Tag: PowerPoint Design

What You Need to Achieve Presentation Success

PowerPoint Design

presentation design

presentation success

presentation tips

Feb 16, 2015

Delivering a successful presentation isn’t always easy. As we’ve already established, success requires a lot of planning and preparation. There’s no shortcut to achieving success. That said, start considering the essential steps to perfecting your output.Cross off these things from your to-do list and you’re sure to get where you want to be:

Establish a concrete goal

You can’t reach your destination unless you know which way to go. That’s why it’s important to establish and map out your goals—whether it be to seal a deal with prospects or gain new investors for your venture. Consider these your overall destination.To get there, you need to think about a few other markers.Set aside some time to think about what you want your presentation to be like. Aside from your overall goal, think about the message you want to share.Ask yourself what you want your listeners to remember about your presentation. What message will help you achieve more?

Connect with your audience

The next step to presentation success is making sure your message suits the audience. After all, connecting with them is a vital ingredient of your presentation. Otherwise, you’ll end up boring people.If you want to avoid such a scenario, research the people you’ll be presenting to. What kind of group are they? What is the presentation for and why should it be valuable to them?How do you make sure the points you’ll present add to their knowledge? How can you tell a story that will push them towards positive action? Consider these 4 questions to create a reliable audience profile to help build your presentation.

Use your time wisely

Time is another factor to consider when it comes to achieving presentation success. You won’t have all day to make your point, so you need to be able to create a presentation that makes the most of the time you’re given. Whether you only have 30 minutes or more than an hour, start off your presentation strong.The first few minutes is extremely crucial. Your performance during this time will help determine if your audience will maintain their attention until the very end.The introduction will set the tone of your entire presentation. Make sure you use this time to make a noticeable impression. After that, you still need to sustain the energy you initially established.Presentation expert Carmine Gallo had suggested incorporating “soft breaks” after every 10 minutes. Spend 10 minutes making your point, and then give your audience a chance to catch up by re-engaging them using these techniques.

Make sure your slides stand out

Your PowerPoint slides can play a huge role in presentation success. Even the best message needs the help of visuals to engage a commonly disengaged audience.We’ve given plenty of design advice over the years, but here are a few more that might help you on your road to presentation success:

  • Don’t be too conscious of the number of slides you’re using because this will depend on the content of your presentation. A more helpful method would be to draft out all the points you want to make and condense them to slides through a storyboard.
  • All your design choices will contribute to pushing your message forward. Make sure the color scheme, fonts, and graphics you use help set up a theme that doesn’t distract from what you’re trying to say.
  • Simple slides aren’t necessarily boring. In presentations, “less is more” is actually a valuable motto. A lot of presentations are weighed down by over-the-top graphics and animation. For your presentation, be mindful of using white space and other design elements.

Achieving presentation success doesn’t have to be difficult. All you need is time to plan what you want to say and prepare accordingly.

Think about the message you want to deliver and make sure everything you do helps you push that message forward to the audience. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to contact our presentation design experts. We can create PowerPoint slides that will help ensure your perfect outcome.

References

“Audience Participation: 4 Crucial Questions to Answer.” SlideGenius, Inc. August 28, 2014. Accessed February 16, 2015.”Choosing the Right Colors for Your PowerPoint Design.” SlideGenius, Inc. June 3, 2014. Accessed February 16, 2015.Gallo, Carmine. “Why PowerPoint Presentations Always Die After 10 Minutes And How To Rescue Them.” Forbes. April 30, 2014. Accessed February 16, 2015.”How to Organize Your Ideas with a Presentation Storyboard.” SlideGenius, Inc.. September 1, 2014. Accessed January 8, 2015.”Introductions: 5 Creative Ways to Start Your Presentation.” SlideGenius, Inc. November 30, 2014. Accessed February 16, 2015. Featured Image: Death to the Stock Photo

How to Prepare a Flipbook: The Presentation’s Fine Print

flipbook

PowerPoint Design

presentation tips

printed presentation

reading deck

Feb 06, 2015

A flipbook is a visually engaging way to present information, combining the interactive nature of a digital document with the ease of flipping through physical pages. Here’s how you can prepare a flipbook for a presentation:

1. Design Your Pages in PowerPoint or a Similar Tool

  • Start with Slide Layouts: Design each page as if it were a slide in PowerPoint, Keynote, or another design tool. Keep your design clean, with minimal text and high-quality visuals.
  • Visual Storytelling: A flipbook should use visuals like images, infographics, and icons to convey key information. Ensure your layout is consistent and professional.
  • Typography and Colors: Use readable fonts and a cohesive color palette that aligns with your brand or presentation theme.

