How can you design a clear and concise presentation without leaving out important details?

1 Know your purpose and audience

Before you start designing your presentation, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and who you are speaking to. What is the main message or goal of your presentation? How does it relate to the theme or topic of the conference? Who are your audience members and what are their interests, needs, and expectations? Knowing your purpose and audience will help you focus on the most relevant and important details for your presentation.

2 Create a logical outline

Once you have defined your purpose and audience, you can create a logical outline for your presentation. An outline is a roadmap that guides you and your audience through your presentation. It helps you organize your ideas, avoid repetition, and create a coherent flow. A good outline consists of three main parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. In the introduction, you should capture the attention of your audience, introduce your topic and main points, and provide an overview of your presentation. In the body, you should develop your main points with supporting evidence, examples, and explanations. In the conclusion, you should summarize your main points, restate your message or goal, and end with a call to action or a question.

3 Use the 10/20/30 rule

A simple way to ensure that your presentation is clear and concise is to follow the 10/20/30 rule. This rule suggests that you should use no more than 10 slides, speak for no more than 20 minutes, and use a font size of at least 30 points. The rationale behind this rule is that you should limit the amount of information you present, respect the attention span of your audience, and make your slides easy to read and understand. Of course, you can adjust these numbers depending on the context and format of your presentation, but the principle remains the same: less is more.

4 Simplify your language and visuals

Another way to make your presentation clear and concise is to simplify your language and visuals. Avoid using jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that your audience may not be familiar with. If you need to use them, make sure to explain them clearly and briefly. Use short sentences, active verbs, and clear transitions. Avoid filler words, vague expressions, or unnecessary details. Use visuals that support your message, such as graphs, charts, images, or icons. Avoid cluttering your slides with too much text, colors, or animations. Use consistent fonts, colors, and layouts throughout your presentation.

5 Summarize and repeat key points

Finally, to make sure that your audience remembers and understands your presentation, you should summarize and repeat key points. Summarizing helps you highlight the main takeaways and reinforce your message. Repeating helps you emphasize the most important or surprising information and increase retention. You can summarize and repeat key points at the end of each section, at the end of your presentation, or during the Q&A session. You can also use handouts, slides, or social media to share your summary and key points with your audience after your presentation.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?