Gixo Lumen · slide guide
Journey Map Slide
A journey map slide shows the stages someone passes through and what happens at each. It earns its place when it marks where the journey actually breaks — a map with no friction marked is decoration, because every journey has friction.
Last reviewed: August 2026
What belongs on it
- Four to seven stages. Fewer is a list; more stops being readable across one slide.
- Stages named as the person experiences them. Their language, not your internal process names.
- What happens at each stage. One line, concrete.
- Where it breaks. Marked visually. This is the reason the slide exists.
- Evidence. A number or a verbatim quote against at least the problem stages.
- Who owns each stage. Especially where ownership changes hands — that is usually where it breaks.
Getting it right
| Weak version | Stronger version |
|---|---|
| Internal process names | The words the customer would use |
| Every stage looks equally fine | Friction points marked clearly |
| Twelve stages | Five, with sub-steps in the appendix |
| Assumed experience | Quotes or numbers per stage |
| No owners | Owner per stage, handoffs visible |
Common mistakes
- No friction marked. A journey where everything looks fine is not describing a real journey.
- Internal vocabulary. If your stages are named after your teams, it is a process diagram, not a journey.
- No evidence. An imagined journey is a hypothesis; label it as one if that is what it is.
- Too many stages. Past seven the slide becomes a diagram nobody reads in the room.
- Missing the handoffs. Journeys break where ownership changes, so make those boundaries visible.
Frequently asked questions
What is a journey map slide?
A slide showing the stages someone passes through in an experience, what happens at each, and where the journey breaks down.
How many stages should a journey map have?
Four to seven. Fewer is really a list, and more than seven stops being readable on a single slide in a room.
What makes a journey map useful rather than decorative?
Marked friction points backed by evidence. A map where every stage looks fine is not describing a real journey and gives the audience nothing to act on.
Should stages use customer language or internal names?
Customer language. Stages named after your internal teams make it a process diagram, which answers a different question.
What Lumen layout do I use?
The Process layout for stage flow, or Timeline where the stages are strongly time-based.
Other slide guides
Build this slide in a blank deck
Add the Process layout and fill it in. Manual decks are free and unlimited on every plan, and export to PPTX with no paywall.