Timeline

The sequence

Audit

typically 1–2 weeks

Nothing is rebuilt until your template has been audited. The audit’s layout plan and recommendation set the scope of the build.

Build

typically 3–6 weeks

Its length depends on how many layouts need renaming, merging or adding, how many example slides need designing, and how many brands you have. Every change is rendered and checked before the next.

Roll out

typically 1–2 weeks

Setting up the brand manager group and policy, publishing the Brand Kit and turning on strict brand adherence. Microsoft says the brand manager policy can take up to 24 hours to take effect, so we start it early.

Oversight

every quarter

After roll out, for as long as you keep it.

The whole engagement at a glance

Four steps in order, with typical durations, and where your team takes part.

How the engagement runsFour steps in order: Audit, typically 1 to 2 weeks; Build, typically 3 to 6 weeks; Roll out, typically 1 to 2 weeks; then Oversight every quarter, each quarter ending with a report and a review call. Your part in the build: a named brand manager, approved photos, icons and fonts, and approving the example slides. Your part each quarter: recent Copilot decks to review, any brand changes, uploading the updated files, and the review call, about 1.5 to 2 hours in all.01Audit1–2 weeks, typical02Build3–6 weeks, typical03Roll out1–2 weeks, typical04Oversightevery quarterreport + review callYour part in the buildA named brand managerApproved photos, icons, fontsApproving the example slidesYour part, each quarterRecent Copilot decks to reviewAny brand changesUpload updated files; the callAbout 1½–2 hours in all
How the engagement runsFour steps in order: Audit, typically 1 to 2 weeks; Build, typically 3 to 6 weeks, with your part: a named brand manager, approved photos, icons and fonts, and approving the example slides; Roll out, typically 1 to 2 weeks; then Oversight every quarter, each quarter ending with a report and a review call, with your part: recent Copilot decks to review, any brand changes, uploading the updated files, and the review call, about 1.5 to 2 hours in all.01Audit1–2 weeks, typical02Build3–6 weeks, typicalYour part in the buildA named brand managerApproved photos, icons, fontsApproving the example slides03Roll out1–2 weeks, typical04Oversightevery quarter↻ report + review callYour part, each quarterRecent Copilot decks to reviewAny brand changesUpload updated files; the callAbout 1½–2 hours in all

What decides how long your build takes

  • The size of your template. The number of layouts to check, rename, consolidate or add.
  • How many example slides you need. Example slides are designer work, and each new layout needs at least two with real content.
  • How many brands. One Brand Kit per brand.
  • Whether you have a usable template at all. If not, we start from your brand book, your website or a deck you send us.

Larger engagements run in phases over weeks, not days.

Typical durations, updated as we measure delivery. Your own schedule comes with your proposal after the audit.

Three example slides: the sequence with typical durations, build milestones, and kickoff week.
Example slides from a brand template we designed.

What only your side can do

The result depends on your half too, and so does the schedule. These steps sit with you:

  • Naming a brand manager in your Microsoft 365 admin policy.
  • Approving the example slides, usually by your design team.
  • Supplying approved photos and, if you want it in the kit, your icon set.
  • Deploying brand fonts organization-wide, if you want them used. That is your IT team’s step.

See who supplies what, how quarterly oversight runs after roll out, and how pricing works. Back to the overview.

Get a schedule for your template

Start with the audit. It sets the scope, and your proposal sets out the schedule.