what is presentation in art

How to Prepare For an Art Presentation – From First Draft to Presentation Day

By Paul Ruiz in Art Business Advice   >   General Art Advice

When was the last time you really had a chance to open up about your art?

Even though you may never have had the privilege of being asked to be a guest speaker or visiting artist, you may want to consider preparing for that day, as there are benefits to be gained professionally.

Not sure where to start? Here’s a path you could follow:

1. Include a “capture system” in your creative process

By this I mean find some way of documenting the progress and development of your work. Aside from frequent journaling about your work, take digital photos or digitally scan pages from your visual art journal and store them on a computer.

2. Review and reflect

If you don’t already keep some kind of journal about your work, then have a go at writing down your own working process—mull it over, from your first idea to final execution. Where did you source the image, concept or technique from? What motivates you to make the kinds of changes you make?

It may not read like poetry and that’s ok—the main thing is to remain focussed, practical and sincere. You might be surprised at the level of insight you will gain into your own work by taking time to reflect and talk with friends, artists or colleagues.

For those who struggle with preparing an artist statement or biography, this candid method of introspection may be a way of finding a statement that is genuine for you.

3. Compile and organise

Decide how much you want to share with others and make that information available either in physical form (sketchbooks, scrapbooks) or in the case of large groups, in a slideshow using the presentation software of your choice (powerpoint, keynote etc).

A slide show makes it easy to control what is being discussed, however it is not absolutely necessary. A workable substitute would be photocopies of scanned images with your speaking notes attached—although in this case I would recommend having at least one completed work available as a talking point.

4. Cut a first draft of your presentation

With the raw material from step 3, begin piecing together your presentation. Constrain yourself to a speaking time of 45-60 minutes and start placing your material into broad categories like the following:

1. Background

2. Recent exhibitions and the focus of current work

3. Inspirations—historical, personal, social

4. Materials and process (some of your process shots would be great here)

5. Future projects, goals and exhibitions

If you are using Powerpoint or similar, remember just a few key works for each slide is all that’s required. No one wants to read slabs of text on a slide or be forced to squint.

Also, bear in mind that the content of your talk should be somewhat malleable, depending on your audience. Be prepared to modify the content as required to keep it focussed and relevant to your audience.

5. Practice and Refine

Now with the above complete, it should be much easier to talk about your work to anyone who may have previously caught you off guard. And though most of us hate the idea of public speaking, when it’s something as personal and intimate as your art practice at least you won’t have to worry about not knowing your subject.

Practice with friends or a partner so that you can hear yourself, and watch how they respond—they’re likely give you visual cues as to whether or not you are engaging them (body language can speak volumes). Ask for feedback at this stage, take mental notes and then adjust your presentation accordingly.

6. Engage Potential Audiences

Let schools or art colleges know that you are a practicing artist and are seeking an opportunity to share about your work. Find local prospects and email or mail them a sample of your presentation—this will show them that you are committed and ready.

You can also put out the call through art community and social networks online etc. They may not respond straight away, but the opportunity may come eventually.

And if no one contacts you for some time, don’t let it phase you. The process will have helped you gather your thoughts and to re-focus on the fundamentals of your art practice—it may be the impetus you needed to push through that next project or exhibition, and it will certainly be a confidence-booster when speaking with an art dealer or prospective buyer who is curious to know more about you and you work.

7. Delivery Day

When you are (hopefully) one day engaged to speak about your work, half the success is really a matter of logistics. The more prepared you are, the less room there is for being nervous, especially about trivial technical or equipment issues. You can use the following list as a guide/checklist for that day:

1. Slideshow on CD/DVD and on USB stick (both handy in case one has issues)

2. A hardcopy of your speaker notes in case all technology fails

3. Venue Address and Name /Number of your Contact at the venue

4. Your Laptop (optional, assuming you have one)

5. A DVI/SERIAL adaptor cable—some venues may not have all the cables or be rigged up for your machine, so its best to cater for old and new technologies if you can

6. Extension Cable and Power Adaptor—The venue might provide these but if they don’t you could be left without a presentation even after all that effort you went to

7. An Invoice—If it is a paid presentation, be professional and be ready with a printed invoice to hand over at the close of your presentation

8. Aim to arrive 30 minutes early to set-up and compose yourself. And in case you thought it might be fine to show up late, you may end up looking the fool if no one hangs around to find out.

8. Final considerations

I understand that this is not an exhaustive guide, and it certainly needs to be tailored for your own situation, skills sets and objectives. However, I do believe that it could be a used by anyone as a prompter for developing and finally presenting your work to a broader audience.

You never know when you might be required to speak to or with agents, gallery directors or potential buyers about your work.

As artists, our work does not always speak for itself—sometimes it needs a real voice, your voice, to help project and provoke meaning.

For more articles by Paul Ruiz, please visit his blog at artcatalyst.wordpress.com .

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Art Presentation – When Walls Have Meaning

by armandlee | Oct 1, 2015

Art presentation, like other artistic expressions, has become more experimental, more conceptual, more varied, and more personal. Interior design has evolved to meet the emotional and intellectual needs of more educated and worldly clients by challenging convention in the use of space, materials, scale, color, and texture. Personal and public spaces, like everything else, are becoming more interactive. Even traditional environments are filled with eclectic collections from family legacies, world travels, and expressions of personal interest.

As an integral part of interior design, art presentation must work on three dimensions: respecting the art, accessorizing the setting, and reflecting the importance of the art to the owner. Of these three, how the owner feels about the art is the driving force. Custom art presentation, which effectively balances all these considerations, requires an almost infinite assortment of profiles, finishes, and design details.

The Importance of the Art

In cases where the art is seen primarily as an investment, the presentation would be done to preserve and enhance its monetary value. In that case, archival presentation, conserving historic elements where possible, or using period-appropriate, formal presentation techniques would be a likely solution.

However, most important art is not valued primarily as an investment. Most art is used to set a tone and express ideas and feelings that are specific to the owner. Whether it is to evoke a comforting nostalgia, ritualize an event, impart energy or serenity, playfulness, humor, irony, worldly sophistication, personal style, or a simple appreciation of beauty, the presentation can greatly enhance that aspect of the artwork that is important to the owner. Only when the art presentation reinforces the emotional and intellectual relationship between the owner and the art does the presentation ‘feel right.’

Accessorizing the Setting

Where is the art to be displayed and how is it used? Is it in an intimate, personal space? Or will it be displayed in a formal, public one? Is the art to be a central focus, independently adding to the emotional and intellectual quality or the space? Or is it primarily to support the design idea?

Making appropriate framing and art presentation choices requires a close partnership with the designer. Site visits can help the art presenter understand the genre, and get accurate field measurements. Custom finish samples can be prepared to take into the setting or to coordinate with other suppliers. Custom profiles can be created to reference an important shape or pattern. Custom mirror engraving and silvering can be used to help the designer achieve a particular look or mood. Custom hanging methods, including an analysis of the appropriate angle at which to hang, lean, or cant the art of the wall can all influence the impact of the art. For three-dimensional works, cabinet or pedestal designs that complement the art and the setting require the design and fabrication skills of a fine cabinetmaker. The art of presentation is doing whatever it takes to get the details right.

With so many design rules being broken for interest and effect, understanding the underlying design principle for the space in which the artwork will reside is essential for satisfying art presentation. One of the more common design challenges is incorporating contemporary art in a traditional setting, or classic art in a contemporary setting. Frames and presentation treatments that make that transition comfortable frequently have ambiguous references to period design rendered with an unusual finish or a change in scale. The Tulip frame, shown right, combines sleek lines and a silver finish common in contemporary design, with a fluid carved corner detail more common to Art Nouveau. It is appropriate in traditional as well as contemporary settings, used as a mirror or as a complement to art.

Another common role for art is to add drama and formality to an ‘industrial’ or high-tech setting where the finish materials are exposed brick, brushed, rusted or painted steel, or hewn beam. ‘Organic’ finishes over profiles with strong, architectural, and graphic lines are a new formal language for art presentation. For example, the Deco Step frame, shown right, combines geometric forms frequently found in Art Deco design and architecture. The 12K white-gold finish is toned to gives it an organic texture unusual in fine finishes, with the fleeting impression of brushed steel.

The quality of light within the space is also an important consideration. Should UV protective glass be used? Is an independent light source required?

Respecting the Art

After understanding the emotional and physical context for the art, the final presentation decisions are driven by the art itself. Appropriate presentation means respecting the kind and level of detail, the strength of line, the color palette, the subject matter, and the materials used.

Effective presentation of artwork is as much an art as the creation of the art itself. Working knowledge of art history gives the art presenter a context that makes “respecting the art” possible. The eclectic nature of contemporary design requires a balance between convention and novelty. Having trained artists and art historians on staff with expertise in contemporary as well as classical art gives designers the creative resources to break “new ground” in the world of design with confidence.

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Presenting like a pro: The comprehensive guide

Phoebe Perelman

Drum roll please … presenting … a blog about presenting. Hold your applause. I’m about to present you with a jumping-off point into the big wide world of presentations.

What are the must-have presentation skills? What’s the difference between a pitch and a keynote? What are some fundamental presentation design principles? And how can you become a better presenter? This blog aims to answer these questions and more. It’s also rich with resources that allow you to double-click on any topic of your choice. So, without further ado, let’s get this presentation party started.

What is presenting?

Presenting has a myriad of comparable meanings. From the fields of medicine to law to entertainment, presenting can be defined as:

• Appearing formally before other people
• Representing (someone or something) to others in a particular way
• Showing or offering (something) for others to scrutinize or consider
• Giving someone (a gift or award) in a formal or ceremonial way

The common thread is this: presenting is about communicating or demonstrating something to others. Today we’re not talking about a specific field. We’re talking about presenting verbal and visual content, whether that be an internal recommendation, a product launch, or a board update.

You can present in front of 2 people or 200 people: it’s still presenting, nonetheless. And if you’re ever in a position to present, there are specific presentation skills that will serve you (and your message) well.

What are presentation skills?

Duarte is the original presentation company. We’ve spent more than 30 years creating cinematic presentations that move audiences. We’ve been so successful making presentations that we started teaching clients en masse how to improve their presentation skills. We start by focusing on the 4 foundational presentation skills you cannot go without:

Spoiler alert: when it comes to presenting, the presenter is not the most important person in the room. The audience is. And in order to win over those critical audience members, you must empathize with them. Think deeply about who the audience is, what they need to be successful, how they might be stuck, and how they consume information. Only then can you develop content that resonates with them.

