This article was written by Alfredo, Designer at 24Slides Peru, as part of 24Slides’ #StorytellerProgram.
“Design is saturated and won’t make you successful.”
That’s what I heard back in high school. For someone just starting out, the phrase sounded more like a warning than motivation.
Today, with two years of experience in the field, I can say there was some truth in those words, not due to a lack of talent, but a lack of recognition. In Peru, design services are everywhere, but they’re rarely given the importance they deserve. And that’s the real challenge.
Too often, design is reduced to aesthetics. But if you work in the field, you know its real power lies in strategy, communication, and impact—and it deserves to be recognized as such.
Very few companies understand what design can achieve. One of them, which I stumbled upon by chance, is 24Slides.
The challenge of being taken seriously as a Designer
Before 24Slides, I was doing an internship while updating my portfolio, hoping to find something more stable. I was about to accept low-paying jobs out of necessity, until a different opportunity appeared: 24Slides. It felt like it came at the perfect time, unplanned, but life-changing.
The position required specific skills: proficiency with common design tools, some work experience, and basic English skills (this last part worried me, but they still gave me a chance).
The selection process was unlike anything I had seen before. It had four stages, and there were more than 20 applicants. While the environment was challenging, it encouraged me to take it seriously.
The main test surprised me: it wasn’t a brochure, logo, or social media post. It was a real client presentation we had to transform. No unnecessary effects, no decorative fluff. The test wasn’t just about design skills; it also evaluated how you worked in a collaborative setting.
That was my first real encounter with a company that truly valued both design and designers. And whose main tool was PowerPoint, a tool that many designers, myself included, had underestimated. I came from using Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma… and suddenly, I was working with presentations. It was a challenge that taught me to rediscover the true value of design.
Then came the training. Even though I was officially part of the team, I was still being evaluated. Bryan, Himawan, and Eva —my instructors from Indonesia— gave me constant feedback. They didn’t let anything slide. If you had questions, they were there. You could tell they genuinely cared about our learning. I dare say that at 24Slides, growth isn’t just a value. It’s something we practice every day.
Discovering what a good team really means
Joining 24Slides also meant learning how to be part of a real team for the first time. I had never worked in a formal company before, so everything was new; from workflows and communication tools to working with people from different countries and cultures.
At first, I felt some pressure—not from outside expectations, but from my own desire to live up to a place where everything matters. But I soon realized the team wasn’t there to judge me; they were there to support me.
One of the most impactful moments was meeting my Design Manager (usually called ‘DM’). During our welcome party, we were told we would meet them soon, and I didn’t know what to expect. I had the usual idea that Managers are distant and focused only on metrics. But she, Briana, was nothing like that. She is approachable, demanding when needed, and, above all, a great listener.
That kind of leadership and supportive culture not only allowed me to apply what I already knew, but also helped me realize how much more I could grow as a designer.
Language and Design as a shared challenge
One of the biggest challenges I faced from day one was the language. English has never been my strong suit. I’m not fluent, but I try to improve every day. And in this job, English isn’t optional: It’s part of the daily workflow. Almost every client brief is in English. In fact, all of them are.
The good thing is, even with that challenge, I’m not alone. My teammates and my DM are always willing to help. Not just with translation, but also with grammar, tone, structure, and figuring out how visuals support what’s being asked.
For me, designing presentations isn’t just about organizing text and picking colors: it’s about shaping ideas to guide attention and turn your information into something meaningful.
That takes a sharp eye, visual thinking, narrative clarity, and the ability to work fast without losing quality. And when the message is in another language, those challenges multiply. But so does the value of a supportive team.
A culture you can feel
Working with a multicultural design team was something new for me. At 24Slides, we truly value the creative performance. All of it matters. There isn’t a single way to see the world, and that is shown on the slides we design every day. Every 24Slider thinks differently, but we share something in common: a passion for design. And that’s what makes collaboration work.
This company holds many values, but if I had to choose the one I connect with most, it would be ‘Growth’. At 24Slides, Growth means learning from each other, being open to feedback, and knowing it’s okay to fail. I had to start from zero with new systems, workflows, and even a new language, but I never felt alone. That sense of support is what makes this value feel so real to me.
— At 24Slides, we recognize and support each other, and even celebrate our progress. —
I was promoted in January this year. While that promotion meant a lot, what I value most is what it represents: that design is not saturated and shouldn’t be underestimated, at least not when you’re in the right place.
Design isn’t just about aesthetics or trends; it’s a powerful language. For that, it’s not enough to hire designers; the creative industry needs committed collaborators willing to learn and contribute to a shared culture.
Because Design matters. And so does the Designer.
