Writing for the Workplace: Business Communication for Professionals
Creating Visuals that Convey Messages
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- Keep slides simple
- Limit animation and transitions
- Incorporate a visual theme
- Incorporate video or audio
| Creating Visuals that Convey Messages Today, the use of visuals (usually slides) to accompany a presentation is practically mandatory. Designing your presentation with images that will enhance rather than confuse or bore your audience is as important as what you say. The use of presentation software such as PowerPoint, Prezi, or Keynote can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, these products are designed to be easy to use—that’s good for the unartistic presenter. However, because most of us are not designers and do not have training in visual design, we tend to create presentations that do not take into account audience needs and expectations. That’s bad for your audience. Think of the visuals you create as backup support, not as an outline for you to follow. Words on slides should be kept to a minimum the audience is coming to hear you, not read. Use images that convey meaning and that are adapted to the size of the room. Avoid the common pitfalls of poor design for presentation slides cluttering slides with words or data, using a small font, including images of poor quality, using color unwisely, and incorporating annoying sound effects. Follow these steps when designing your presentation. Keep slides simple. Avoid clutter and don’t be afraid of white space. Limit bulleted points and text. The best slides may have no text at all instead, they contain images that illustrate a point the speaker is PRESENTATIONS making. Stick to the 10-20-30 rule of PowerPoint developed by Guy Kawasaki 10 slides, 20 minutes, 30 point font 3. Limit animation and transitions. Listeners will grow antsy with too much visual noise. Use meaningful graphics. Photographs and charts must be of high resolution. Don’t plan to use the same graphics you’ve used in a report most charts and graphs that have a lot of detail do notwork in presentations. Choose powerful images with high impact. If you make a point with your words, illustrate the point with a slide. Incorporate a visual theme. Devise a consistent theme, but do not use commonly available templates. Audiences have seen them. Design your slides. Use color well create an appropriate, visually pleasing color theme and stick to it. Use a font that will be visible to all seeing the presentation. Incorporate video or audio. The use of video and audio is a great way to change the pace of a presentation. However, if used, they should add value. 6 Suggested Presentation Resources The following is a shortlist of additional resources to assist you in presentation design. Resonate by Nancy Duarte 7 Slide:ology by Nancy Duarte 8 “Really Bad PowerPoint” by Seth Godin 9 Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds 10 The Naked Presenter by Garr Reynolds 11 Download 3.09 Mb. Share with your friends:
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