Presentations aren’t inherently engaging. In fact, many presenters just spew out information with no compelling structure. Or they read from their slides robotically. Or maybe they provide an overwhelming amount of content with no context. But the presenters that grip us, engage us, and leave us forever changed – well, they tell a story. Stories are the secret presentation sauce. In a way, stories are just as essential for survival and success today as they were thousands of years ago.  Whether you’ve woven a full-circle story into your presentation from beginning to end, or you incorporate customer stories and personal anecdotes – stories are necessary to evoke emotion and convey memorable meaning.

Visuals help reinforce your message and make ideas stick. Although not always used, presenters often create slide decks on presentation software (like PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides) to complement their oral presentations. Or, in place of slides, presenters may also use visual aids like videos or demonstrations throughout a presentation.

4. Delivery

How you say things matters just as much as your message itself. No matter how well-crafted your content, if you can’t deliver it with confidence and conviction, no one will hear – nevertheless act – upon your ideas. And in that case, what’s the point of presenting in the first place?! When it comes to presenting information in front of others, delivery is central to your success. Mastering public speaking is no easy feat, but it is possible, with self-awareness, coaching, and practice. 

Keynote speeches

Some presentations are higher stakes than others, like keynote speeches. And the presentation skills needed for these can vary slightly. Keynote speeches typically set a tone and central theme for an event, conference, or ceremony. Whether an event is in-person or virtual, small or large, keynote speeches hold a lot of weight.

At Duarte’s annual internal event, ShopWeek, we get to hear a keynote speech every year. These speeches rally us around a common goal. Last year we heard from a professional mountain climber. The year before that, we heard from an astronaut! (I guess we have a thing for courageous adventurers.) But anyone can deliver a keynote speech as long as they have a unique or exciting insight to offer.

Depending on the occasion, keynote speeches aren’t always accompanied by visuals, but they usually incorporate some type of visual aid. Video clips, product demonstrations, and presentation slides are all powerful ways to complement a keynote speech – as long as they’re executed for the (literal and figurative) spotlight.

Speaking of spotlights … it’s important to remember that in-person keynote speeches come with a myriad of in-person event elements. Lights! Cameras! Microphones! Stages! Confidence monitors! Action! So if you’ve never given a production-level presentation, it’s important to familiarize yourself with these elements in advance so you can prepare for all the extra commotion.

The main stage can be nerve-racking. But it offers an unmatched opportunity to:

• Demonstrate thought leadership
• Increase brand loyalty
• And initiate change

If you want to nail it, consider working with presentation experts to refine your content, visuals, and presence.

We help some of the biggest global brands create keynote content for massive industry events (like Dreamforce) using the Duarte Method. The Duarte Method relies on a proven presentation structure that Nancy Duarte uncovered  when studying the commonalities of the greatest presentations, stories, and speeches of all time. This structure emulates the captivating rise and fall of myths and movies by infusing contrast. Contrast between:

• What is and what could be
• Sacrifices and rewards
• Pros and cons
• Roadblocks and opportunities

Contrast (or conflict) keeps listeners engaged. It is what inches you closer to the edge of your seat during that awe-inspiring keynote speech. And just like all presentation skills, contrast can be taught.

Do you think you need presentation skills training?

Whether you’re delivering a keynote presentation on a mainstage for the first time, or you’re a seasoned presenter with a high-stakes talk on the horizon, everyone can benefit from presentation skills training.

Although your level of expertise will influence which type of presentation training best suits you, there is always room for improvement. After all, just because you’ve given a great talk in the past doesn’t mean your next presentation will be equally as successful (no offense). Presentation training helps ensure that you can ace your delivery consistently, by uncovering tools and techniques to coach yourself for every unique presentation opportunity that arises.

There are a few different presentation training formats:

• Self-guided presentation courses online
• Live online (virtual) workshops
• In-person training
• 1:1 speaker coaching

To determine which type of training is right for you, consider the speaking engagement, your experience, your professional development goals, and your preferred learning style.

Additionally, identify whether you need help with presentation content, presentation delivery, or presentation design.

What is presentation design?

Presentation design is exactly as it sounds: it involves the design and development of presentation slides or visual aids.

And to be honest, everyone who gives presentations could use the help of a presentation designer. I mean, have you ever looked at a slide and thought to yourself …”I have no idea what I’m looking at.” Be honest. How many presentations have you sat through where every slide consisted of boring bulleted lists? Or maybe you wished you had a magnifying glass to try and decipher what some teeny tiny text said? I know I have. And my head hurts just thinking about it.

Presentation slides have incredible potential to make a verbal message stick. But more often than not, presentation slides detract from the speaker and the message because they’re not designed with the audience in mind.

That’s why we train professionals in the art of slide design. Here are three presentation design principles that we live by at Duarte:

1. Design is not decoration.

Everything on your presentation slide should serve a purpose. And that purpose should always link back to your message. There’s no need to waste precious presentation real-estate with decorative icons or superfluous details. If it’s not adding meaning to your message, you don’t need it. When in doubt, leave it out.

2. Stick to one idea per slide.

Crowded slides crammed with lots of content are not effective. If your audience can’t comprehend what’s on your slide in  a few seconds, you’ll lose them. Presentation slides should support your presentation, not distract from it. So unless you want your audience to read your slides instead of listening to your talk, limit yourself to one main idea per slide and keep it as simple as possible.

3. Audience-centric slides are accessible slides.

Everyone digests information differently. As an  empathy-first organization, we encourage you to look at every presentation slide through an audience-centric lens and create visuals that are accessible to everyone. Because when you design with accessibility, you open the doors to a wider audience and create a more equitable and empathetic world. To ensure accessibility, review the AA accessibility standards. You can also download our  recent webinar about visual accessibility 101.

Oh, and if you’re designing slides specifically for virtual presentations, there are just a few additional slide design components to consider.

But overall, if you keep it simple, keep it aligned with your message, and keep your audience in mind, you’ll be off to a good start.

Honing in on data visualization

We can’t talk about presentation design without considering data visualization. After all, it’s rare we can ask anyone to make a decision without providing data to support our claim.

No matter what type of presentation you’re delivering, meaningful metrics are a must. Yet, another common presentation design pitfall we see is the dreaded “data dump.” That’s when someone includes way too much data on their presentation slides. Or, provides data with zero context or meaning behind it.

Datapoints alone don’t move audiences. They need a storyteller.

And data storytelling isn’t easy. If you’ve ever asked yourself “how do I display data the right way in presentations?” – you’re not alone. Presenting data is tricky because different rules apply to different contexts. That means, first and foremost, you’ve got to know your audience. Only then can you determine and extract the key messages they need to hear from a deluge of data.

Once you’ve identified what data matters most to your audience, you need to visualize that data in a way that’s both consumable and memorable. To do so:

• Choose charts that everyone can understand
• Write clear chart titles
• Make descriptive observations using adjectives
• Use color, labels, or highlights to draw attention to specific data points

If you want more guidance on how to synthesize your findings, craft recommendations, organize your thinking, and visualize meaning, consider enrolling in a data visualization training course like Duarte DataStory®.

Pitch presentations

Sales pitches, investor decks, start-up overviews – oh my! These are all examples of pitch presentations – and they’re presentations you need to get right if you want to get paid. Companies often come to us confused. They think they’ve included everything an investor or customer needs to know, but their pitch is not performing. There are a few common reasons for this:

1. They’re using a one-size-fits-all deck.

Every sales conversation must be customized to the stakeholder you’re speaking to. As author and management consultant Tom Peters says, “one size never fits all. One size fits one. Period.” Hashtag agreed. Modular sales decks and sales pitch templates sound good on paper, but are difficult to put into practice. Check out these sales enablement tips to learn how to build situational sales presentations for your team.

2. They aren’t highlighting anything unique.

If you don’t have anything unique to offer, your pitch won’t stand out no matter how charismatic your delivery or how beautiful your branding. Consider this statement: “We build incredible, unique, and thoughtful experiences that allow you to delight, surprise, and wow people.”

Despite the word unique being included, does that sound like a unique value proposition to you? I can’t even tell what this company sells based on that claim. It could be software, or it could be ice cream delivery. The world may never know. And that is a problem.

3. They don’t incorporate a story.

Facts and figures are helpful sales tools, don’t get me wrong. But nothing sells like stories do. After all, our feelings drive our decisions 70% of the time according to Gallup. Data proves a point, but stories influence people to act. When you intertwine analytical and emotional content, you’ve got a powerful pitch that appeals to both ethos and pathos.

4. They start with a single problem and make the rest of their pitch all sunshine and rainbows.

Our brains need contrast to stay engaged. If you vomit all product benefits for the last 80% of your pitch, it makes it harder to think critically about the necessary components that must be considered to move a decision forward. Not to mention, that listeners stop believing you. Instead, your audience needs vicissitude, or a back and forth, between problem one and solution one. Problem two and solution two. And so on. This requires brainstorming every possible objection or resistance point your audience might have, and weaving them throughout your pitch.

Now, how do you ensure your entire salesforce avoids these missteps? That’s where a sales enablement deck comes in.

A sales enablement deck equips reps with every sales resource they need to win: case studies, key metrics, audience personas, and expected objections, all wrapped in an overarching story, topic, or category.

But as stated, one size will never fit all. It just won’t! So refrain from relying on one sales enablement deck for everything. The more concise and tailored your sales enablement decks are, the easier it will be for your reps to use them, and the more likely you’ll hear that sales bell ring.

And if you want help crafting (or delivering) sales enablement training, that is one of the many presentation services Duarte offers.

Presentation services

As the O.G. presentation company turned communications consultants and trainers, we can help you (and your team) with every and any aspect of presentation development.

We offer training and custom agency services for presentation delivery and presentation creation.

Presentation coaching

Need executive coaching for an upcoming panel discussion? We’ve got coaches for that.

Need to help a group of sales reps up-level their delivery skills? We’ve got a course for that.

Presentation storytelling

Need a fresh sales pitch written for a high-stakes audience? We’ve got writers for that.

Need cinematic presentation slides for a keynote event? We’ve got designers for that.

Or, need to train your entire staff in the art of business storytelling? We’ve got a course for that too.

Presentation skills are critical  for our careers and our companies. Arm your team and your organization with the skills and resources needed to present their best.

