Monday, May 5, 2014

Punch Up Your Played–Out PowerPoints written by Marisa Jarmon, American Constructors

I may not be a PowerPoint wiz, but I’ve come a long way. The first time I used PowerPoint was in college for a presentation detailing the evolution of hairstyles through the 1900s. I remember how much fun it was finding photos of afros, bouffants, and mullets, then spending hours selecting the "perfect" colors and typography to go with each slide. In the end, I was very proud of what I had created, got an "A" on the project, and considered myself a PowerPoint master. In reality, I had committed nearly every cringe-worthy design mistake that any actual PowerPoint pro would warn you against.

As marketing professionals, many of us have been tasked with creating a PowerPoint presentation, whether for a project interview, a meeting or conference, or a special event. If you don't consider yourself a designer, the idea of creating a PowerPoint program can be intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be. The most important points to remember: Keep it simple and keep it visual.

Trash the Templates
Using one of PowerPoint’s templates should only be done in desperation. Not only are the majority of them visually boring, but your audience has probably seen them a dozen times. Viewers will immediately recognize you didn’t put any work into the aesthetics and subconsciously make judgments about you based on your presentation’s visual appeal. Make a stronger statement by taking the time to create your own slides.

Hold the content of your presentation together by using a consistent layout, type style, and color scheme. Every slide does not have to look exactly the same, but you don’t want each slide to look like it came from a different presentation.

Sell Your Ideas Visually
Slides should be used to make a visual statement that words alone can't. Photography is one of the single best ways to make your presentation stand out and engage the audience. Nix the unnecessary text and graphs and use more photos. Photos wordlessly draw your audience in, give them an emotional connection, and prepare them for what you have to say. Then you can fill in the details verbally during your presentation.

When it comes to choosing images, you have a few options – take or create them yourself, hire a professional, buy them from a stock photo site, or find them for free online. For free stock photos, check out Stock.Xchng or use CC Search to find photos on various sites under a Creative Commons license (meaning they can be used free of charge by the public). If you have a budget to purchase photos, iStock Photo is an affordable, high quality option with numerous search tools.

Keep it Concise
Your slides should not regurgitate everything you’re already saying. If your audience is reading what’s on your slides, what’s the point of you being there? You are the show, and your slides are there to help guide your speaking and support your main points. Think billboards. Make one point per slide. This helps with your timing and keeps your audience from reading ahead while giving them the chance to focus on and digest what you’re saying.

Many people use bullets in an attempt to condense their information but, in reality, if you use too much bulleting, your key messages get lost. If you must use multiple bullets under a common heading, keep your audience engaged by bringing bullets in one at a time.

Let’s Talk Typography
Choosing your PowerPoint typeface can be one of the most challenging elements. Don't just scroll through your font list looking for something you think looks “cool.” Think about the message you're trying to convey and select something that helps you deliver that message. Browse through sites like Font Squirrel and Dafont to find a variety of free options. Most important is to always choose typefaces that are clean and simple enough to be read easily from across the room. If you're unsure, stick to the standard-looking fonts, which will help ensure that your design remains clean and professional.

Don’t be afraid to use several typefaces to create some variety, but keep it to just three different typefaces throughout your slideshow. Also, don't switch up your fonts just because you think it looks good. Do so for emphasis or to group words together. When it comes to size, keep the type 24 points or larger. Any smaller and people in the back won’t be able to read it. Don’t underline words or people may think they are links and DON’T USE ALL CAPS for emphasis. You don’t want your audience to think you’re shouting at them.

The Power of Color
Color can be your most powerful design element if you learn to use it effectively. Selecting the right colors can set the mood, create emotion, attract attention, and make a statement. Taking some time to learn about color theory can take you a long way. (Check out Color Matters or Tiger Color for a crash course). You can also browse thousands of color palettes on websites like Adobe Kuler and Design Seeds. Another handy site is Piknik Color Picker. Decide on a color palette and keep it consistent. This will unify your presentation.


Remember, people only recall 10% of what they hear, but retain 65% of what they hear and see. Make what they see count. 

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