Presentation Design

Written and Presented byMichael Evanchan

?

?What does ‘design’ make you think of?

?Architecture?

?Interior Decorating?

? Designer Clothes?

?Creativity?

?Simplicity?

?How about

presentations?

?So what is design?

“Design is thinking made visual”- Saul Bass

“Design is thinking made visual”- Saul Bass

Graphic designer and filmmaker Saul Bass came up with this simple definition of what design is…

“Design is thinking made visual”- Saul Bass

…which is how we will define it.

“Design is thinking made visual”

1

“Design is thinking made visual”

1

First, we will learn how to think like a designer.

“Design is thinking made visual”

1

We will learn that everything a designer does is intentional.

“Design is thinking made visual”

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We will also find out what The White Stripes can teach us about creativity…

“Design is thinking made visual”

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…and where a designer’s focus should always be.

“Design is thinking made visual”

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“Design is thinking made visual”

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Next, we will learn a few principles on how to design visually…

“Design is thinking made visual”

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…about signal vs. noise…

“Design is thinking made visual”

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…how to think like a director…

“Design is thinking made visual”

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…and about space, unity and contrast.

“Design is thinking made visual”

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…and about space, unity, and contrast.

“Design is thinking made visual”

2

…and about space, unity and contrast.

A few more thoughts before we get started.

Design should be first…not last

Design should be first…not last

Design is not just aesthetics…it’s about solving problems

Design is not just aesthetics…it’s about solving problems

Design should not be noticed

The success of a football team is largely dependent on the offensive line.

Their job is to protect the quarterback.

It’s a thankless job, one that only gets noticed when they fail.

Design is the offensive line of a presentation.

When it is good, it goes unnoticed. When it’s bad, it is obvious (and frustrating).

To be successful in life and business, you need to be able to spread your ideas.

To spread your ideas, you need a clear, elegant, well thought-out presentation.

Which means…

To succeed as a presenter you must think like a designer.

Which means…

Design Thinking

All design really is…

Creating ideas

Planning Creating

Practicing

Presentation Design Time Allocation

Planning Creating

Practicing

Presentation Design Time Allocation

Idea creation happens during the planning stage of the presentation.

Planning Creating

Practicing

Presentation Design Time Allocation

Which is often overlooked.

Planning Creating

Practicing

Presentation Design Time Allocation

But it is where good design is created.

Planning Creating

Practicing

Presentation Design Time Allocation

The most effective brainstorming is done away from the distractions of your desk.

Embrace constr

aints

Embrace constr

aintsConstraints are also an important part of creating ideas.

Embrace constr

aintsWhen you have the world at your disposal, you can often get overwhelmed with options.

Embrace constr

aintsExperts call this ‘decision paralysis’ and it hurts creativity.

“Deadlines and constraints make you creative…”

- Jack White

“Deadlines and constraints make you creative…”

- Jack White

Jack White, the lead singer for “The White Stripes” has used constraints to create 6 albums, with 26 singles, make 14 videos, get nominated for 9 Grammys and win 6 of them.

“Deadlines and constraints make you creative…”

- Jack White

Here are a few examples:

“Deadlines and constraints make you creative…”

- Jack White

Here are a few examples:

Only 2 people in the band

“Deadlines and constraints make you creative…”

- Jack White

Here are a few examples:

Only 2 people in the band

Only colors for albums and stage are black, white and red

“Deadlines and constraints make you creative…”

- Jack White

Here are a few examples:

Only 2 people in the band

Only colors for albums and stage are black, white and redBook only 4 days in the studio to force themselves to get done

“Deadlines and constraints make you creative…”

- Jack White

Here are a few examples:

Only uses drums, vocals and piano or drums, vocals and guitar

“Deadlines and constraints make you creative…”

- Jack White

Here are a few examples:

Storytelling, rhythm and melody

Only uses drums, vocals and piano or drums, vocals and guitar

So remember…

Constraints are our friends!

The last thing to know to think like a designer…

Focus on the end-user

or in our case…

Focus on your audience

Why should I care?

What can you do for me?

I wish these slides weren’t so cluttered

One last thing

Remember:Everything a designer

does is intentional

Remember:Everything a designer

does is intentional

Design Visuals

Signal vs Noise

Signal vs Noise

In engineering, S/N is measured to quantify how much a signal has been corrupted by noise.

Signal vs Noise

In presentations, we’ll consider it the amount of relevant information corrupted by clutter.

Signal vs Noise

So what is noise?

This is noise.

How often do our presentations look like this?

signal

noise

signal

noise

x

bad

signal

noise

x

good

signal

noise

x

The vast majority of presentations are here

We can get better by learning to see things like a director or a

photographer.

The Rule

of 3rds

Many or us would put the focus of this

picture on the tree or the

sunset.

But not when you see it like a photographer.

Look at the picture now

with this grid.

Notice how the horizon is right on the bottom

3rd?

And how the tree is sitting on the right

line?

The urge for most of us is to put things right in the

middle...

…but it’s called “dead center” for a reason.

Original Cropped

Original Cropped

Notice the difference between the original and

cropped photos

Original Cropped

How about now?

The next time you are watching your favorite movie or TV show , try to see what the director is

seeing.

Most likely, he or she will have the focus of the shot away from the center

.

Purposely drawing the eye to a specific corner.

Here are 3 rules to help your visuals.

3 Principles:

• Space• Unity• Contrast

Empty Space

Empty Space

The biggest mistake we make when designing presentations is that we feel the need to fill every available

inch of space.

Empty Space

By leaving strategic empty space, we create elegance and simplicity.

Unity

Unity

Color Fonts Big Picture

Unity

Color

How many different colors do you have in your presentation?

Unity

Color

By limiting your use of colors, you create unity.

Unity

Color Fonts

You should use only one font in a presentation

Unity

Color Fonts Big Picture

Do you have an overall theme to your presentation?

Unity

Color Fonts Big Picture

You should.

Contrast

Contrast

We can highlight the important points of our slides by using contrast.

Contrast

Make sure the point is easy for the audience to figure out and highlight it

using…

Color

Size

Shape

Congratulations!

You are nowa designer!

Remember

To think like a designer:

Use constraints to spark creativity

Design should happen first, so get away from your desk during the planning stage

Always focus on your audience’s needs

For better visuals:

Be aware of Space, Unity and Contrast

Like a director, use the Rule of Thirds

Increase your signal by decreasing noise

Sourcing

Signal vs Noise: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal-to-noise_ratio

The following notes were taken from Wikipedia: Saul Bass: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Bass

The White Stripes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_StripesThe Rule of Thirds: images used - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds

The rest of the information and inspiration came from the following books:

Recommended reading

Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds

Presentation Zen Design by Garr Reynolds

Slideology by Nancy Duarte

FIN