2. Convert the Slides to PDF

  • Once you’ve completed the design, export your presentation as a PDF file. Most flipbook creation tools accept PDFs as the input format.

3. Choose a Flipbook Creation Tool

  • Online Tools: There are several platforms that can convert your PDF into a digital flipbook with page-turning effects:
    • FlipHTML5: This platform allows you to upload a PDF and convert it into an interactive flipbook with animated page-turning effects.
    • FlippingBook: A paid tool that adds interactive features like videos, links, and animations to your PDF flipbook. It offers features like tracking reader engagement and embedding options.
    • Issuu: Another popular platform for creating digital flipbooks, Issuu allows you to publish your content online for easy sharing.

4. Add Interactive Elements

  • Multimedia: Some tools allow you to enhance your flipbook with videos, audio, or hyperlinks. Embedding media can make your flipbook more engaging and dynamic for presentations.
  • Navigation: Ensure that your flipbook has intuitive navigation controls, such as a clickable table of contents, thumbnails, or arrows for flipping through pages.

5. Embed or Share the Flipbook

  • After creating your flipbook, you can share it in several ways:
    • Embedded in a Website: Many tools provide an embed code to place your flipbook directly on your website or blog.
    • Link Sharing: Generate a shareable link that can be emailed or shared on social media. Some platforms also allow you to track reader engagement through analytics.
    • Downloadable File: Provide an option for viewers to download the flipbook in PDF form.

6. Test the Flipbook

  • Before presenting, test the flipbook on different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) to ensure it functions properly across platforms.

Fine-Tuning Your Flipbook:

  • Consistency: Maintain consistent branding throughout the flipbook, using similar fonts, colors, and design elements.
  • Interactive Features: Use interactive elements sparingly and strategically to enhance, not overwhelm, the user experience.

With these steps, you can create an interactive, visually appealing flipbook that makes your presentation more engaging.

3 Easy Steps to Your Own PowerPoint Design

PowerPoint Design

powerpoint template

Powerpoint tips

Feb 04, 2015

Don’t let an important message get buried under bad PowerPoint design. A great story can fall short if your visuals end up boring the audience.The standard bullet point design won’t do much for your success. If you really want to be impressive and make sure your message sticks, be diligent in creating effective PowerPoint slides, which you can do in three easy steps.Today, we’re sharing tips on how you can create unique and memorable designs without ruining your schedule.

Step 1: Customize a PowerPoint template

Creating your own deck design from scratch is a daunting task. Unless you have a perfectly planned concept, it’s better to go down another route. Start with a PowerPoint template that you can customize, which you can apply using the Slide Master function.To upgrade default PowerPoint templates, create your own color schemes. You can follow the color patterns of your company’s branding efforts or use programs like Adobe Color CC to find the perfect combination.You can also use high-quality images as backgrounds to some of your slides. Just remember to choose images that aren’t too heavy on the eyes. They shouldn’t stick out from the overall visual theme of your PowerPoint design.

Step 2: Add carefully curated images

Aside from images for backgrounds, it’s also important to illustrate your points with pictures.There are plenty of different images find on the Internet that will fit the subject matter of your presentation. Just be sure to carefully browse through your wealth of choices, aiming for images that allow for a unified look in your PowerPoint design.Other than the overall theme of your images, make sure that they all match visually. You might find some images are too saturated and underexposed.To solve the problem, make adjustments and corrections using photo-editing tools in PowerPoint.

Step 3: Be mindful of good design practices

As you put the different elements of your slide deck together, it’s important to keep good design practices in mind. These include the sparse use of text and animation, as well as the careful consideration on which font types to use.Among our most important lessons is the proper use of white space in PowerPoint slides.Contrary to what some may think, minimalistic design is not simply the absence of extraneous objects on the slides, but in removing distracting clutter and helping the viewers’ eyes focus on more important elements.Tap into this principle and keep your design and layout balanced and in order as you craft your overall deck.

PowerPoint design comes from inspiration

If starting with these three steps still feels a bit overwhelming, you can find inspiration from all over the web.Creativity stems from inspiration, so keep looking for designs that catch your eye. Start by browsing samples designs and studying their methods for inspiration.Not sure where to begin? Contact us and consult with our PowerPoint experts today! 