Check out these related courses

Captivate™

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Overcome bad habits, conquer fears, and increase your confidence in any speaking setting. Discover your strengths and build on them to improve your delivery.

Personalized help for speakers

Up-level your speaking skills with one-on-one support. We’ll help you rehearse your talk, polish your presence, and transform your message delivery.

Presentation Principles™

Learn presentation basics

Follow a step-by-step method to write compelling stories, amplify ideas visually, and present with confidence while learning at your own pace.

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How to Give Confident Presentations about Your Art

An excerpt from the new e-course reach more with video: a digital guide for creatives from colour in your life. founder graeme stevenson addresses challenges artists face when speaking publicly, and how to overcome them..

Graeme Stevenson, founder of Colour in Your Life

Speaking about your own art and process can be terrifying, let alone if it’s before a large crowd. Communication, however, is important for an artist that wants to see themselves in galleries or taking their career into the world. Being able to communicate yourself and your work effectively to clients, galleries and investors is important. Brief conversations with clients can deepen their understanding of you as an artist, your message and your work. Attending art events and openings can help you expand your social networking platforms; it’s always important to cultivate your fan bases.

When speaking publicly about yourself and your art, these are some important tips to remember:

Yes, it’s very easy to say ‘be confident’, but not always easy to do. The best way to feel confident is to be knowledgeable about what you’re presenting, and hey, it’s about you! When you get flustered or feel uncertain in front of a large crowd, focus on what you’re talking about. If it’s your art, remember how it felt creating it, or the reason why you created it. You don’t need to boast or bring your ego into the show – that’s often the fastest way to turn people off – but finding that happy balance where you can present who you are and what you do without feeling overwhelmed is important.

Introduce Yourself and Your Art

Storytelling has been the way humans have shared and grown cultures for thousands of years, and there’s no reason you can’t tell your own stories about your art and your life. These are a wonderful ways to help people understand who you are and what you’re about. You’re the world’s foremost expert on ‘you’, and your art, so take advantage of that!

A good presentation has the right amount of information and a dash of humor. Yes, we’re not all moonlighting from our art careers as comedic geniuses, but a touch of humor here and there helps lighten situations and break down barriers.

Be Prepared

Set aside time at home in your studio to verbalize your thoughts and feelings about your art. Write them out, organize them, then rehearse. Your goal is to introduce yourself and connect with people by briefly telling them who you are, describing your art, and addressing a handful of questions. Tip: the best place to start is usually at the beginning.

Brainstorming and Writing

Consider writing about who influenced you and how you started as an artist. It doesn’t have to be formal to start with. Just write about what comes to mind, and put as much raw material in as you can. Write about your art journey in as much detail as you can – you can always edit things out later.

Once you think everything is written out, or you have as much information as you can squeeze out of yourself, go through and select the sentences that you feel will best represent your work, and you as an artist. Identify what being an artist means to you; what compels you to create art, where your ideas or inspirations originate, how you incorporate them into your work, and so on. It’s good to keep in mind that many people who attend art shows enjoy art but know little to nothing about art in general, let alone what they’re looking at or the artist. These are the people you have a good chance of attracting or winning over. So making your talk/presentation accessible to everyone is key.

Simple Language

You have a limited time to speak to everyone, so keep your language understandable to the general public. Your art is about you and your message on personal and societal levels; packing in academic jargon can detract from that. The last thing you want to do is look elitist or snobbish – it can separate many artists from collectors.

What is Your Message?

If you’d like some tips about putting together Your Message, I recommend looking at Your Message and You , by Celia Moriarty. It’s always worth considering though, what is your message and does it impact the wider world around you? Is it about positive or negative aspects of the world? How you convey this is important, and what people can use to find your art in the future.

Many powerful and confronting subjects can be broached through the medium of art. In presenting this type of subject, there should be an expressive dialogue that goes with the work. There may need to be an explanation of why you came to create and present this type of work. Sometimes a specific thing has happened to an artist on a deep, personal or emotional level for them to create some of their pieces. Your work needs an explanation of some type, and some will need more explanation than others.

There are a few ways you can do this to help with the nerve factor as well. Talk alone if you like, but sometimes reading aloud to friends or acquaintances can help as well. You can also film yourself speaking, which is a great way to learn if you have any nervous habits or ticks that you can work on. Reading some books or watching YouTube videos on public speaking is another option.

One of the great parts about filming artists for Colour In Your Life is that it gives them an insight into what it’s like to be in front of the camera. I have always only acted as a conduit for the artist, enabling them to tell their stories with as little input from myself as possible.

There Will Be Questions

You should practice answering questions from people. An odd thing to do, but worth it in the long run, as you will undoubtedly receive questions about your work and your message, be it in galleries or online. Always try to keep your answers positive, even if your piece is powerful and confronting, with negative connotations. Confronting pieces without great explanations can lose an audience. Get friends and family to ask as many questions about your work as possible, so you have a good idea of what’s to come.

At the end of any presentation, it’s always a good idea to take maybe half a dozen to a dozen questions. This will let the audience know that you’re open to discussion, making you more approachable afterward. Remember that you need to move through a crowd, a room or a gallery speaking to as many people as you can. In saying that, don’t get trapped in a corner with one person that’s drinking too much of your champagne. Clients may walk out if you’re chatting too much to one group or person. Spread yourself around and don’t be afraid to approach people either.

Damage Control

There’s usually one in every crowd – a person that has a significant gap between their brain and their mouth. There are people in the world that will try to make you feel stupid or unworthy because you’re an artist. You know, the old ‘get a real job’ critique. The most important thing in these situations is to stay calm.

We all know that art and what it does for society, as well as individuals, is incredibly important; half of our brain is driven toward creative endeavors. Ignorant people will always seek to make themselves feel bigger than they are, and normally try to rip down talented people to do so. Do not let them succeed.

If you have said things during your presentation that they’re calling out, address them with an explanation. If they’re simply being belligerent, how you proceed is up to you. The important thing is to be prepared for this occurrence and to be ready to back up your statements with information and damage control. How you react in these situations can be just as important to a client as your message itself.

If you’re presenting at a gallery opening, I recommend no longer than five to ten minutes. After that, people start to wander and you need to keep them interested in you. However, if you’re presenting in other situations or have been asked to present, confirming a time with those who brought you in is your best bet.

If you are holding an opening, then timing your speech is also key. Through experience, I have learned that an hour into the event can be beneficial. By this time, people have had a chance to wander and look at your work while probably having a few drinks. It’s amazing how champagne rather than wine can loosen people’s wallets (I’ve done more than a few shows over the years, and champagne always seems to work better than wine…)

Demonstrations Can Help

Part of the reason Colour In Your Life has been so successful is that people love watching others create. If you’re set up in a gallery for an exhibition or an allotted time, take a sketchpad or an easel or something with you. It gives people an insight into your abilities or techniques, which can help sell your work. Demonstrations also open up conversations.

Purchase Pressure

It’s never a good idea to pressure someone into buying your work. If you’ve told your story and answered questions, your best bet is to step back and let the staff, gallery director, etc, close the deal. Sometimes it’s best not to distract the customer, so stepping back or letting someone else help close the sale can be very beneficial.

Graeme’s new course Reach More with Video teaches artists to create professional level videos to attract interest, grow their following and make more sales. Learn more about this comprehensive guide here .

Artsy Shark is a marketing partner and affiliate of Colour In Your Life.

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Home Blog Business How to Make a Presentation: A Guide for Memorable Presentations

How to Make a Presentation: A Guide for Memorable Presentations

A presentation goes beyond the idea of crafting a catchy document to present in front of an audience. It is an art in which a person relies on communication skills to introduce a topic relevant to a group of people, regardless of its size. Different elements participate in this communication process, such as body language, presentation skills, visual tools, etc. and are key in delivering an effective presentation.

In this article, we shall present a detailed guide on how to make a presentation, intended both for newcomers in this subject but also for professional presenters who seek to improve the performance of their presentations. Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

What is a presentation?

What is a powerpoint presentation.

• The Importance of a good PowerPoint presentation
• Choosing a topic

Consider the audience & presentation goals

Gather data, references, and source.

• Define the storyline
• Define the outline  

Using one idea per slide

Choose the presentation format, colors & styles, determine the use of metaphors and visual slides, proofreading and polishing process, prepare your speech, rehearse, rehearse and rehearse.

• How to give a memorable presentation

Start strong

Hook your audience, close your presentation.

• Selecting a PowerPoint template
• Add or delete slides in PowerPoint
• Adding images to slide templates
• Adding notes to your slides
• Adding animations to your slides
• Adding transitions to your slides
• Adding audio narration to your slides
• Ideal typeface and size

Color scheme

Printing your powerpoint presentation, powerpoint presentations tips, closing thoughts.

What is a presentation, and what is a PowerPoint presentation?

It is essential to highlight the difference between Presentation and PowerPoint Presentation, often interchangeable terms. One thing is a presentation, an audiovisual form of communication to present information. A PowerPoint presentation is a subset of a presentation. Since PowerPoint remains the leading tool in the market for creating presentations, the term was coined by both spectators and presenters. Let’s begin by checking the main differences between the two terms.

A presentation is any situation in which a person or group has to transmit a message in front of an audience. The format by which the audience attends can answer the following categories:

• Live crowd: A presentation in which the average number of spectators exceeds 100 people. 
• Massive event: Similar to the format above, but we speak about thousands of spectators. This format has specific requirements regarding scenario setup and logistics, and the usual presenters are influencers in worldwide conferences or corporate events (like All-Hands meetings).
• Private event : A selected number of attendants can listen to the presenter. Coaching sessions are the leading kind of private event for presenters, but multiple other categories can fit into this format.
• Online event: Following the trends of remote working and what the pandemic has left us in terms of digital immersion, multiple events shifted their large attendance numbers in favor of online settings. This has the advantage of a narrowed setting, as the area in which the presenter has to stand is considerably reduced – with simpler A/V inputs. Attendees are given a link to the event and watch from their computers or mobile devices.
• Offline event: This medium is what we consume via YouTube videos. Behind each and every YouTube video is countless hours of content development, editing, rehearsing a presentation, and so forth. We call it offline because attendees can browse the content at any time, replaying as desired, unlike Online Events in which the attendees must be logged in to a specific platform. No interaction with the presenter.
• Hybrid event: This is a format coined by large tech companies, the automobile industry, and even fashion brands. The idea is to create an event where a selected number of attendees are allowed to participate (using the Private Event model). Still, at the same time, the event is streamed for users worldwide (Online Event) and/or available on the official social media networks of the brand (Offline Event).

