose one question for the reader

   Decide what problem the series addresses and what answer the interview offers. Don’t combine unrelated tips to fill more slides. Keep the timestamps for the excerpt and check whether the interviewee qualifies the point a little later.

2. Give each part a purpose

   Separate context, claim, explanation, example and conclusion. These are roles, not a fixed slide count. Combine parts if they still read clearly. If a condition matters, don’t hide it in a small-print caption.

3. Distinguish quotation from paraphrase

   Check exact quotes against the recording and say who made them. Keep shortened editorial explanations separate from the interviewee’s words. If you turn several remarks into one takeaway, present it as your own wording based on the interview.

4. Review the whole carousel

   Read the slides alone, then compare them with the source. Check that the idea hasn’t become more categorical and the condition still appears beside the advice. Check legibility at the actual display size and add accompanying text if needed for accessibility.

Slides about sharing workplace knowledge

This is a fictional training example. The names, circumstances and outcomes are included solely to explain the method.

The central point is to start with a specific case. The series can show the problem with an overly broad interview, then give the advice, an example of a follow-up question and a brief conclusion.

Don’t shorten the advice to “don’t ask the expert to describe their work.” Losing “their whole job at once” changes the meaning. Keep the essential condition in the direct quote and write the surrounding explanation in your own voice.

Script for a carousel

Give each slide a role and a source. That helps the designer trim the wording without dropping a condition that matters.

Audience and central question:
Source excerpt / timestamp:
One main idea:
Slide / role / text:
Type: direct quote or editorial text:
Condition that must remain:
Name for the quotation:
Example and its status:
Final action for the reader:
Accompanying text:
Meaning and readability check:

Check each slide and the full sequence

• The series answers one clear question.
• Direct quotes are distinguishable from paraphrases.
• Important conditions appear next to the claim.
• The text is readable at the published size.