Presentation Design Tips

Perhaps the most essential skill for all knowledge workers, sales professionals, business owners, and educators is the ability to design compelling presentations. Not only that, but it is how to properly give them. Whether you’re reporting performance metrics, delivering a training, or pitching a big idea, you need a presentation to support you, illuminate your speech and keep your audience in drawn in. Here some tips to do just that!

Know your Audience!

You need to try and build a picture of your audience as they are the primary consideration of any presentation. Who are they? What do you want them to do? What questions will they likely have? Why are they watching? What are their concerns? Designing a presentation without your audience in mind is like writing a love letter and addressing it to whom it may concern

Developing Ideas

Moodboards a great starting point. Grab a pen, some paper, and start sketching away! Don't worry, you don't need to be a seasoned illustrator to do this; chicken scratch works just fine!

Images

Every word, graphic, and image has to be very considered an intentional. First find the story. What will matter to the investor or the audience? What are they passionate about and then find the appropriate way to tell the story that drives an emotional connection and then find the images that amplify that and put it all together. Don’t worry about how many slides there are. Worry about the story!

Presenting Data

Make it as clear and simple as you can. Fancy work doesn’t need to be included here unless requested/you see fit. Tables should only show the data you’re discussing at that time. (Animations would also help here)

Wrap it Up!

End your presentation with a link shortener to make links easy to transcribe! Here you could do a digital "leave behind" with the presentation, some additional add-ons, and your contact info.

There you go folks! Just a few simple tricks to assist in your presentation skills whether you're in front, or behind the screen.

Until next time!

Blessings and blue skies,

Alexander Frank