References

“Design Ideas: How to Improve PowerPoint Templates.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 9, 2014. Accessed February 4, 2015.Ivanoff, Ada. “Design Minimalism: What, Why & How.” SitePoint. June 6, 2014. Accessed February 4, 2015.”Tutorial: How to Use PowerPoint as a Photo Editor.” SlideGenius, Inc.. February 2, 2015. Accessed February 4, 2015.”Using White Space in PowerPoint Design-a Closer Look.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 4, 2014. Accessed February 4, 2015.”Where to Find Unique Images for Your Presentation Design.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 18, 2014. Accessed February 4, 2015. Featured Image: Life of Pix

Tutorial: How to Use PowerPoint as a Photo Editor

photo editing

photo editor

Powerpoint

PowerPoint Design

Powerpoint tips

powerpoint tutorial

Feb 03, 2015

PowerPoint is more than just a presentation tool—it also offers basic photo editing features that allow you to enhance, crop, and customize images directly on your slides. Whether you want to adjust an image’s brightness, apply artistic effects, or remove the background, PowerPoint’s photo editing tools can help you create more visually appealing presentations without the need for external software.Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use PowerPoint as a photo editor:

1. Insert Your Image

Before you can start editing, you’ll need to insert the image you want to work with.How to Do It:

  • Open PowerPoint and go to the slide where you want to place the image.
  • Click on the Insert tab in the ribbon.
  • Select Pictures, then choose either This Device or Online Pictures to find your image.

2. Adjust Image Brightness and Contrast

PowerPoint allows you to easily adjust the brightness and contrast of your images to make them stand out or blend in with your slide design.Why It’s Important:

  • Improves Visibility: Adjusting brightness and contrast ensures that your images are clear and visible, even in different lighting conditions.
  • Enhances Visual Appeal: You can make images more vibrant or muted depending on the tone you want to convey.

How to Do It:

  • Select your image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click on Corrections and choose from the available brightness and contrast adjustments.
  • You can also manually adjust the brightness and contrast by selecting Picture Corrections Options and using the sliders.

3. Crop Your Image

Cropping helps remove unwanted parts of an image and allows you to focus on the most important elements.Why It’s Important:

  • Simplifies the Image: Cropping unnecessary areas draws attention to the main subject of the image.
  • Optimizes Space: By cropping an image, you can fit it more neatly into your slide design.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image, then go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Crop, and drag the black crop handles to remove the portions of the image you don’t want.
  • Press Enter to apply the crop.

Example: If you have a wide image but only want to show a specific part of it, crop out the unnecessary background to focus on the subject.

4. Remove Image Backgrounds

PowerPoint has a built-in tool for removing the background from images, which can be useful for isolating subjects or creating transparent backgrounds.Why It’s Important:

  • Creates Cleaner Visuals: Removing a distracting background can help focus attention on the main subject of your image.
  • Allows Layering: A transparent background makes it easier to layer the image over other design elements or images.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Remove Background. PowerPoint will automatically attempt to detect and remove the background.
  • Use the Mark Areas to Keep or Mark Areas to Remove tools to fine-tune the selection.
  • Once you’re satisfied, click Keep Changes to apply the background removal.

5. Apply Artistic Effects

You can use PowerPoint’s artistic effects to give your images a unique, stylized look. These effects can transform an image into a sketch, painting, or other creative form.Why It’s Important:

  • Adds Creativity: Artistic effects can give your images a custom look that fits the theme of your presentation.
  • Enhances Design: Using effects can make your images stand out and contribute to a more visually interesting slide.

How to Do It:

  • Select your image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Artistic Effects and choose from a variety of effects such as Pencil Sketch, Blur, Glow, or Photocopy.
  • Hover over each effect to preview it, then click to apply the effect.

6. Adjust Image Color and Saturation

You can adjust the color tone and saturation of your images to match your slide’s color scheme or create a specific mood.Why It’s Important:

  • Creates Consistency: Matching the colors of your images to your presentation’s theme creates a cohesive look.
  • Sets the Mood: Adjusting saturation or applying color filters can help evoke the desired emotional response.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image, go to the Picture Format tab, and click Color.
  • Choose from preset color options like Grayscale, Sepia, or Washout, or manually adjust the saturation and temperature using the More Variations option.

Example: Apply a sepia tone to create a vintage effect or use grayscale for a professional, clean look.

7. Add Picture Borders or Effects

PowerPoint allows you to add borders, shadows, and other visual effects to your images, helping them stand out on your slides.Why It’s Important:

  • Increases Focus: Adding borders or shadows can help your image pop and grab the audience’s attention.
  • Adds Depth: Effects like reflection or glow add dimension to your images, making them more visually appealing.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image and go to the Picture Format tab.
  • Click Picture Border to add a colored border, or use the Picture Effects dropdown to apply shadow, reflection, or glow effects.

