How can humor make your process design portfolio and presentation memorable?

One thing I found helpful is to understand background and needs of your audience by a little pre-survey and then direct the key messages you would like to deliver in an approach/format that resonates. Humor is best received if connects with their daily challenges.

Knowing your audience in advance is crucial to deciding if and when humor is acceptable, as well as what type of humor will go over well. Your subject matter can be an initial guide for insertion of tastefully placed funny anecdotes or puns etc. You'll get the feel when you first take the podium if someone goes before you. If you are first it's good to get there early to possibly interact with audience member beforehand if that is possible. You must remember that whatever choices you make will make a lasting impression positive or negative on the event and those who invited you to speak before their audience.

Humor has no place in a professional setting.

Your points of reference are clear and exact to how humor can enhance presentations, speech, and engaging opportunities with an audience. I enjoy hearing how humor captures presence.

Relevance is a no brainer. If you can add tasteful humor that relates to the presentation it not only breaks the ice it demonstrates your ability to engage an audience in the subject matter while putting them at ease. This also makes the audience more receptive to your presentation and makes the presentation more memorable. You'll be invited to more speaking engagements as a result as well.

Such as asking audience, "Do they know me," and I am the event speaker. This question alone brings humor. Excuse me, "Do you do know me?"

Authenticity and originality are marks of an engaged speaker in their subject matter and in the atmosphere they encounter when taking the stage. When tastefully done humor can both elevate your persona but also make an audience feel at ease and more engaged. They will be on the edge of their seats wondering what tidbits will come next in the presentation while being engaged in the subject matter.

Clarity and being concise is key. Strategically placed anecdotes or humor can keep an audience engaged and attentive to the subject matter. They will more easily remember the presentation and also remember you as a speaker. After the event you will be sought out during any post presentation networking activities. More speaking engagements will come your way.

Humor, especially when a presentation is driven by lots of math, stats, numbers, is very important to making an otherwise possibly boring subject a bit more palatable. Some environments are very focused and more serious but don't let that discourage you from at least trying to lighten up the atmosphere a bit.