Each one of these formats exposed above has specific requirements in terms of interaction with the audience. For example, in-company presentations will differ from common presentations that seek to capture the interest of new consumers. It is vital to establish the presentation’s intent from the very first moment and then narrow it down according to the topic to present, as well as the knowledge level of your target audience.

A presentation does not necessarily requires to create a slide deck . It is a tool presenters use to make the content more interesting for the audience and also memorable. However, it is well-known that influencer speakers such as Tony Robbins or Warren Buffet ignore PPT documents altogether, preferring to articulate their narrative on the go.

A PowerPoint presentation is a specific type of presentation, which involves the usage of a slide deck crafted with Microsoft PowerPoint. This kind of tool allows presenters to communicate a message through a vast range of mediums, such as images, graphs & charts, audio, and video for a better impact.

Creating a PowerPoint presentation is an easy process, and there are two routes for it: working from a blank slide or using PowerPoint templates .

Some of the advantages of building a PowerPoint presentation:

• Better information retention by the audience, thanks to visual cues.
• Improves the audience’s focus.
• Easy to create powerful graphics.
• Templates are editable, meaning you can repurpose the original designs to meet your standards.
• Saves time to create presentations thanks to its user-friendly UI.
• Encourages teaching and learning processes.

The Importance of a Good PowerPoint presentation

There are some elements that presenters must take into account when making a PowerPoint presentation . It’s not just drag-and-drop, then magic happens. Creating a PowerPoint presentation involves a process of generating the graphic content to display and the narrative around it. The purpose of PowerPoint is to serve as a tool to enhance communication, not to make it overly complex.

We emphasize the relevance of working the speech and graphic content together since the speech itself gives the timeframes for each slide, what elements it contains, or whether it is relevant to use a slide or not to speak about a topic. 

Some points to highlight when preparing a presentation:

• Presenters often use the element of surprise. This means a presentation can start without a slide, use a video, or involve a discussion between two parties, then jump to the slide deck presentation. More on this topic later on.
• A good PowerPoint presentation can be your introduction card in multiple professional settings. The effort you put in terms of design and content shall pay back over time in contacts or business deals.
• Having a spare copy of your presentation, preferably in Google Slides presentation format, is a safe-proof technique in case the PPT file gets corrupted. The aesthetic remains the same and can be browsed by any computer with internet access.

How to Make a Presentation (5 Essential Points)

1. planning your presentation.

The first step in making a presentation is to plan the content according to our personal/business goals and the audience’s interest. Let’s break down each part in more detail.

Choosing the topic of your presentation

There are two situations for this. The first one is that you are open to presenting any topic of your preference. This usually happens in business presentations, inspirational presentations, product releases, etc. The second scenario is restricted, by which you have to pick a topic among a selected number of references. That’s the typical situation in which presenters see themselves when taking part in significant events – as not all topics are suitable for the main content of the event, and this is where creativity comes to play.

How to choose a topic, you may ask. Brainstorming is a good technique as long as you remain within the boundaries of this formula:

What you know and feel confident about + What is relevant to the current moment + What can resonate with your audience = Quality Content.

Again, if you experience restrictions due to the nature of an event, but your objective is to share specific information about your business, here are some tactics that can come to play:

• Do keyword research about the topics your business is involved. See the common patterns in your activity compared with the keywords. Then research the 15 articles on the 5 biggest volume keywords. Narrowing the possibilities in your business is a different take.
• Research whether there’s room for sponsored advertisement. That’s an alternative when directly speaking about your business is a no-no in a presentation.
• Turn your presentation into an inspirational story. That works in most events and brings the audience’s interest.

Another vital point to consider is how passionate you can be about the topic of your choice. Nothing speaks more about professionalism than a presenter being deeply involved with the topic in discussion. It sparks curiosity and gives validation as a reliable authority on the content. On the other hand, when a presenter delivers a talk about a topic they don’t connect with, body language usually betrays the presenter. Spectators feel that the speaker wished to be elsewhere, hence dooming the presentation’s performance (and badly impacting the presenter’s reputation).

Consider the purpose of the content to present. Is it going to be informative? Educational? Inspirational? That shall set the tone of your speech later on.

Like with any project, you can estimate the ROI of your presentation with two verifiable metrics: the behavior of the audience and how many contacts did you build after delivering an effective presentation.

Making a presentation has the implicit purpose of helping you construct your network of professional contacts. Even when the presentation has no explicit financial purpose – as in the case of non-profitable organizations, there is still the acknowledgment component. People want to feel validated for the work they do. People want to build long-lasting contacts that can later on turn to be part of a new project.

Considering the audience is imperative, and often one of the pitfalls many presenters fall prey to. You must be aware of the following:

• The knowledgeability of your audience about the topic to discuss. This filters the option of using technical jargon during a presentation.
• The age range and demographics of your audience. It is not the same to discuss a methodology to reduce financial risk to a group of corporate workers in their 40s than to a group of students in their early 20s. The language is different, the intention behind the message is different, and so is the information retention span.

On regards to presentation goals, they can be classified as professional goals (those who seek conversions or valuable business contacts), influential (to establish a brand in the market), educational (to inform a group of people about a topic you researched), etc. Depending on the presentation goals, you can then structure the content to list and the tone in which you speak to your audience.

2. Preparing content for your presentation

No presentation can be made without reference material. Even when you believe you are the most prominent authority about a topic – you have to prove it with valuable, referenceable material. For some niches, this is critical, such as scientific poster presentations, educational presentations, and other areas in which copyright might be an issue.

References for the material you used can be listed in different formats:

• If you are citing a book/article, you can do a bibliography slide, or screenshot the excerpt you want to cite, then include a proper source format below the image.
• You have to credit the author for images/videos that are subject to intellectual property rights. Depending on the context where the image is presented, you may even have to inquire the author about using the image. If the photo in question is yours, no citation is required. Learn more about how to cite pictures in PowerPoint .
• Graphs and charts should include a reference to what they mean, explaining in a short sentence their context. Cite the source if the graph is extracted from a book or article.

As a tip, prepare a document in which you jot down the references used to create the presentation. They can serve whenever a question is asked about your presentation and you must research extra material. 

Define the presentation storyline

We interpret the storyline as what is the connecting thread of your presentation. What do you wish to discuss? What motivated you to present this topic in this particular setting and in front of an audience? What can your message deliver in terms of new information and quality to your spectators?

All those questions are worth asking since they shape the narrative you build around your presentation. The storyline is the step before building an actual outline of your presentation.

Define the presentation outline

Now that you have a clear idea of your reference material and the story to tell behind your presentation , it is time to list down your presentation structure in a Table of Contents format. Keep in mind this is for internal reference, as the outline is a tool for writing the speech and creating the slides. You don’t have to list the outline in a presentation; if you desire, you can do a simplistic version with an agenda slide.

Be specific. Don’t let any topic be broad enough to lead to confusion. Sometimes, it is best to list many elements in a presentation outline, then trim them down in a second iteration.

This is perhaps the biggest mistake presenters make in the professional context when creating a new presentation. Slides are free; you don’t have to jam everything in, wishing people get an instant idea about EVERYTHING you will discuss in one slide. Not only does it become overwhelming for the audience, but it is also a faux pas in terms of design: when you use too many elements, the hierarchy does not seem clear enough.

Opt for the “one-idea-per-slide” technique, which, as the term refers, implies using one slide per concept to introduce. Work with as many slides as required, but just one main idea by slide. Your presentation becomes clearer, easy to digest for a non-knowledgeable audience, and also serves as reference material on how to pace your presentation.

3. Designing your presentation

The following section contains guidelines about the different aspects that shape a presentation structure . If you are looking for an all-in-one solution that implements these teachings into presentation design, try SlideModel’s AI Presentation Maker . A time-saver AI-generation tool for presenters powered by Artificial Intelligence.

Event organizers have a saying in the presentation format, which can be online or a live event. Depending on which, users have to structure the elements of their presentation to match the final output. An example of this: it’s not the same to create a PPT slide deck for an event in which you stand on a stage, in front of a live audience, than when you present via Zoom call, using your computer screen to cast the presentation. 

The format is different because text usage and images are perceived differently. For starters, an online presentation is most likely to draw users to read the entire content of your slides than a live presentation. The audience may not get your body language in an online presentation, merely watching slide after slide with the presenter’s voiceover. In some conditions, it can be incredibly dull and hard to follow. 

Do your research with the event organizers about which format shall be used. When it comes to in-company presentations or educational presentations, the format is usually live, as the audience is selected and part of the same organization (that being a company or a school/university). If a webinar is required for an in-company format, ask the organizers about the length of the presentation, if it is possible to interact with the audience, deliverable requirements, etc.

The aspect ratio for a presentation format usually follows the 16:9 format or 4:3 format. Presentations built in 16:9 aspect ratio are the standard , rectangular format PPT templates, which also serve to be printed without many distortions in regular A4 files. As we work with a rectangular format, there are two axes – horizontal and vertical, in which presenters can arrange the content according to its importance (building a hierarchy). Working with a 4:3 format is more challenging as it resembles a square. Remember, in a square there are no visible tensions, so all areas have the same importance. 

As a recommendation, the 4:3 aspect ratio is a safe bet for all projectors & beamers. When working with a 16:9 slide and the projector is 4:3, the content gets squeezed to fit the required ratio, and for that very reason, it is advised to increase the font size if you use a 16:9 slide on a 4:3 projector. Be mindful about logos or photographs getting distorted when this conversion happens.

The 16:9 ratio looks more visually appealing these days as we get used to TVs and mobile devices for browsing content. New projectors are usually intended for 16:9 format, so you won’t experience any inconvenience in this regard.

No, not every color works harmonically with other colors. Colors have a psychology behind their usage and impact, and to not make this guide extensive, we highly recommend you visit our article on color theory for presentations . You can find suggestions about which colors you should use for different kinds of messages to deliver and what each color represents in terms of color psychology.

The color you use in your presentations must be in accordance with your branding. For example: you should definitely not build a presentation with a bright, bold magenta neon tone when your logo contains green neon-like hues. If you work with a PPT presentation template that doesn’t match the color of your branding, we recommend you check our guide on how to change color themes in PowerPoint .