8. Compress Images to Reduce File Size

Large images can make your PowerPoint file difficult to share or slow to load. Compressing images reduces the file size without compromising too much on quality.Why It’s Important:

  • Improves Performance: Compressing images helps keep your presentation file size manageable, making it easier to share and load.
  • Saves Storage: Reducing image file sizes is useful if you’re working with a lot of high-resolution images.

How to Do It:

  • Select the image, go to the Picture Format tab, and click Compress Pictures.
  • Choose your compression settings based on whether your presentation will be used for printing or sharing online.

Final Thoughts

PowerPoint’s photo editing tools allow you to quickly and easily enhance your images without needing specialized software. From adjusting brightness and color to removing backgrounds and applying artistic effects, these features can help you create more visually compelling presentations. Experiment with these tools to transform basic images into polished, professional visuals.

Quick PowerPoint Tips: Designing for SlideShare

PowerPoint Design

Powerpoint tips

presentation design

slideshare

Jan 21, 2015

SlideShare is a powerful platform for sharing presentations, but designing slides for SlideShare requires a slightly different approach than designing for live presentations. Since users view your slides at their own pace, without your verbal explanation, your slides need to be clear, concise, and self-explanatory.Here are some quick tips to help you design effective presentations for SlideShare:

1. Make Each Slide Self-Explanatory

Since your audience won’t hear you speak, each slide needs to stand on its own and clearly communicate the key point.Why It’s Important:

  • Ensures Clarity: Your audience should be able to understand the content of each slide without needing additional context or explanation.

How to Do It:

  • Use clear, concise headlines and include supporting text that explains your main point.
  • Avoid too much jargon or complex concepts unless they are explained clearly on the slide.

Example: If you’re presenting on market trends, include simple, easy-to-read charts with brief descriptions explaining the data.

2. Use Simple, Clean Visuals

SlideShare presentations are often viewed on smaller screens, such as laptops or mobile devices. To ensure readability, keep your design simple and avoid clutter.Why It’s Important:

  • Improves Readability: Simple visuals ensure that your slides are easy to read on any device.
  • Enhances Focus: Clean designs help direct the viewer’s attention to the key message of each slide.

How to Do It:

  • Stick to a minimalist design with plenty of white space.
  • Use large fonts and high-quality images that won’t lose clarity when scaled down.

Example: For a presentation on digital marketing strategies, use icons and short bullet points to summarize each strategy rather than overcrowding the slide with text.

3. Focus on One Key Point per Slide

SlideShare users often skim through presentations quickly. To keep their attention, make sure each slide conveys just one main idea or key point.Why It’s Important:

  • Maintains Engagement: Slides that are too busy or contain multiple points can overwhelm viewers and lead to disengagement.
  • Increases Retention: Focusing on one point per slide makes it easier for viewers to digest and remember the content.

How to Do It:

  • Break up complex ideas across multiple slides.
  • Summarize your key points using headlines or short bullet points, and avoid adding unnecessary details.

Example: Instead of listing all product features on one slide, dedicate one slide to each feature and explain its benefit briefly.

4. Use High-Contrast Color Schemes

On SlideShare, slides need to be visually appealing and easy to read. High-contrast color schemes help ensure that text and visuals are legible, even on small screens.Why It’s Important:

  • Improves Visibility: High contrast makes it easier for viewers to see your text and graphics.
  • Keeps the Presentation Professional: Avoid using too many colors or clashing schemes that can make your slides look unprofessional.

How to Do It:

  • Use a dark font on a light background or vice versa.
  • Stick to a cohesive color palette of 2-3 colors for consistency.

Example: Use a white background with dark blue text and a contrasting color (like orange) for key points or calls to action.

5. Add a Strong Call to Action

If your presentation has a specific goal (such as promoting a product, sharing insights, or driving traffic to a website), include a clear and compelling call to action at the end.Why It’s Important:

  • Encourages Audience Engagement: A call to action guides your audience on what to do next, increasing the likelihood of further interaction.
  • Helps Achieve Your Presentation’s Purpose: Whether you want viewers to visit your website, download a report, or contact you, a strong call to action drives results.

How to Do It:

  • Use action-oriented language like “Download the full report,” “Contact us today,” or “Learn more on our website.”
  • Place the call to action prominently on the final slide.

Example: For a product launch presentation, include a link to your product’s landing page with a call to action like, “Discover how [Product Name] can help your business grow—visit [website URL].”

