How can you use motion graphics and sound to create an immersive presentation experience?

I learned it the hardway. I'm a tech guy, making presentations and ppt's felt like a punishment. I never valued visual representations and animations in tech topics. If someone asked me to present a topic, I would open up a terminal on my linux box and start showing the implementations and then I used to wounder, why are people not able to understand such simple things ? This was my mindset untill I joined a communications works shop some years back and realised how stupid I was. Graphics of all kind have been part of human evolution since the beging of our times and there is a reason for this. Human mind is very fragile, you need to keep it hooked, give it a narration, a path full of experience and it will never forget it.

A practical illustration of how motion graphics and sound can enhance a presentation: Scenario: You're presenting a new product launch to your team. Slide 1: Introduction The company logo animates with background music. Slide 2: Product Overview Show product animations with sound effects. Background music sets the tone. Slide 3: Market Research Use animated charts and narration. Slide 4: Competitive Analysis Compare with motion graphics and sound effects. Slide 5: Product Launch Plan Animated timeline with background music. Slide 6: Call to Action Highlight contact info with engaging animation and motivating music. In this way, motion graphics and sound enhance your presentation by adding visual appeal and emotional engagement.

When I think of motion graphics and sound, I think of the 1960s movie Psycho, albeit not exactly animated graphic design, but in terms of content stimulating the audience's attention and interest, it's gotta be at the top of everyone's list. The music or score, for the shower scene is the most famous and scariest theme from any film. In fact, Hitchcock was so pleased with the tension and drama the score added to the film, he later remarked that "33% of the effect of Psycho was due to the music." The composer, Benard Herrmann, thought of the single tone color of the all-string soundtrack created a darker and more intense effect to a black and white movie.

Motion graphics and sound are necessary to catch the audience eyes and In the era where audience cannot be focused on a particulat thing for more than 10 seconds so it is necessary to create a hook through presentations and graphics.

Using motion graphics and sound can significantly enhance the immersive quality of a presentation, captivating your audience and making your content more memorable. By thoughtfully combining motion graphics and sound, you can create a presentation that not only delivers information but also engages and captivates your audience, leaving a lasting impression.

Here's a personal story illustrating why motion graphics and sound are important: A few years ago, I had to present a complex research project to university lecturers. To make it engaging, and comprehensible, I used motion graphics to simplify concepts and added sound for emotional impact. The result was an enthusiastic response from the audience, highlighting how motion graphics and sound can transform a presentation from dull to captivating and effective. My encounter highlights how critical motion graphics and sound are in breaking down complicated or technical materials, making them entertaining and emotionally striking to the audience, and finally reaching the desired effect.

Creating an immersive presentation experience with motion graphics and sound can be effective and engaging, but it's essential to be cautious and aware of potential demerits or issues. Here are two things to take note: 1. Storytelling focus: Don't let the use of motion graphics and sound distract from your storytelling and the central narrative of your presentation. These elements should complement and enhance your message rather than overshadow it. 2. Overwhelming the audience: Too much motion and sound can overwhelm the audience, making it difficult for them to concentrate on the core content and message of the presentation. Be judicious in your use of these elements and ensure they enhance, rather than detract from, your message.

Motion graphics serve as visual cues that can direct and sustain audience engagement in a presentation. For instance, a simple animated arrow pointing to a key statistic on a slide can ensure that viewers focus on the most critical data. Smooth animated transitions offer a pause in the narrative, allowing the audience time to digest the information before moving on to the next concept.

We all love to hear and visualise stories. If we can make other visualise what we want them to understand 90% of your work is done.

A large majority of the population are visual learners and better absorb a presentation message when motion graphics or visuals are utilized. This is especially true for complex material. Furthermore, the use of multiple mediums in your presentation (traditional, motion graphics, videos, etc) will ensure the audience remains engaged in what you are presenting. No one wants to sit through an hour long power point presentation filled with bullet points, and the presenter simply reading them. This approach to presentation will dramatically reduce the receptivity to your message. Switch it up and use several mediums. There are several great platforms such as Canva that make the use of motion graphics and video easy to incorporate.

A story illustrating why motion graphics and sound are important: In 2022, a friend created a promotional video for a wildlife conservation nonprofit. He used motion graphics and sound effectively by: Planning: Creating a detailed storyboard to identify key moments. Visuals: Designing animated sequences to showcase the organization's work. Soundtrack: Selecting a powerful, evocative music score. Synchronization: Ensuring perfect timing between visuals and sound. Call to Action: Including a clear path for donations with inspiring music. The result was a successful video that raised awareness and significantly increased support, highlighting how the synergy of motion graphics and sound can engage and mobilize an audience effectively.

There’s a balance between too much and too little. I learned from a UX expert friend of mine that less is more and to iterate as much as needed to make things as simple as you can. On the design side, I always tell my content design team to use any tools at their disposal like visual cues or audio, to emphasize certain points in content to make it more impactful.

In the world of presentations, less is often more, and I've found that being a minimalist when it comes to motion graphics and sound can be a game-changer. To use them effectively, I believe in a less-is-more approach. Avoid the temptation to overload slides with distracting or overwhelming elements. Instead, choose wisely and appropriately, keeping your audience's expectations and preferences in mind. Test your choices thoroughly before and during the presentation to ensure they integrate seamlessly with your software, hardware, and environment. Remember, the goal is to amplify your message, not overshadow it.

Several years ago, I was preparing a presentation for a conference on how to teach entrepreneurship in universities. I wanted to make the presentation engaging and visually appealing, so I decided to use motion graphics and sound to complement the content. I used Canva to create visually stunning slides with motion graphic elements. Their library of animations and templates made it easy to add dynamic visuals to each slide.

In 2020, I was eager to enhance my skills in motion graphics and sound for a new project. To learn more, I followed these steps: YouTube Tutorials: I found valuable tutorials from experts in the field on YouTube. These free resources helped me grasp the basics and learn advanced techniques. Practice and Experimentation: I dedicated time to practice and experiment with various tools and software, like Adobe Creative Suite. The hands-on experience was invaluable in improving my skills. I made significant progress in mastering motion graphics and sound. This approach allowed me to confidently apply these skills to my project and continuously improve.

Rightful and relevant graphics and audio make the presentation live and enhance the viewer's engagement and attention. We won't forget that overuse of it can have a negative impact in which the audience cannot determine what the takeaways of the presentation are but will remember how chaotic the graphics are. Staying connected to the audience is the key.

I would challenge the original premise of this article that a memorable presentation requires more than visuals or words. I’d go so far as to say you can deliver a phenomenal, memorable presentation with no supporting materials at all if you’re a dynamic speaker and phenomenal storyteller. Now, that’s not to say if you’re giving a presentation you should avoid supporting materials. However, don’t buy into the myth that if you don’t have them, you’re somehow doomed to a sub-par presentation. If anything, I’d encourage people to prioritize developing their skills as a presenter over their skills of building a presentation. A beautiful, dynamic deck with motion graphics and audio won’t overcome a crappy or even mediocre presenter.