New
New
Telling a story: pitching ideas to an audience
I can create and confidently pitch a design idea.
Lesson 6 of 6
New
New
- Year 8
Telling a story: pitching ideas to an audience
I can create and confidently pitch a design idea.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Architects respond to 'requests for proposals', creating an outline of how they would meet the brief for a project.
- Architects have to pitch their ideas in a clear and concise way and show how their idea is unique to win the job.
- When presenting an idea, architects think of it as a story, with a beginning, middle and end.
- Public speaking is a crucial skill and there are techniques we can use to help with our nerves.
Keywords
Pitch - a short, clear presentation that explains an idea and persuades others to support or choose it.
Brief - a set of instructions or goals for a project that guides the design process.
Proposal - an outline of your idea showing how it meets the brief and why it’s the best option.
Common misconception
Some students think pitching means just reading out facts about the design.
A strong pitch is more than just facts. It’s a story with a clear beginning, middle and end that shows your idea solves a problem and stands out from the rest.
Remind students it’s okay to pause, breathe and speak slowly — confidence comes with practice, not perfection.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Pencils, paints, fineliners, pens, paper, card, old magazines/papers, scissors, glue
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the words and the definitions.
Match the words and the definitions.
Q2.The spot on the horizon line where all diagonal lines appear to meet in a perspective drawing is called the ...
The spot on the horizon line where all diagonal lines appear to meet in a perspective drawing is called the ...
distance point.
disappearing point.
Q3.Architects use perspective in their drawings to show how a building will look from a specific viewpoint.
Architects use perspective in their drawings to show how a building will look from a specific viewpoint.
False
Q4.Perspective drawing needs ...
Perspective drawing needs ...
a horizon line and a cityscape.
a sunset and a vanishing point.
Q5.Which of the following is true?
Which of the following is true?
One-point perspective helps show people in street scenes or in a corridor.
One-point perspective helps show details in street scenes or in a corridor.
Q6.Which of these describes drawing a horizon line?
Which of these describes drawing a horizon line?
a straight line vertically across your page, showing eye level
a straight line diagonally across your page, showing eye level
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is a pitch?
What is a pitch?
A pitch is a short but complex way of sharing your idea with others.
A pitch is a long way of sharing your idea with others.
Q2.Good design must be inclusive and accessible to all.
Good design must be inclusive and accessible to all.
False
Q3.A proposal is ...
A proposal is ...
a plan that shows how your design idea subverts.
a plan that shows how your design cannot meet the brief.
Q4.A strong proposal will ...
A strong proposal will ...
tell a personal story and move the client to tears.
tell a story and impress the client with things they don't understand.
