Four Design Tips to Make Your Next Presentation Unforgettable
A boring presentation can be the end of any proposal. An understanding of design can help anyone who wants their presentation to shine. The principles that make up good design can help you win over anyone with information. Here are a few steps for making your next presentation a success.
Keep it simple
The less information present, the faster the information is processable. A minimalist presentation relies on every slide serving a specific purpose. All the information that is needed to aid in proving that point should be presented on the slide, but no more. This includes boiling information to the bare bones and just having that viewable. There is no need for paragraphs. Also, only one graphic per slide is needed. Whether it’s a picture or a graphic, any more than one could cause information overload for any viewer. This means more slides may be necessary but allows you to quickly progress through the presentation while clearly presenting the information.
Integrate all elements
This step is important to stand apart from most presentations. Images and graphics are often added in to make the presentation more appealing. While it is true they can have that effect, doing it wrong can be devastating. To incorporate these elements properly, make sure they are necessary for the presentation. If they are, commit to it. Use high-quality images and balance them within the presentation. What tends to look best is for the image to touch at least three sides of the slide. This guarantees the image won’t look suspended in space. If you have a text-heavy slide, it might be best to follow it up with an image. Visuals elicit the emotional reaction you need to make an impact.
Consistency is key
All of the information in a presentation should have a clear purpose. The design should be no different. The tone of the presentation should match the goals of the presenter. Color, font, and graphics set the tone of the design. Colors are often taken from the brand or a visual being presented. The font is crucial because the use of too many fonts can leave the viewer confused. You should stick to one or two fonts typically. Sans-serif fonts are easiest to see in a presentation format. Changing the style of a font can give a slight change in visual interest while sharing similar elements. Whether it’s the use of icons or a simple shape, graphics can spruce up a presentation. Using a reoccurring motif throughout the presentation can be a useful tool to reinforce valuable information.
Make it memorable
Color, size and placement can be used to emphasize the most important information. Every slide should be different from the one before it. Each one that focuses on new information needs a visual distinction to show the change being made. This keeps the viewer engaged with the information. As long as the tone of the presentation remains the same, get creative with the text and layout from one slide to the next. When incorporating visuals like graphs, use contrast to give the stats the attention they deserve. By the end, every part of how the presentation is laid out should have meaning.
Conclusion
So, next time you have to give a presentation, use design to win over your viewers. Give them only the information that is essential to get your point across. It’s also important to make all the information look like it belongs within the slides. Adding a motif or sticking with a visual theme can be enough to keep your viewers attention, just as long as there are elements that are differentiated to avoid monotony. These are the things to do to give your best presentation ever.
About Spencer:
Spencer Lucas is a Junior Graphic Design major with a minor in Marketing. He is a design associate within GrandPR. Spencer is a lover of art and music.