Creating a Standout Presentation

Out of all of the search terms that bring visitors to my graphic design website, JT eDesigns, the top ones are how to make a presentation stand out or how to create a visually appealing presentation.

The days of the boring, and I do mean boring, bullet lists are over. That doesn't mean that blocks of text have become acceptable -- the less reading anyone attending your presentation is tempted to do the better. We are drawn to color and images more than words. Instead of a list of talking points, arrange your thoughts by color blocks or circles or other design elements, and have them flow in a logical manner so your audience can follow along. Some examples are illustrated above in this post. No matter what your thoughts are on global warming, it has been said that Al Gore's presentation, An Inconvenient Truth, was one of the best presentations ever delivered. Throughout his entire presentation, he didn't use one bulleted chart. You can read Business Week’s in-depth review of his presentation here and why his technique was so effective. Above all, keep your words to a minimum on each slide, even to the point of using iullustrations only, instead of words. Images are powerful visual aids and can create interest and sudden impact of a key element in your presentation. Any words used should be kept to a minimum so you can use them as a guide only, not as something you read word for word as you deliver your talk. This way, your audience will focus on you instead of reading your charts while you are speaking. You can find many more ideas and suggestions for creating and delivering an effective presentation on my website, or feel free to ask for suggestions in your comments.