Final Thoughts

Designing for SlideShare requires a focus on clarity, simplicity, and self-explanatory slides. By keeping your design minimal, using high-contrast visuals, and focusing on one key point per slide, you can create presentations that engage your SlideShare audience and communicate your message effectively. Don’t forget to include a strong call to action that directs viewers toward the next step.

PowerPoint Design Inspiration: What To Do With Marsala

color

marsala

pantone color of the year

PowerPoint Design

presentation design

presentation design trends

Jan 20, 2015

Pantone Color Institute, the world’s leading color expert, recently announced their pick for 2015 Color of the Year. While their choice was initially met with some reservations, the warm and earthy Marsala remains an intriguing choice. Thanks to the rich narrative that goes behind the shade, Marsala is sure to inspire designers and creatives of every kind.Seeing where the trends are heading, presenters should also consider incorporating the rich Marsala into their PowerPoint designs.

The narrative behind the color 

According to Pantone, Marsala represents the hearty and enriching qualities of “a fulfilling meal”. Thanks to its red-brown tones, the color also emanates a “sophisticated, natural earthiness.” The editorial pictures released by Pantone picture an elegant group of friends dining comfortably together.As stated in the press release by executive director Lee Eiseman,“Marsala enriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability… Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness. This hearty, yet stylish tone is universally appealing and translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings and interiors.”Following this narrative, Marsala is the perfect color for slides that want to depict a sense of luxury and a down-to-earth feel at the same time.It’s the perfect choice for presentations and pitches around real estate, apparel, and retail. It will also help if you consider your organization’s own narrative. Think of the qualities that make your brand unique. If it matches with the qualities that are symbolized by Marsala, then Pantone’s choice is an obvious win.

Working Marsala into a color palette

There are plenty of ways to pair Marsala with other colors. Pantone came up with a total of 7 palettes that you can use for inspiration.As listed on their website, Marsala’s warmth allows it to pop beside neutral colors like taupe and gray. Thanks to its rich undertones, it also works well with the colors amber, umber, as well as shades in golden yellow, green, and blue.To use similar looking palettes for your PowerPoint deck, make sure you temper these shades using a more neutral background. A PowerPoint color theme requires that you choose 2 light colors, 2 dark colors, and 6 accent colors.

Some factors to consider

Because Marsala is a rich and highly-nuanced shade, it’s important that you keep your slides balanced with a more minimalist design. You also need to make sure that the projector you’re using is working well. Busted bulbs might not pick up its wine-inspired tones. You’ll end up with a brownish shade instead. The same is true for printers.If you plan to turn your presentation into a flipbook, make sure you use a high-quality printer to make sure the color’s integrity is maintained.Marsala is a rich and vibrant color that tells a complex story.While it’s primarily expected to appear in fashion, beauty, and interior design, there’s no reason you can’t incorporate it in PowerPoint design. Allow its rich and sensual shades inspire your presentation.

Presentation Tips and Considerations for Specific Contexts

board presentations

conventions

executive presentations

meetings

PowerPoint Design

presentation design

presentation tips

seminars

workshops

Jan 19, 2015

The particulars of your presentation will depend on different things. Among those factors is the context of your presentation. Are you presenting at a big industry event? Or are you discussing tasks with colleagues in a meeting? Whatever the case, different presentation tips and considerations apply for different occasions.

Seminars and conventions

These are often held in large venues like auditoriums. Usually, you’ll be presenting from a stage with a huge projector screen looming behind you.For these occasions, the most important thing you have to think about is how well the audience can see your slides. This won’t be a problem for people sitting in the front row, but you’ll need to make sure that the experience remains the same for those seated in the back.To avoid any issues with visibility, here are a few presentation tips to consider:

  • Learn what you can about the venue beforehand – Ask the organizers about the particulars of the venue where you’ll be presenting. Estimate the stage size, and prepare for any restrictions.
  • Optimize your presentation for the equipment – You should also check the equipment you’ll be using, especially the projector and the screen. Familiarizing yourself with the type of projector can also help you diagnose some PowerPoint display issues.
  • Practice blocking and how you’ll move around the stage – Obviously, your presentation is more than your PowerPoint slides. As the presenter, the audience will also have to see you properly. Make sure you practice how you’ll move around the stage. Own as much of the space as you can.