Regarding typefaces, do never use more than 3 different typefaces per design. It is best to stick to 1 or 2 typefaces, using the variations each font offers in terms of weight.

An example of this:

You create the heading title (H1 size) with Open Sans bold. Subtitles should be done in H2 size using Open Sans regular. Body text in paragraph size, using either Open Sans Regular or Light. Words to emphasize shall be bolded for important terms and italics for foreign terms to be explained.

Use a cohesive color scheme that fits the background, graphics (such as charts and bar graphs), text, and even images. It helps the audience to understand concepts more naturally and gives a pleasant experience to the sight.

Just as badly a slide deck filled with text is felt by the audience, the exact impact can be attributed to a slide deck that only contains images. The audience may feel disconnected, not understanding the purpose of the presentation. A second side-effect is when the spectators wish to browse the slides to study, as in the context of an educational presentation. If the presenter does not include any text guidance, the slide deck is a mere collection of images without any reference that helps remember the presentation.

Work in balance, like a 3:1 ratio between graphic elements and text. For every 3 graphic elements, a text box must be included.

Using metaphors in presentations is a great idea to introduce complex topics or to tell a story. Say, you want to make the audience aware of your company’s challenges to reach its current standing in the industry. Using a roadmap template that depicts a mountain is an excellent idea as it reinforces the ideas of “challenge” and “teamwork.” 

4. Final touches and polishing your presentation

Before giving any presentation, you should dedicate at least one day to this polishing process. Let’s break down the process for easier understanding.

• Do a first iteration of your slides. The objective here is to grasp how everything looks in terms of design. Check the alignment of images and text, any color inconsistencies, typos, etc.
• Rehearse your presentation one time, tracking how much time it takes to perform the presentation.
• If any information is missing that’s worth adding to the slides, proceed to add it. If there are elements that can be reduced, trim them.
• For time-restricted presentations, get a clear idea about how much time it takes to complete your presentation, plus 5 extra minutes for a Q&A session.
• The second iteration should check the tone of your writing, and double-proof any spelling, punctuation and grammar errors. 

After two complete iterations, your presentation is ready to go to the next stage.

Even though we believe the speech is partially built as you prepare your presentation slides, you should dedicate an extra section of time to prepare your speech correctly. This process involves the following steps:

• Identifying the purpose of your presentation. The core element of why you are speaking to this audience.
• Get to know your audience, their interests, their challenges, and what can they possibly wish to overcome.
• Adding value. This is vital – your presentation has to leave a lasting message to your audience on what they are interested.
• A strong start and a strong finish. Don’t neglect any of these elements.

Writing down your speech in notes is a must. It is the tool you can use to rehearse your presentation, and -in case you feel anxious- you can include some speaker notes in your presentation (which won’t be visible to your audience) to help you structure the speech.

Practice makes perfect. Rehearsing does not imply memorizing the entire presentation, as that would make your speech robotic, and prone to errors. How? Imagine a person asking you a question in the middle of your presentation, a question you didn’t expect. A prepared presenter can easily manage the situation because of the background built around the topic. A presenter that memorized a speech and robotically repeated its content can feel unease, losing focus for the remainder of the presentation.

Some valuable tips on the rehearsing process:

• Record your rehearsing sessions. You can use tools like Presenter View in PowerPoint to track your time. 
• Make it a memorable event. Creating an engaging presentation requires creativity, so consider brainstorming for new takes on adding exciting elements to your presentation for attention retention.
• An exercise recommended by Tim Ferris is to mimic the conditions as closely as possible. This helps to reduce presentation anxiety, and also to get used to cameras and spotlights or evaluate your body language.
• If possible, ask a friend for feedback on your presentation performance. This is particularly helpful for new presenters to get used to interacting with the audience.

5. Presenting (your presentation)

Now it’s time to talk about the presentation and your performance when delivering it in front of an audience. Giving a presentation has many aspects to discuss, from start to end, the techniques to keep your audience interested in the topic, and also recommendations to make a memorable event. Let’s get started.

How to give a Memorable Presentation – Delivering an Impactful Presentation

There are multiple methods to approach a presentation and deliver an impactful presentation. Let’s be honest, not everyone feels comfortable when standing in front of an audience. For that reason, we want to lay out some fresh ideas to help you bring your best to your spectators.

The first element you ought to be aware of is body language . It has to feel natural, not overly acted but also not stiff. Think of a presentation as a similar scenario in which you have a deep conversation with a group of people about a topic you are passionate about. That mindset helps to ease anxiety out of the equation. Avoid crossing arms or constantly pacing across the stage – that only shows impatience and lack of interest.

Keep the concepts simple. Don’t overload your presentation with unnecessary jargon; if you feel something cannot be easily explained, go break down concept by concept until the whole idea is understandable. Graphics are a fantastic asset to help you in this process and boost your performance as a presenter. 

Be mindful of not doing any of these common pitfalls:

• Including large chunks of text on a single slide.
• Using intense background colors that make it difficult to understand the contents of the slide.
• Don’t read every single element in your slides – this is perceived as boring by your audience.

One particularly interesting approach is by Guy Kawasaki, author of the book “The Art of the Start.” He considers the best presentations to be handled using 10 slides, lasting no longer than 20 minutes, and using a 30pt font size. That’s known as the 10-20-30 rule in presentations . It helps you to condense the content for the sake of information clarity.

In case you don’t use a PowerPoint presentation, there are multiple ways to make a presentation memorable:

• Tell a story, but connect with your audience in terms of body language. Play with the elements on the stage (much like TED presenters do), and let the audience feel the experience of your story by being as detailed as possible within the time frame.
• Using a video is an incredibly engaging tool, as it lets you introduce a topic you will discuss in more detail later.
• Use a visual impact in the form of an image with a dramatic element (i.e., climate change consequences, technological advancements, children engaging with technology or studying, etc.). This allows to hook the audience into what’s due to come next.

Knowing how to start a presentation is a critical skill all presenters ought to master. There are several approaches for this behalf, but for the sake of this guide, let’s stick to the following ones.

Using the Link-Back formula

This consists of throwing a story in front of your audience that explains who you are, what your background is, and why your speech should make a difference in the life of the spectators.

The Link-Back formula is beneficial for creating an emotional connection with the audience.

Using a Hook

Asking a rhetorical question, using a powerful fact, or other well-known hook techniques is a plus when starting a presentation. We shall talk about hook techniques for presenters in the next section.

Using a captivating visual

Much like the power of storytelling , visuals impact the audience’s psyche, especially if the presentation is about a trendy topic. Create a quality graphic with any of our designs at SlideModel, a graphic designer’s help, an AI Image Generator, or work with a video.

A hook is a tactic used by presenters as an opening statement but can be used in different areas of the presentation if it has an ample length. Much like the metaphor suggests, they serve to attract the audience to what you are communicating.

Research on attention span during lectures suggests a gradual decline in the audience’s interest in the presentation. That’s exponentially increased if you miss the chance to give a powerful first impression. Check this list of hook techniques to enhance the performance of your presentation skills:

• Asking rhetorical questions – better if a series of them on the topic to discuss.
• Using catchy phrases.
• Using a contrarian position, explain why such thinking harms the topic you wish to introduce.
• Historical event referencing.
• Making a powerful statement, best if data related. (i.e., “Every year, 8 million tons of plastic gets into the ocean, which equals to a truckload being dumped every minute” )
• Using the word “imagine”. It’s one of the powerful words in you can use in presentations .
• Add the comedy element – NB: be careful not to overdo it.
• Apply a “what if” scenario – this hook is similar to the “imagine” but with more data added.
• Tell a story.
• Spark curiosity.
• Smartly use quotations. Do not stick to text-book quotations but give your insight on why the quote is relevant for your speech.

Photo 9: Slide using a hook

Most people assume that ending a presentation equals doing a recap. It is a bad idea since your audience feels as if you haven’t planned a conclusion for your presentation. 

Another bad practice is to end with a Q&A format. Although questions and answers are often a required part of any presentation, they shouldn’t be the end of your presentation. You can include questions during your presentation or opt for a proper closure of the presentation past the Q&A session.

There are some powerful strategies to give a memorable ending to a presentation:

• Include a CTA on the lines like “Join our journey!” or similar that make the audience part of a bigger story.
• Close using a relevant quote. The idea is to deliver something that can linger, so the audience remembers your content.
• Use a story to close your presentation, as long as you avoid using a case study. The idea is to close with a meaningful thought, not with boredom.

We recommend you check our article on how to end a presentation for more ideas before reaching this stage of your presentation.

How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation (Quick Steps)

In this section, we will see how to use PowerPoint to make a presentation . Starting from creating a blank presentation or choosing a pre-defined PowerPoint template to preparing the presentation structure by adding PowerPoint slides and then working on the design of the presentation, we will explain how to make a visually-appealing and eye-catching PowerPoint presentation and how to create a slideshow in PowerPoint.

1. Selecting a PowerPoint template

When making a PowerPoint presentation, Professional PowerPoint Templates bring the advantage of not needing to think about complex graphic design decisions. However, there are certain aspects worth considering prior to picking the perfect PowerPoint template.

• Color aesthetic : If your presentation has to be done quickly, stick to PowerPoint templates that resemble your company’s branding palette. Although color can be changed, it is best not to lose time with extra adjustments.
• Opt for minimalistic designs : It is one of the most suitable ways to remain elegant in the professional world. You won’t be signaled for using a template that speaks seriousness on its design – and take for granted everyone shall badly remember the presentation that overdid color or graphics (or even worse, typeface effects).
• Avoid using heavy transition effects : Not all computers are as powerful as the ones you own. The simpler you make your presentation, the best it shall play on any PC.

As in life, there are advantages and disadvantages of using Premium or Free PowerPoint Templates vs. starting from a blank slate.

Advantages of PowerPoint templates when making a presentation

• Speed up the presentation design process.
• Reusable designs, ready for any situation.
• Helps to present data in an understandable format.
• Complex design decisions are made for users.
• Color pairing and font pairing are done for users.
• Helps to reduce the usage of text in slides.

Disadvantages of PowerPoint templates

• We are not learning to use advanced PowerPoint tools, as designs come pre-made for users.
• It can hinder creativity.
• Not every presentation template for PowerPoint is suitable for any topic.
• A professional team of PowerPoint template designers must be behind those templates to ensure quality.

