Why your PPT presentation sucks and what to do about it.

While I can't deny that some people are real artists when it comes to PowerPoint presentations, most of us don't have either the time or skill to make it look good. Well, in the end, it's just a presentation, not a piece of art, and no one really cares about how it looks. Or do they?

Let's look at it this way. You've spent weeks and weeks working on a project, and there you are. It's the big moment. You're in the room with the decision-makers presenting the results. Everyone is looking at the screen, waiting for the big reveal. If you're lucky, maybe your messy desktop won't pop up for a moment, and the gods of technology will be on your side, making sure everything goes smooth. After a short intro, you'll start with the first slide. Well, it's ok, it's working. Phew. You did it! But does it look good? Does it spark curiosity? Is it exciting? Does it tell the story, or it merely present the results? What do we see? Bullet points, charts, stock photos, text, more bullet points, default transitions, a plethora of colours, overused icons, a few more bullet points, and a big "Thank you" at the end. Well, that's how the typical ppt looks.

But what was your audience actually supposed to see? What were they supposed to do during the presentation? Should they listen to you, or should they read the text on the screen? Can they maybe do both? What should be the centre of their attention? Unfortunately, that is where the big mistake lies. Most people are hiding behind the screen, unknowingly creating confusion by presenting complex visual content and at the same time paraphrasing the written text as they speak.

I wish it were different, but our human brains have limited cognitive capabilities, and in the long run, we're able to follow only one thread of thought at a time. So if we're presented with two sources of information, like the screen content and the voice, and they both have the same importance, or they're contradictory, so after a few minutes, we'll switch off and slowly lose interest in what is being presented.

The solution? Well, the ppt part of the equation is easy.

Simplify the content, make it big, make it clear, and reveal it a step at a time. Use big, bold statements and think of them as keywords. Avoid forcing people to read, instead replace that long paragraph with an image that explains the point. You should rarely place more than a few elements on a slide. Keep it simple. It could be an image and a short statement. An icon and a title. A graph and a key number. Try to guide your audience's attention strategically. Try to turn it into a show.

But that's where the hard part kicks in. Visual content is just a tool. You need to understand that you are the presenter. You are the one standing on the stage. You are the centre of attention. So it's your posture, your tone of voice, your eye contact with the audience members that make the presentation interesting. Just look at the masters of presentation, like Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Visual simplicity and strong stage presence at its best. We know it's hard, even frightening, for most of us. But at least we can try. And remember... practice makes perfect!

I have spent the last 8 years as a creative director for the animation studio We Are Alive and enjoyed producing multiple animated presentations for our clients. From big event reveals in front of a large audience, start-up funding pitches, and internal company meetings, all the way to the online presentations and virtual events that have become a necessity in the last twelve months.

With every new project, we usually start from a ppt presentation created by the client, and we dig deep down through the bullet points, trying to understand what it all means. If I'm honest, it can be messy! But we're very dedicated, and after a bit of background research and a few calls with the client, we're on the same page. It's crucial for us to understand the presentation and our client's goals so that we can suggest the best creative approach. The bonus part is that along the way, we usually learn a lot about a topic that we never really thought about. So far we've worked on presentations relating to the construction of a dam in Oman, a new oil sample analysis tool, record-breaking architectural developments, and even a device that feeds your pet while you're on holiday. Fun times!

Our favourite was probably the animated keynote for Dubai Municipality, presented on an enormous screen during the World Government Summit in Dubai. We turned a 20-page keynote document into a full-blown 3D animation that looked captivating during the event and helped the Director-General deliver a powerful and inspiring speech to the gathered VIP guests, government officials, and international delegates. You can see it below or hop on to our website.

So, to conclude. No matter how small your presentation seems, it's time to start thinking about your actual 'presence'. But if you get stuck with the on-screen bit, you can always cheat and call the professionals!