Workshops

Workshops allow for more interaction between the audience and speaker. Because you’re expected to instruct the audience about a certain subject matter, the venue is optimized to make sure that there’s plenty of opportunity for face to face conversations.Unlike seminars and conventions, the obstacle you have to overcome is making sure the audience can easily follow the structure of your presentation.Here are some important presentation tips to remember when preparing for workshops:

  • Make sure you can easily navigate through your presentation – A workshop involves two-way communication. Someone in your audience might start asking questions that you expect to cover in a later slide. When this happens, it helps if your deck utilizes hyperlinks for easy navigation.
  • Distribute presentation handouts – A quick way to make sure the audience follows what you’re saying is by creating handouts. Distribute it at the beginning of your presentation and encourage them to add their own notes along the margins.
  • Prepare to improvise – Lastly, keep in mind that because of its interactive quality, you can’t always stick to the script you planned. Always be flexible and don’t be afraid to follow the curve balls that the audience throws at you.

Executive or board presentations

When you’re presenting to executives or board members, keep in mind that the stakes are unbelievably high. In more formal business settings, the outcome of your presentation affects what comes next for your career. For instances like this, you need to value brevity and clarity above anything else.Keep your delivery well-polished by following these presentation tips:

  • Focus on your core message: Executives and board members aren’t interested in long and winding discussions. Get straight to the point and keep your focus on the core message.
  • Back up your points with concise data: For formal business presentations, fancy rhetoric isn’t enough to win your audience over. You also need to make sure that your points are backed up by evidence. Present your data in a concise manner using eye-catching visuals.
  • Take the time to rehearse: It’s totally normal to feel nervous about high-stakes presentations. To make sure things over perfectly, take the time to rehearse every aspect of your presentation. Learn your points and practice how you’ll incorporate your slides to your speech.

Small group meetings

There are also presentations that involve a smaller crowd. If you’re leading a meeting, you’ll likely face just a small group of participants. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be as prepared as you would be on other presentation scenarios. You also need to make sure that your points are well-prepared. Make the audience feel included in your discussion.Stanford professor JD Schramm presents five questions to ask yourself when faced in small group meetings. Apart from his initial five questions, Schramm provides a few extra notes:

  • Opt for a printed or tablet presentation deck: It will be easier to facilitate a small group meeting if everyone can navigate through your presentation deck at their own pace. Create a printed presentation deck instead. You can also distribute your PowerPoint file ahead of time so that participants can sync them to their own devices.
  • Don’t take your nonverbal cues for granted: Even is small-scale presentations feel a lot more casual, you shouldn’t take nonverbal cues for granted. Make sure you present an aura of authority the same way you would while you’re on stage.
  • Leave room for open discussion: Meetings are supposed to be collaborative in nature. Make sure you allot specific moments for the participants to join in your discussion.

–There’s plenty to consider depending the context of your presentation. To achieve the best outcome, prepare according to context and occasion. These presentation tips will help you figure out what to consider.

References:

“Designing PowerPoint Decks for the Smartphone.” SlideGenius, Inc. September 23, 2014. Accessed January 19, 2015.”PowerPoint Design Tips for Presenting Data.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 1, 2014. Accessed January 19, 2015″PowerPoint Tutorial – Hyperlinks.” UPenn Workshops. Accessed January 12, 2016.Schramm, JD. “How to Present to a Small Audience.” Harvard Business Review. August 20, 2014. Accessed January 19, 2015.”Tips for Small-Scale Presentations.” SlideGenius, Inc. October 13, 2014. Accessed January 12, 2016. Featured Image: University of the Fraser Valley via Flickr

3 Lessons on Choosing Fonts for Your PowerPoint Design

fonts

PowerPoint Design

presentation design

Jan 15, 2015

Choosing fonts for your PowerPoint design can be a bit overwhelming. Considering options you have available, it can be hard to make a choice that will work well with your presentations. There are default typefaces available on your computer, and there are also fonts you can download from the Internet.In that wealth of choices, you’ll find a variety of different designs and aesthetics. When it comes to choosing which of these types to use for your PowerPoint design, it will depend on a few different factors.

Think about your theme

As we constantly discuss in this blog, your PowerPoint design should serve to highlight the core message of your presentation.Instead of settling with a font that looks great, try to match what you’re trying to say. Think of it as a vessel for your message. After all, it’s going to determine how the words on your slides will literally look. It shouldn’t feel inorganic.Before choosing a font, go back to the theme of your presentation. Aside from reviewing what it’s about, you should also examine its underlying context. What is it for? Where will it be delivered?A presentation for the board of directors will have a more conventional feel than a seminar for young professionals. When you’re looking at several different fonts, try to determine what kind of narrative they portray and see if that fits the theme of your presentation.When you’re looking at several different fonts, try to determine what kind of narrative they portray and see if that fits the theme of your presentation.