2. Add or delete slides in PowerPoint

When we create PowerPoint Design ideas , not every slide makes the cut for the final presentation. Users then feel overwhelmed about those slides: will they be visible in the final presentation? Should you make a new PPT file without those extra templates? How to clone the “good” slides into a new file?

Instead of worrying about that process, we have here a guide on how to add, delete and rearrange slides in PowerPoint that explains, step by step, how to get rid of the unwanted slides or add more content to your presentation.

3. Adding images to slide templates

Some presentation templates and slide decks include entirely editable placeholder areas, and those boxes do not imply text only – they can include images, graphs, videos, etc. Say you want to add more images to your slides – it is as easy as replicating one of those placeholder areas with CTRL+C / CTRL+V (CMD for Mac users) or going to Insert on the Ribbon’s menu, then Picture . 

If you plan to move elements in your slide design, we recommend you get familiarized with how to lock an image in PowerPoint , so the images that shouldn’t be altered remain in position. This technique is ideal when your images are surrounded by plenty of editable graphics.

4. Adding notes to your slides

Presenters often struggle to remember key pieces of information due to performance anxiety or because they were moved from focus by an unexpected question. Using speaker notes in PowerPoint is the answer to prevent becoming stuck, since those notes won’t be available to the viewers – they remain visible only on the computer where the presentation is being streamed.

Keep in mind this technique works when the presenter is sitting next to the computer. If you have to stand in front of a crowd, opt to use different memory-recalling techniques when you feel out of focus.

5. Adding animations to your slides

Another technique presenters use adding animated objects or effects. This is as easy as following these steps:

• Select the object/text you desire to animate.
• Go to Animations in the Ribbon and select Add Animation .
• You can stack animations on a simple object to make unique effects.

Using animated presentation templates is an alternative when you don’t feel confident about adding animations. 

6. Adding transitions to your slides

Transitions are animated effects that happen when you change between slides during a presentation. Some people love them, while others prefer to stay away from them. 

If you want to add transitions to your slides, follow these steps:

• Select the slide you want to add the transition effect.
• Go to Transitions in the Ribbon, and choose a transition.
• If the transition allows the Effect Options menu, you can alter that transition’s direction and behavior.
• Click on Preview to visualize the effect.
• To remove a transition, select Transitions > None .

7. Adding audio narration to your slides

Sometimes, presenters opt to add audio narrations to the slides. The advantage of using this medium is to increase accessibility for visually impaired users. We created a guide on how to add audio narrations in PowerPoint that explains the procedure in detail.

Considerations for your PowerPoint presentation

Ideal typeface and font size.

There are multiple opinions on which typeface is ideal for presentations. Experience tells us the ideal typeface to work with is one that is system-available, meaning you don’t have to install a new font in the computer used to present. Why? You may ask. Simple: If the font used is not available on a computer, PowerPoint will automatically render a different font (sometimes even a different typeface) to replace and display the text appropriately. That action, which is replicated by other software such as Google Slides, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Apple Keynote, etc., can drastically change your design. 

Font size for titles should be between 36-44 pt. Paragraph font size between 24-28 pt. Use bold to emphasize concepts, and italics to insert foreign terms or quotations. Alternatively, you can make quotations to be displayed on a single slide, using 36 pt size, in italics.

Remember, these recommendations about size are intended for presentations in a live format. If the presentation is streamed through Zoom, using screen sharing, reduce the font size by 10-15% to avoid incredibly large texts. Test your presentation beforehand to be on the safe side.

The color scheme used is a primary part of your presentation design. When defining the presentation color palette , we recommend working within the colors that make part of your branding scheme. 

If we speak about a personal presentation or a presentation with no logo, then opt for pastel tones that don’t create harsh contrast between text and background.

Above all things, avoid these conflictive color combinations:

• Yellow and green
• Brown and orange
• Red and green
• Neon colors combined
• Purple and yellow
• Red and purple
• Black and navy
• Navy and red (unless you use a muted red tone or control the amount of red used)

Sometimes, printables are a requirement by event organizers, which represents a challenge to many presenters. We want to give a helping hand on this behalf, offering tips that can improve your printing experience:

• Always work within margins when adding content. It helps not to downsize the presentation, which often renders the text illegible. 
• If you have to print a presentation that uses intense background colors, opt for laser printing instead of inkjet. Laser printing won’t make the paper look odd when it is full-color print. The extra price is worth it when presenting a quality product.
• On the same lines about color-heavy presentations, ask for thicker printer paper than the average. This option is often advised when opting for laser printing.
• Run a print proof before ordering a large printing order. Colors can significantly change due to the RGB to CMYK conversion.

In this section, we want to list valuable tips to power up your presentations for their best performance. Some of these tips are tailored to presentation skills, others to design ideas, but ultimately, you can take in mind these tips the next time you need to make a powerful presentation in PowerPoint.

Tip #1. Using Video Presentations

An alternative to conventional presentations is to work with video presentations . These are particularly useful in academic and educational environments since they can convey large chunks of information in a memorable, easy-to-digest format. 

If we consider that social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok are transitioning into professional content for creatives, you should consider using video presentations when the situation arises. As a plus, you can repurpose that presentation on your website or other official social media channels for your company.

Tip #2. Drop Shadows and Text Shadows

When we intend to create interesting contrasts between elements, color isn’t the only option to try. Learn how to work with drop shadows in PowerPoint to make images and objects stand out from the presentation. It is an effect that boosts a tri-dimensional feeling in the presentation.

Using text shadows in PowerPoint – with extreme caution – is an excellent method to highlight titles instead of using fancy colors or other 3D effects. Do not overdo the text shadow, as it makes the text illegible. 

Tip #3. Working on your Presentation Skills

Giving presentations in front of an audience is, as we have seen, a process that involves many factors. One of those is the human element and the speaker’s ability to resonate with the audience. Therefore, we advise presenters to work on their presentation skills early, especially for mastering different kinds of presentation approaches, such as persuasive presentations (used in sales).

Tip #4. Editing Background Graphics in PowerPoint

Sometimes, PPT presentation templates include quality backgrounds that make the design pop from the screen. Yet, some of those backgrounds may not be suitable for all brands in terms of color, textures, etc.

Learn today how to edit background graphics in PowerPoint and create outstanding presentations in just minutes.

Tip #5. Google Slides compatibility

Finally, we want to remind users that almost every PowerPoint template has compatibility with Google Slides – if you intend to upload the presentation into the Cloud. Google Slides is an online tool for creating slideshow presentations, and one of its features is that we can convert PowerPoint presentations into Google Slides format. The converted slides are entirely editable, allowing presenters to count with a backup plan in case the PPT file doesn’t work or the computer to use doesn’t count with PowerPoint.

This is not an exhaustive list of presentation tips, but they offer a starting point for those who want to create attractive and effective PowerPoint presentations. You can also create presentations in other ways, and leveraging AI, for example. Check out the article how to create a PowerPoint presentation with ChatGPT to learn how to use Large Language Models to prepare presentations.

As we have seen, making a presentation is a complex process involving different skills, from knowing how to deliver a speech to having essential graphic design criteria. 

While it is true that PowerPoint presentation templates make the process far more manageable, we shouldn’t entirely rely on them. A PowerPoint presentation isn’t a presentation on its own. It is a medium by which presenters showcase their ideas and structure the speech, but one cannot live without the other.

We hope this guide can give you a better understanding of how to create a successful presentation. See you next time!

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Presentation Design and the Art of Visual Storytelling

Discover a practical approach to designing results-oriented presentations and learn the importance of crafting a compelling narrative.

By Micah Bowers

Micah helps businesses craft meaningful engagement through branding, illustration, and design.

Presentations Must Tell a Story

We’ve all been there, dutifully enduring a dull presentation at work or an event. The slides are packed with text, and the presenter feels obligated to read every single word. There are enough charts, graphs, and equations to fill a trigonometry book, and each screen is awash in the brightest colors imaginable.

As the presentation drags on, the lists get longer. “We do this, this, this, this, this, and oh yeah, this!” Unfortunately, everyone in the audience just wants it to be over.

This is a major opportunity missed for a business, and we designers may be part of the problem. No, it’s not our fault if a presenter is unprepared or uninspiring, but if we approach our clients’ presentations as nothing more than fancy lists, we’ve failed.

See, presentations are stories , not lists, and stories have a structure. They build towards an impact moment and unleash a wave of momentum that changes people’s perceptions and preconceived notions. Good stories aren’t boring and neither are good presentations.

But before we go any further, it’s important to ask why presentations exist in the first place. What’s their purpose? Why are they useful?

Presentations exist to…

Presentations impart new and sometimes life-changing knowledge to an audience.

Most presentations provide a practical method for using the knowledge that is shared.

If executed correctly, presentations are able to captivate an audience’s imagination and lead them to consider the worth of what they’re learning.

Well-crafted presentations have the power to arouse feelings that can influence an audience’s behavior.

Presentations ready people to move, to act on their feelings and internal analysis.

Ultimately, presentations make an appeal to an audience’s logic, emotions, or both in an attempt to convince the audience to act on the opportunity shared by the presenter.

With this kind of power, designers can’t afford to view presentations as “just another deck.” We shouldn’t use the same formulaic templates or fail to educate our clients about the importance of high-quality image assets.

Instead, we need to see presentation design as an opportunity to craft a compelling narrative that earns big wins for our clients.

Need more convincing? Let’s take a quick look at how a few big brands merge storytelling with world-class presentation design.

Salesforce – Write the Narrative First

The overarching emphasis of any presentation is its narrative. Before any flashy visuals are added, the presentation designer works hand-in-hand with the client to establish the narrative and asks big questions like:

• Who are we presenting to?
• Why are we presenting to them?
• How do we want them to respond?

The marketing team at Salesforce, the world’s leading customer relationship management platform, answers these questions by first writing presentations as rough essays with a beginning, middle, and end. As the essay is fleshed out, themes emerge and section titles are added.

From here, the presentation is broken into slides that present the most impactful topics and information the audience needs to know. Only a few select words and phrases will make it onto the screen, but the essay draft will be rich with insights for the presenter to further refine and share in their oral narrative.

Writing the narrative first prevents the chaos of slide shuffling that occurs when a presentation’s stories aren’t clearly mapped out. With no clear narrative in place, slides don’t transition smoothly, and the presentation’s momentum dissipates.

Deloitte – Establish Credibility

Within the first few moments of meeting someone new, we quickly assess whether or not we feel they’re trustworthy.

