How to Create Puzzle Shapes in PowerPoint

Recently at our Slide Design training, a participant asked if there is a fast and easy way to draw a puzzle in PowerPoint.

Well, it’s pretty simple. During the training, it took me 2-3 minutes to show how to prepare the puzzle from scratch. Here I share a step-by-step instruction on how to create such a puzzle diagram graphics using only standard PowerPoint shapes.

Where to use puzzle graphics in a presentation?

The jigsaw puzzle shape can be very useful and play various roles within slides. You can put puzzles together and form different shapes – lines or squares.

The scattered jigsaw puzzle can express various ideas, for example

  • the concept of a mess
  • a problem to be solved

Generally puzzles are a good metaphor to illustrate different business ideas in a presentation, for example

  • synergy of elements, parts of some system
  • integration and modularity of e.g. computer system
  • teamwork or cooperation of parts working together in unison
  • big picture of an organization or entity that is composed of several departments
  • order and match of pieces that needs a special match
  • complexity

You can also show missing elements or timelines, formed with jigsaw puzzles.

puzzle timeline shape made in powerpoint
Timeline graphics made of puzzle shapes
puzzle circle infographics ppt
Loop diagram made out of simple jigsaw puzzle shapes
explanation slide puzzle graphics
Puzzle Matrix diagram with place for text explanations

How to create your own puzzles in PowerPoint? Step-by-step guide

We will use two basic shapes (square and circle) and some standard shapes formatting functions of PowerPoint. Let’s get to the work 🙂

Step 1

I insert a square and a circle and set them as shown below.

create puzzle graphic PowerPoint step 1

Step 2

Then I select both shapes, go to the Format / Merge Shapes / Union tab, and the first puzzle is ready.

create puzzle graphic PowerPoint step 2 merge shapes

Step 3

Now I copy the final shape, move to the right, rotate 90 degrees, and move underneath. I also changed the color to make the effect more visible.

create puzzle graphic PowerPoint step 3

Step 4

I repeat copying and rotating, up to the fourth puzzle. It turns out that you cannot see the fourth jigsaw puzzle.

create puzzle graphic PowerPoint step 4

Step 5

In that case, I duplicate puzzle 4 and place it exactly in the same place. I select puzzle 1 and then 4 (note the order of the selection is crucial), go to the Format / Merge Shapes tab and select Subtract. And that’s enough, the puzzles are ready.

create puzzle graphic PowerPoint step 5

Now I can add texts and icons and the diagram can be used in the presentation. Simple? 🙂

Maybe that’s not the simplest design, but on the other hand, you probably did not think that in a few steps, you are able to create your own puzzles in PowerPoint.

Extending Your Puzzle set

Below you can see a set of more advanced puzzle shapes for PowerPoint along with my favorite handwritten style :).

This is a PPT shapes collection we designed ourselves (you can get the whole puzzle PowerPoint shapes set here). Alternatively you can try to design similar set yourself.

See what other layouts you can create (for example, to add longer text descriptions or create an interesting timeline).

puzzle layouts PowerPoint
(click on picture to see the whole set)

And here’s a timeline example:

puzzle graphic timeline PowerPoint

Have fun while creating your own puzzle diagrams 🙂

Learn more slide design tricks