Familiarize yourself with how fonts are categorized

One way to check which fonts will work well with your presentations is by taking note of what each one says.As with most things, different fonts have different meanings. Thanks to the different cultural associations we attach to a certain aesthetic, some fonts carry meaning that allows your message to transcend even further.According to Dan Mayer of Smashing Magazine, we can categorize fonts in five different ways. If you want to know which ones work best with another, take note of how each category is described:

  • Geometric Sans: These are fonts based on “strict geometric forms.” Fonts like Helvetica and Franklin Gothic all look clean and modern. Mayer also describes them as “objective, … universal and useful.”
  • Old Style: These fonts are usually based on classic and traditional typefaces that were developed from calligraphic forms. For example, Palatino and Garamond.
  • Humanist Sans: Humanist fonts are patterned from handwriting. Unlike other fonts, they have less consistency and more unique details. As Mayer writes, these fonts can be “modern yet human, clear yet empathetic”.
  • Transitional and Modern: These fonts grew out of from the Old Style category. According to Mayer, both Transitional and Modern typefaces “emerged as type designers experimented with making their letterforms more geometric, sharp and virtuosic”. Examples include Times New Roman and Baskerville for Transitional and Bodoni and Didot for Modern.
  • Slab Serifs: These fonts are highly stylized, with smooth strokes that end with solid, rectangular blocks on the end. For Mayer, these fonts convey “a sense of authority”. Examples include Rockwell, Courier, and Archer.

Create unique combinations 

Your PowerPoint design won’t look as dynamic if you use a single font for the entire deck. Of course, you’ll want to add a bit of variety to keep the audience interested.Combine a few different fonts to achieve a completely unique and interesting look. The important thing is that you don’t get carried away.Ideally, it’s best to limit your font choices to about 2-3 styles. This way, your presentation deck maintains a look that’s focused, consistent and professional.Something else you’ll have to consider is how your chosen combination works together. Your font combinations should have enough contrast between them so that they stand out.There’s no point to combining two fonts that look similar. Adding contrast to your selections will help you emphasize certain points in your slides. This will help if you want the audience to see your key takeaways and headlines immediately.There are plenty of fonts to choose from to improve your design, but don’t let this overwhelm you. Take note of these three lessons to make sure your slides stand out.

New Year’s Resolutions: The Presentation Edition

new year's resolution

PowerPoint Design

Powerpoint tips

presentation tips

Jan 02, 2015

The new year will always usher in plenty of opportunities. Be ready for a productive and fulfilling year by learning to improve your communication skills. Professional success relies on our ability to present and share new ideas. If you want your projects to keep moving forward, you need to focus on improving your skills as a presenter.Keep your ideas afloat and the audience engaged with our own version of New Year’s resolutions:

1.) Start integrating storytelling into your presentations

You can’t separate storytelling from the presentations you deliver. It’s not enough to recite facts in front of your audience. Whether you’re pitching to investors or convincing clients to get on board, a story is the most powerful tool in your arsenal. That’s because stories are built right into our DNA. As social beings, we connect with each other through storytelling. What better way to get the audience to sit up and listen than by sharing a great story?So what makes a great story? How can you spin your presentation into a compelling narrative? There are three things you need. First, you need to start with a message that resonates with your audience. Next, you need to have a character they can relate to. Lastly, you need to structure your presentation in a way that really pulls the audience in.

2.) Deliver a better presentation by fixing structure

Structure isn’t just important to presentation storytelling. Creating a well-structured presentation is also helpful for the audience. If you create a clear and discernable structure, they’ll be able to follow what you’re saying much easier. They won’t feel like you’re dumping a huge amount of information because you’ve carefully arranged them in a way that makes sense.Aside from making sure that your presentation has a discernible beginning, middle, and end, keep all your points and arguments grouped according to specific themes. According to Barbara Minto’s Pyramid Principle, you can tackle one theme at a time, and the audience can easily categorize your ideas into groups.

3.) Improve the quality of your presentations through practice

Of course, you can’t expect to improve your skills without putting in some work. Aside from making sure your presentation is perfected, you also have to improve the quality of your delivery. You won’t be able to do that without taking the time to practice.A lot of people think they can ‘wing’ their presentations. However, presentations are more than just being familiar with your materials. You also need to know the proper way to address the audience. The only way you can prepare for that is by rehearsing the way you’ll speak and move in front of people.

