Visual aids and technology can enhance your public speaking skills and make your presentations more engaging, memorable, and persuasive. But how can you design and use them effectively? Here are some tips to help you create visually stunning presentations that will impress your audience.
The first step is to choose the right tool for your presentation. Depending on your purpose, audience, and content, you may opt for different formats, such as slides, videos, infographics, charts, or animations. You should also consider the compatibility, accessibility, and functionality of the tool you use. For example, if you want to share your presentation online, you may want to use a web-based platform that allows you to embed links, media, and interactive elements.
Select presentation tools based on the presentation's objective and audience. For data-driven content, tools like Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides are effective. For more creative presentations, consider tools like Canva or Prezi. Utilize graphic elements, charts, and animations to visually convey information. Research the context to anticipate potential questions and ensure you are well-prepared.
The second step is to follow the CRAP principles of design: contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity. These principles can help you create a clear, consistent, and coherent visual hierarchy that guides your audience's attention and understanding. Contrast means using different colors, sizes, fonts, or shapes to emphasize important elements. Repetition means using the same elements to create a sense of unity and continuity. Alignment means arranging your elements in a logical and orderly way. Proximity means grouping related elements together and separating unrelated ones.
CRAP stands for Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity. Ensure there's a clear contrast between elements, maintain consistency through repetition, align elements for a polished look, and group related items in close proximity. Applying these principles enhances the visual appeal and clarity of your presentation.
The third step is to use images wisely. Images can convey emotions, stories, and data more effectively than words. But they can also distract, confuse, or overwhelm your audience if used poorly. To use images wisely, you should follow these guidelines: use high-quality and relevant images that support your message; use original or royalty-free images that respect copyright and attribution; use simple and clear images that avoid clutter and noise; use captions, labels, or legends to explain your images; and use images sparingly and strategically to avoid visual fatigue.
Another no-no is distorting images. Enlarge, move, crop and minimise you images with care. A stretched photo looks unprofessional and is distracting. Also look for a similar look and feel of images throughout your presentation to create a sense of harmony between the slides.
Choose images that complement your message and resonate with your audience. Incorporate visuals that contribute to storytelling and understanding rather than merely for aesthetic purposes. Whether using lifestyle photos, infographics, or brand elements, each image should serve a purpose and contribute meaningfully to the narrative.
The fourth step is to optimize your text. Text can complement your images and provide additional information, context, or evidence. But it can also bore, annoy, or lose your audience if used excessively or ineffectively. To optimize your text, you should follow these guidelines: use short and simple sentences that convey one main idea; use bullet points, headings, or keywords to highlight key points; use fonts that are easy to read and match your tone; use colors that contrast well with your background and create a mood; and use text sparingly and selectively to avoid cognitive overload.
Crafting an effective presentation or speech involves optimizing the text for clarity and impact. Keep sentences concise, use clear language, and incorporate visuals for better understanding. Break up text with bullet points and headings, considering the audience's comprehension level. Aim for a balance between information and engagement, ensuring every word contributes to the overall impact of your message.
Remember people cannot read and listen at the same time. If you have too much text on a slide then you force your audience to make a decision between focusing on the slides or what you’re saying. You can avoid this by just including a couple of key words or replace them with a relevant image or statistic. If you have a full sentence consider shortening it. If you absolutely want to include text then give your audience the time to read it while you remain silent.
Craft concise and impactful text to effectively convey your message. Use bullet points and short sentences to avoid overwhelming the audience. Ensure proper font sizes and colors for readability. Limit context to avoid tedious reading, allowing the audience to focus on key points.
Remember the golden ratio when sizing headers, subheads and text. This is the unique ratio which appears throughout nature, was introduced into Western Society by Leonardo Fibonacci. It can guide you in making sure that different items (in this case text) works together on the page. The ratio is 1.618 So your heading would be 1.618x bigger than your text and the title 1.618 bigger than that.
The fifth step is to practice and test your presentation. No matter how visually stunning your presentation is, it will not work if you do not deliver it well or if it does not function properly. To practice and test your presentation, you should follow these steps: rehearse your presentation several times and time yourself; check your transitions, animations, and media for smoothness and accuracy; adjust your volume, speed, and tone for clarity and impact; use a remote control or a clicker to navigate your presentation; and get feedback from a friend, colleague, or mentor.
Rehearse your presentation multiple times to familiarize yourself with the content and flow. Time yourself to ensure you stay within the allotted presentation time. Test your presentation on the actual equipment you'll be using to identify and address any technical issues that may arise during the actual presentation.
The sixth step is to adapt and improvise your presentation. Even if you have prepared and tested your presentation, you may encounter unexpected situations or challenges that require you to adjust or modify your presentation. To adapt and improvise your presentation, you should follow these tips: have a backup plan in case of technical issues or emergencies; be flexible and responsive to your audience's needs and reactions; use humor, stories, or anecdotes to engage your audience; and be confident, enthusiastic, and authentic.
Anticipate unforeseen circumstances and be prepared to adapt. Have contingency plans for technical glitches, and practice maintaining composure during unexpected challenges. Be flexible with your content, allowing for adjustments based on audience engagement and unexpected developments.
Selecting the right tool for presentation is very important. It's not just a visual presentation. Sometimes, we would be required to showcase/illustrate things through specific characters, which everyone can understand. It does vary the best industry set audience we are trying to present. For example, things can be accessible in the insurance industry if we follow Policy Intake and claims Submission through the graphic characters who play these things interactively, which will make a huge difference. There are several options to evaluate prior choice based on what needs to be.