Presenters are typically afforded an initial level of trust by virtue of being deemed capable of talking in front of a large group of people. But if that trust isn’t solidified within the first minute of a presentation, it can vanish in an instant.

Deloitte is a global financial consultant for 80 percent of all Fortune 500 companies. Naturally, they understand the need to quickly establish credibility. The slide used in the example above is number five in a thirty-slide deck. Right from the outset, Deloitte establishes their authority on the topic, in essence saying, “We’ve been at this awhile.”

Including a slide like this in a client’s deck can be a real confidence booster because it allows them to quickly secure expert status. Establishing credibility also helps an audience relax and engage with what they’re learning.

iControl – Define the Problem Visually

It’s not always possible to express a complex problem or solution with a single visual, but when it happens, it can be a powerful experience for an audience.

iControl is a Swedish startup that built an iPad app designed to replace paper and create better documentation at construction sites. They aren’t a big brand, but their investor pitch deck powerfully identifies a huge audience problem with a single slide—too much paper wasted, too many documents to track. An image like this so clearly identifies the problem that it simultaneously intensifies the need for a solution.

Defining the problem visually is an awesome strategy, but use it with care because an image that’s confusing or overly specific to an industry can leave audience members feeling like outsiders.

Arrange a Compelling Narrative

“Storytelling” is everywhere these days. Social media platforms have cleverly packaged the promise that our every post, image, and interaction is part of an ongoing story, but most of what we call “stories” are loosely related moments strung together by the happenstance of time and technology.

So what’s the distinction between narrative and story? How do they relate, and how do they differ? And most importantly, how do they tie into a compelling presentation?

A story is bound by time. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It details events and orders them in a way that creates meaning. In a presentation, stories speak to specific accomplishments and inspire action—“We did this, and it was amazing!”

A narrative is not bound by time. It relates separate moments and events to a central theme but doesn’t seek resolution. In a presentation, the narrative encompasses the past, present, and future—“Where we’ve come from. Where we are. Where we’re headed.”

How does this information impact the presentation designer? Here’s a simple and practical example.

You have a client who makes amazing paper clips that always bend back to their intended shape no matter how much they’re twisted. They ask you to design a presentation that highlights the paper clips and their company vision to “forever change the world of office products.” How do you begin?

Start with the Narrative

The narrative is the overarching emphasis of a presentation.

In this example, you would shape the presentation around your client’s company vision of forever changing the world of office products.

Advance the Narrative with Stories

Use succinct stories that highlight challenges, improvements, big wins, and daily life.

Perhaps the paper clip company’s research and development team faced several setbacks before a eureka moment made mass production cheaper than traditional paper clips.

Use stories like this as brush strokes on a canvas, each one contributing towards a more complete picture of the narrative.

Support Stories with Visuals

This is where the simple, yet stunning slides you design come into play.

In this case, you could show a simple graph that compares the production cost of traditional paper clips to your client’s innovative paper clips. And, to make sure you’re reinforcing the narrative, you could add a short title to the slide: “Game. Changed.”

Conflict Is the Engine of Memorable Presentations

In his bestselling book Story , Hollywood screenwriting guru Robert McKee writes, “Nothing moves forward in a story except through conflict.” This advice is extremely valuable for the presentation designer.

An overly optimistic presentation packed with positive information simply crashes over an audience and sweeps away their enthusiasm. Each rosy insight is less impactful than the one prior. Before long, all the audience hears is, “Good, better, best. We’re just like all the rest.”

An effective presentation designer looks for ways to create internal conflict within an audience. This means they feel the weightiness of a problem and actively hope for the relief of a solution. The yin and yang of problem and solution is the presentation designer’s true north, the guiding principle of every piece of information included in a deck.

One tried and true way to ensure a healthy positive/negative balance, without overly dramatizing a presentation is withholding information.

For instance, in our example of the paperclip company, this could mean devoting an extra slide or two to the research and development process. These slides would hint at the soon-to-be-revealed production costs and build anticipation without providing actual numbers.

Then, when the cost comparison chart is finally shared, the audience is genuinely eager for the information it holds, and the payoff is far more rewarding and memorable.

Unlock the Power of Clear, Consistent, and Compelling Content

Content doesn’t exist apart from the narrative; it enhances it. Once the narrative is in tip-top shape, it’s time to make the content shine, but before we dive into slide design, let’s take a quick detour.

Imagine we’re reviewing an investor pitch deck and we take an elevator into the sky to observe the presentation from an aerial view. From this lofty position, the deck’s content should have a cohesive appearance that ties in with the brand, organization, or topic being presented.

If you’ve ever been hired to work on a company’s pitch deck design , you understand how challenging this can be.

Many times, clients already have some sort of skeleton deck in place before they hire a presentation designer. Sometimes, these decks are packed with a dizzying assortment of charts, graphs, fonts, and colors. Here, you have two unique responsibilities.

First, you must help your client understand how the disunity of their content detracts from the narrative. Then, you must provide a way forward and present them with a practical vision for remaking things in a cohesive style.

Be warned that you may have to sell this idea, especially if your client thinks that their visual content is presentation ready and only in need of some “design magic” to make it look good.

If this happens, remember to be gracious, and acknowledge the role that their expertise played in generating such valuable information. Then, bring the conversation back to results. “This is a compelling topic. I want your audience to be in awe as you present, but for that to happen, I need to recreate the visuals.”

This is a tough chore, but as designers, we’re hired to improve the way our clients communicate—not fill their heads with false affirmations of poor content.

Essential Slide Design Principles

Slide design is an important part of presentation design, and effective slides are rooted in visual simplicity. But the strange thing about simplicity is that it stems from a thorough grasp of complexity. If we know something well, we can explain it to someone who does not in just a few words or images.

In this section, we’ll look at hierarchy, typography, image selection, and color schemes, but know that these design elements are rooted in a proper understanding of a presentation’s narrative and content. If we start the design process with slides, we seriously risk equipping our clients with presentations that are unfocused and unimpactful.

Create Emphasis with Slide Hierarchy

Design hierarchy relates to the placement of visual elements in a way that creates emphasis. For the presentation designer, this means asking, “What two or three things do I want the audience to see on this slide?

Do’s and Don’ts

• Do create visual contrast through scale, color, and alignment.
• Don’t try to visually highlight more than three ideas per slide.

Whenever a really important idea comes up, be brave and only use a few words in bold type to communicate it. This kind of simplicity signals to an audience that it’s time to intensify their focus and really listen to what the presenter has to say.

Overcome Ambiguity with Thoughtful Typography

Most presentations are built on words, so it’s important to know which words to include and how to style them. This starts by choosing the right font, then knowing how big to make the words and where to include them.

• Do ask if your client has any designated fonts listed in their brand style guide.
• Don’t use more than two fonts in your presentation, and avoid text blocks and lengthy paragraphs like the plague.

Try not to use anything smaller in size than a 36 point font. Some designers believe it’s ok to use sizes as small as 24 point, but this often leads to packing slides with more text. Remember, slides are a speaking prompt, not promotional literature.

Communicate Authority Through Graphic Simplicity

Every chart, graph, icon, illustration, or photograph used in a presentation should be easy to see and understand. Images that are difficult to interpret or poor in quality can erode the trust of an audience.

• Do look for ways to use symbols, icons, or illustrations as they have a way of communicating ideas more quickly than photography.
• Don’t use more than one photograph per slide, and don’t use stock photography that conflicts with your client’s brand (e.g., too funny, serious, or ethereal).

During the consultation phase of a presentation design project, ask your potential client to see existing charts or graphs they’re hoping to include. If anything is confusing, pixelated, or inconsistent, tell them you’ll need to remake their graphics. Be prepared to show high-quality examples from well-known companies to sell your point.

Add Energy and Meaning with Bold Color Schemes

Color plays an important role in nearly every design discipline, and presentation design is no different. The colors used for a presentation affect the tone of the topic being shared and influence the mood of the audience.

• Do keep color schemes simple. Two or three colors should make up the majority of slides.
• Don’t use complementary colors for text and background (e.g., blue background with orange text). This has a way of making words vibrate with nauseating intensity.

Identify a few high-contrast accent colors to make strategic cameos for added impact.

The Mission of Every Presentation Designer

It can’t be overstated; presentations are huge opportunities for designers to positively impact their clients’ businesses. Innovation and advancements in culture and technology are occurring so rapidly that it’s become absolutely vital to be able to tell a good story. No one has time for poorly communicated ideas.

Here’s the simple truth: A bad presentation designer dresses up junk content with no thought for narrative and dumps a pile of slides into their client’s lap. Maybe the presentation looks pretty, but it doesn’t inspire, doesn’t activate, and certainly doesn’t sell.

To be effective, results-driven presentation designers means that we must empower our clients with an efficient tool. We carefully consider each slide, word, and visual for maximum impact, and we remember that presentations are intended for a human audience. Whether it’s a room of investors or a conference hall packed with consumers, it’s our job to provide our clients with opportunities to change minds and win business.

Understanding the basics

What is presentation design.

Presentation designers craft an array of ideas, stories, words, and images into a set of slides that are arranged to tell a story and persuade an audience.

Why is storytelling so important?

Where numbers, lists, and facts merely inform, storytelling has the power to make an audience care about and act on information that is being presented.

What are the basic elements of a slide?

The basic elements of a slide are its dimensions, text, images, layout, and color.

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Micah Bowers

Vancouver, WA, United States

Member since January 3, 2016

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More From Forbes

The art of presenting.

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Lisa V. Sellers, PhD, is CEO of Vector Laboratories .

Communication is foundational to both personal and professional success, and presentation skills are key to sharing impactful ideas and complex concepts. No matter where we give the presentation, how or to whom, we want to make sure it’s clear and memorable to the audience. The ability to articulate ideas and present them to reach a broad audience isn't just a skill—it’s an art. But just like students of an art class create unique pieces with the techniques they learn, every effective presenter uses an arsenal of communication techniques to develop presentations with their own flair.

No one can tell you exactly how to give a good talk, but learning the basics and identifying personal touches can help get you there. Here, I’ll share some ideas that have shaped my own presentation style and tips for finding your unique voice.

Know your audience.

