Layout is one of the most important aspects of presentation design, as it affects how your audience perceives and follows your message. A good layout can enhance the clarity, coherence, and impact of your presentation, while a bad layout can confuse, distract, and bore your audience. In this article, you will learn some tips on how to use layout to improve the flow of your presentation.
Alignment is the principle of arranging your elements in a way that creates a visual connection and harmony among them. Alignment helps you create a consistent and professional look, as well as guide your audience's eye movement and attention. To align your elements, you can use grids, guides, and snap tools in your presentation software, and make sure that you have enough white space and margins around your elements.
Balance is the principle of distributing your elements in a way that creates a sense of stability and proportion in your layout. Balance helps you avoid overcrowding or underutilizing your space, as well as create contrast and emphasis in your layout. To balance your layout, you can use different types of balance, such as symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial, depending on your purpose and style.
Balance can be an incredibly helpful tool to create a visually compelling slide but it is definitely a "learn the rule so you know when to break it" situation. Layout can be used to emphasize or highlight certain content by making it the focal point. Don't forget to leave white space on the slide. It allows the information to breathe, and gives the eye a place to rest when moving from one chunk to the next. Putting too much on a slide can feel overwhelming to the viewer and can take away from the content.
Grouping is the principle of organizing your elements in a way that creates a logical and meaningful relationship among them. Grouping helps you simplify and structure your information, as well as highlight the main points and subpoints in your presentation. To group your elements, you can use different methods, such as proximity, similarity, enclosure, or color, depending on your content and message.
Sequencing is the principle of ordering your elements in a way that creates a clear and smooth transition and progression in your presentation. Sequencing helps you establish a narrative and a flow in your presentation, as well as engage and persuade your audience. To sequence your elements, you can use different techniques, such as hierarchy, direction, or numbering, depending on your format and goal.
Not only does content on individual slides need sequencing, be sure to step back and look at your presentation as a whole. Be sure similar trains of thought follow one another. Think of them as chapters in a book.
Customizing is the principle of adapting your layout to suit your specific audience, context, and objective. Customizing helps you make your presentation more relevant, appealing, and memorable, as well as showcase your personality and brand. To customize your layout, you can use different elements, such as fonts, colors, images, or icons, depending on your theme and tone.
Assuming you are using PowerPoint or Canva as your visual aid, its vital that the presentation "flows" seamlessly Having the content sequenced in a logical mental journey ensures the audience is travelling along with you on a journey of co-creation and co-discovery. In terms of resonance, connectivity and memorability of content a clear structure that progresses in a logical sequence is crucial. As a secondary layer, graphics and animation can play micro engagement roles to keep the momentum high. Selectively and judiciously used, they can create the micro momenta that lighten up a long day of presenting technical content.
Testing is the principle of checking and evaluating your layout before and after your presentation. Testing helps you identify and fix any issues or errors in your layout, as well as get feedback and improve your presentation. To test your layout, you can use different tools, such as preview, print, or share modes in your presentation software, or ask for opinions from others, depending on your time and resources.
One of the biggest misses in layout is viewing each slide as an isolated piece of visual information. Presentations should be designed to work as one complete story. Consider how visual pieces, and speaking points for that matter, can help transition from one slide to the next to create a sense of flow and connection. Slide are not bullet points but rather new paragraphs in the information.