4.) Create a memorable experience by appealing to emotions

A presentation doesn’t have to be a dull affair just because you’re delivering an informative report. You can still create a memorable presentation that’s accurate and straight to the point. Strive to create a significant connection with the audience by appealing to their emotions.What emotions are significant to your presentation? Do you want to make this a light-hearted affair? Or do you want to deliver a sense of urgency? Think of your emotional anchor and plan your presentation around it. Make sure your story and visuals contribute to conveying it. You should also focus on how you deliver your presentation. Emotions are also conveyed through speech and movement, so be mindful of your body language.

2015 brings an abundance of new opportunities. Don’t let them go to waste. Make sure all your points are well-presented. Deliver better presentations and achieve greater outcomes with these helpful but oft-neglected tips.

 

References

“The Minto Pyramid Principle: A Powerful and Compelling Process for Producing Everyday Business Documents.” Barbara Minto. Accessed January 11, 2016.Zak, Paul. “Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling.” Harvard Business Review. October 28, 2014. Accessed January 11, 2016.

Featured Image: picjumbo.com

Presentation Tips: 5 Quick Ways to a PowerPoint Design Boost

PowerPoint Design

powerpoint design tips

presentation design

presentation tips

Dec 29, 2014

Do you still have a presentation that needs to be wrapped up before the year ends? Don’t forget to give your PowerPoint design a much needed boost. As you know, it’s important to end the year with a bang. The last message you share for 2014 should resonate with the audience. Aside from learning the best way to communicate with them, you have to make sure that your visuals are eye-catching and unforgettable.Here’s a quick rundown of simple tips and tricks for a PowerPoint design boost: 

1.) Use bullet points correctly 

As we mentioned previously, there’s a time and place for bullet points in your PowerPoint design. Most people use bullet points to list down lengthy paragraphs of text when they should only be used to list down key information. In other words, using bullet points should help you present details in a way that’s easy for your audience to digest. You don’t use them to cram a dozen different sentences in a single slide. You use them to create a list of important information that the audience can easily see and discern. There’s nothing wrong with using bullet points, but don’t forget that there’s a right way to utilize them.

2.) Experiment by creating custom templates 

If you’re in a hurry to finish your presentation, using PowerPoint templates will definitely make the job easier. However, these templates often have a reputation of being boring and repetitive. Luckily, there’s a way you can use them without sacrificing your creativity. As we detailed in this tutorial, you can create custom PowerPoint designs by using the Slide Master option. It might take a bit more effort, but it’s worth it to have a template that’s unique to your presentation. Tailor fit any template for your specific situation by changing up the look to match your branding.

3.) Create the perfect mood with the right colors

Speaking of branding, picking the right colors is one of the best ways to make sure your business identity is evident in your PowerPoint design. The correct color choices will also add more dimension to what you’re delivering. Since colors are often have specific cultural associations, choosing the right color will help you add more meaning to the topic you’re tackling. For example, the color blue and gray is often associated with professionalism. On the other hand, the color purple connotes luxury and exclusivity. If you want to create a palette that matches the mood of your presentation, do some quick research on the different cultural associations behind specific colors. You can start here.

4.) Find balance by using well-matched fonts

It’s also important to keep your PowerPoint design well-balanced and harmonized. One way you can do that is by making sure you choose fonts that match each other. Even when you have plenty to choose from, make sure that your fonts complement each other. You can opt for a contrasting Serif and Sans Serif pair, but you can also create a unified look by choosing fonts from the same family or typeface. Whatever you decide, just make sure to limit your choice within 2-3 styles. Going overboard will create too much distraction and your PowerPoint design will end up looking inorganic. Another important rule to keep in mind is readability. Make sure everything in your slides can be read by the farthest person from the screen.

5.) Highlight your message with the perfect images

Finally, your PowerPoint design won’t work if you don’t have images to illustrate your points. This is a tip we’ve repeated so much in the last year because it should never be left unsaid. Your PowerPoint design will be far more effective if you let go of lengthy paragraphs and use images to highlight your message instead. The Internet is a great source to find whatever you need. Take the time to browse through all these sites to find something that will help you tell the story of your presentation. Visual storytelling is a growing trend in the world of business, so make sure your PowerPoint design doesn’t fall behind.

These tips may seem ordinary, but they all bear repeating. You can’t expect to boost your PowerPoint design if you don’t start at the basics. Follow these tips and work your way towards more creative and memorable presentations.

If you need more help, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact our PowerPoint design experts! Featured Image: Life of Pix