How do you keep up with the latest trends and tools for data and visuals in conference speaking?

1 Know your audience

Before you choose your data and visuals, you need to know who you are speaking to. What are their expectations, interests, and backgrounds? How familiar are they with your topic and terminology? How much detail and complexity can they handle? Knowing your audience will help you tailor your data and visuals to their needs and preferences, and avoid confusion or boredom.

2 Choose the right format

Data and visuals can take many forms, such as charts, graphs, maps, diagrams, images, videos, animations, and more. Each format has its own strengths and limitations, and you need to choose the one that best suits your purpose, data, and story. For example, if you want to show trends over time, a line chart might be more effective than a pie chart. If you want to illustrate a process or a concept, a diagram or an animation might be more engaging than a table. Think about what you want to communicate and how you want to communicate it, and then select the format that matches your goals.

3 Use the right tools

There are many tools available to help you create and display your data and visuals, ranging from simple software like PowerPoint and Excel to more advanced platforms like Tableau and Canva. Depending on your needs and skills, you can use these tools to design, edit, customize, and enhance your data and visuals. For example, you can use PowerPoint to create simple charts and graphs, or use Tableau to create interactive dashboards and visualizations. You can also use Canva to add icons, colors, fonts, and other elements to your visuals. Explore the different options and find the ones that work best for you.

4 Follow the best practices

Data and visuals are not just about aesthetics, they are also about accuracy, clarity, and ethics. You need to follow some best practices to ensure that your data and visuals are trustworthy, understandable, and respectful. For example, you need to cite your sources, check your facts, avoid misleading or distorted representations, use appropriate scales and labels, and respect copyright and privacy laws. You also need to keep your data and visuals simple, relevant, and consistent, and avoid clutter, noise, and distractions.

5 Seek feedback and inspiration

One of the best ways to keep up with the latest trends and tools for data and visuals in conference speaking is to seek feedback and inspiration from others. You can ask for feedback from your colleagues, peers, mentors, or experts, and get their opinions and suggestions on how to improve your data and visuals. You can also look for inspiration from other speakers, publications, websites, or social media, and see how they use data and visuals to enhance their stories. You can learn from their examples, styles, techniques, and innovations, and apply them to your own presentations.

6 Keep learning and experimenting

Finally, you need to keep learning and experimenting with data and visuals in conference speaking. Data and visuals are constantly evolving, and new trends and tools emerge every day. You need to stay updated on the latest developments, research, and best practices, and keep an open mind to new possibilities and opportunities. You can also try new formats, tools, and methods, and see how they work for you. By keeping learning and experimenting, you can keep your data and visuals fresh, dynamic, and effective.

7 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?