The first step to preparing for any presentation is to identify your audience. This not only helps you understand the level of depth and technical detail the audience expects but also gives insight into how to connect with them. How much knowledge do they already have on the topic? What issues do they care about? What do I, as the speaker, have in common with them? Research the background of your audience ahead of time to note down factors such as their industry, educational and professional background, areas of expertise and what positions they generally hold.

Especially if you’re presenting to a diverse audience with various backgrounds and experiences, it’s helpful to evaluate what success will look like at the end of the presentation. If the goal is to connect the audience with your story, what does the route look like to get there? One approach I take is to get the audience involved with a question. For example, in a recent presentation on empowering young women in STEM careers, I shared the story of my career path and invited others in the audience to discuss how women mentors fostered their career journey. Getting the audience involved adds color and richness to the overall discussion and gets listeners personally invested in the talk. Connection makes for an impactful presentation, so don’t just talk to the audience—talk with them.

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Identifying the situation, complication, implication and position of your presentation is a great place to start. Build in context and detail around those main points. Importantly, if you’re developing slides to use with your presentation, choose quality visuals that complement your message without completely pulling focus from your words. If you include graphs or figures, explain them clearly rather than just assuming the audience will understand. Text on slides should also be chosen with care—if the audience is spending too much time reading your slides, they’ll be drawn away from what you’re saying.

But don’t overthink it.

Confession: I sometimes procrastinate when I’m making a presentation, and it still turns out fine. While that may not be the best approach if you’re uncomfortable with presenting or if you're giving the most important talk of your career, I've found avoiding overpreparation can be helpful. Overthinking your presentation can be just as much of a hindrance as preparing carelessly. Rather than trying to memorize a word-for-word script of your talk, get comfortable with the main points and key takeaways of each section. I know I sound more natural and feel much more confident if I focus on the big picture rather than getting every detail as I’d planned it. When you know what you’re trying to convey in each section, it will be much easier to get back on track if you’re interrupted or asked a question.

For slide visuals, be intentional while avoiding perfectionism. It’s easy to get caught up in endlessly tweaking your slides or trying to find the "perfect" image at the expense of your overall message. To maximize efficiency without sacrificing quality, imagine yourself in the audience and ask: "Would this detail make a difference to me? Would I even notice?" Taking this perspective can help you invest your energy where it really matters.

Authenticity is everything.

The difference between an average presentation and an excellent one is how your message resonates with the audience. A great way to bring your presentation to life is to tell a story that’s relevant, relatable and elicits emotion. A poignant or inspiring story is impactful, but humor can be a wonderful tool as well. Identifying and telling a story creates a memorable moment in the presentation and illustrates your message in a unique way. With that, it’s vital that this story is told with conviction, comes across as genuine and is true. Don’t shy away from stories that sparked growth, even if they require vulnerability.

Whether you’re having a one-on-one conversation or you're presenting in a conference room full of people, confidence and authenticity are magnetic. With the right message and some thoughtful presentation, you can give a memorable presentation just by being yourself.

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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Guide to Creating Illustrations in PowerPoint for People Who Don’t Know How to Draw

Visuals are a key element of any e-learning course. They help attract the learner’s attention and reinforce key messages. If you don’t have a graphic designer on your team—or access to an asset library like Content Library —you may be struggling to find or create the visuals you need for your course. If that’s where you are, don’t worry! In this tutorial you’ll learn how to create your own illustrations in PowerPoint using freeform shapes.

What Is a Freeform Shape?

On the Insert tab of PowerPoint, you have access to a whole host of default shapes to help you create your own illustrations:

But did you know that hidden among those default shapes is a freeform shape that allows you to draw your own personalized shape? It looks like this:

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use this super-powerful feature to create your own illustrations—even if you have zero artistic ability.

Set Default Shape Format

When you draw a freeform shape, PowerPoint automatically applies the default shape format—meaning the fill and outline colors—to your shape. And while you could just use that and change the style afterwards, I recommend changing the default style to something with a contrasting border and no fill color. Why? If you’re tracing over a photo, the contrasting color makes it easier to see where you’re drawing. And with no fill color, you can still clearly see the image you’re tracing.

So how do you set a new default shape style? It’s easy! Just insert any shape, format it however you’d like, right-click on the shape, and select Set as Default Shape:

Now, when you draw your freeform shape, it’ll automatically take on the format you’ve defined.

Find a Photo to Trace

Let’s say you want to include a visual of a hand holding a phone in your course. Unless you’re already a gifted illustrator, it’s going to be difficult to draw that freehand. The easiest thing to do is search for a photo of what you’d like to draw and trace it. Here’s a good example of a photo you could use as a starting point:

Tracing a photo is also a great solution for times when you’re not sure whether you have the right to use a given photo in your course.

Draw a Freeform Shape

Now that you have your photo, you can insert it into PowerPoint by clicking on the Pictures button on the Insert tab. Then, also on the Insert tab, click on the Shapes button, and select the freeform shape tool.

There are two main ways to draw using the freeform shape tool in PowerPoint.

1. Press and hold your mouse: Use this technique to draw an illustration freehand. This option is best for people who are comfortable drawing and have a pretty steady hand on their mouse (or access to a graphic tablet).

2. Press and release your mouse: Use this technique to draw an illustration one point at a time. This option is best for those of you who (like me!) are not comfortable drawing freehand. It allows you to create a shape by connecting a series of points.

But you don’t have to choose one or the other; you can actually combine these two methods while drawing the same shape. It’s up to you to decide what works best!

To create a closed shape, continue drawing until you are back to your starting point. To create an open-ended shape (or a line), double-click at any point to exit the freeform shape tool.

Edit Points

Once you’ve finished drawing your shape, you can fine-tune it by editing each individual point. To do that, just right-click on the shape and select Edit Points:

When you’re in Edit Points mode, you can see all the places you clicked to create your shape and adjust them as needed.

To move a point, just click on it and drag it to the place you want it to be.

If you want, you can take it a step further by right-clicking on a point and choosing one of the following options:

• Add point: If you messed up when you were drawing your shape, you can add in extra points afterwards and position them as needed instead of starting over from scratch.

• Delete Point: If you want to get rid of an unneeded point.

• Open Path (if it’s closed): If instead of a closed shape, you want to create an open-ended path, choose this option to unlink the first and last points you drew.

• Close Path (if it’s open): If you meant to create a closed shape, but accidentally created an open path, choose this option to link the first and last points you drew.

• Smooth Point: To make a point more rounded, choose Smooth Point or Straight Point. When you choose Smooth Point, the handles on the point will stick out straight, instead of forming a corner. When you drag on one side of the handle, the other side will automatically adjust, creating a symmetrical curve. By playing with the length and angle of these handles, you can change the shape of the curve.

• Straight Point: This option also makes your point rounded, but this time you’ll notice that the handles work independently, meaning that if you drag on one side of the handle, the other side of the handle doesn’t move. This allows you to create an asymmetrical curve.

• Corner Point: By default, all the points on your shape are corner points. If you change your point to a smooth or a straight point and aren’t satisfied with how it looks, choose this option to revert to the default setting.

By adjusting your points, you can smooth out your drawing considerably, as you can see in the before and after photos below:

Format Shape

Once your shape looks exactly the way you want, you can hide the image you used to trace your shape and change the color as needed.

If need be, you can draw another freeform shape or use a combination of default shapes to complete your illustration. For this example, you could create a cell phone out of a combination of shapes. Start by inserting a rectangle with rounded edges to make up the base of your phone:

Now, as you can see, the part of the thumb is now hidden by the phone. To make it look like the thumb is on top of the phone, add a second rectangle with rounded edges that starts below the thumb and goes until the bottom of the phone, like this:

Now, right-click on the first rectangle you created and select Send to Back.

Your illustration should now look like this:

Now repeat this process with two gray rectangles with square edges to create your screen:

Finally, insert a circle for the camera, a rounded-edge square for the speaker, and a rounded-edge square for the home button of the phone. Here’s what your finished illustration should look like:

And there you have it! Thanks to PowerPoint, you can create your own custom illustrations without being a professional illustrator. Thirsty for more PowerPoint illustration tips? Check out these tutorials:

• Creating Custom Shapes in PowerPoint
• How I Created These Handy People Icons in Powerpoint

Did you enjoy this article? Be sure to  subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest e-learning inspiration and insights directly in your inbox. You can also find us on LinkedIn and X (Formerly Twitter) . 

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What is Public Speaking? [Definition, Importance, Tips Etc!]

By: Author Shrot Katewa

If you are an ambitious professional, you will have to engage in some form of public speaking at some point in time in your life! The truth is, it is better to start with public speaking sooner rather than later! However, to better understand the subject, we must start with the definition of public speaking.

Public speaking is the art of conveying a message verbally to an audience of more than one individual. An average public speaker addresses a crowd of over 50 people, while some keynote presenters can expect an audience of a few thousand. With digital public speaking, this can be scaled infinitely.

In this post, you will learn everything you need to know to get started with public speaking, including why it is essential in the modern world, what skills make up the art form, and what you can expect when trying to turn your public speaking skills into a revenue-generating business or career.

Why is Public Speaking Important?

With over 77% of people having some degree of public speaking anxiety, according to Very Well Mind , and some positioning it as a greater fear than that of death itself, you might wonder why one needs to conquer such fear? What could be so essential about public speaking, after all?

Public speaking is critical because it allows you to connect with a group of people and persuade them to see things your way. It is the highest form of scaled influence and has existed as a change-making phenomenon in politics, society, and culture for over 2000 years.

Compare this to any social media platform, CEO-position duration, and professorship, and you’ll see that public speaking has been the most persistent form of influencing across time. In other words, it is transferrable and timeless.

You don’t have to worry about it going out of fashion because it has outlasted the fashion industry itself. Every other position of power relies on some degree of public speaking skills, even if an individual is not actively delivering keynotes.

What Are Public Speaking Skills?

At this point, you might be thinking, “wait, how is public speaking different from public speaking skills?” And I understand that because people often assume public speaking itself is a skill. Public Speaking is a performance art that relies on multiple skills to deliver a cohesive presentation of a singular skill.

Public speaking skills are the pillars that hold up an excellent presentation and include argument construction, audience engagement, stage presence management, timely delivery, and appropriate pacing. You can also improve your public speaking by using humor, rhetorical questions, and analogies.

Argument Construction

The way you position an argument matters more than the argument itself. That’s why in most rhetorical classes, you’re made to pick the “for” or “against” side at random, so you get good at making arguments regardless of the legitimacy of the position.

Usually, an argument follows the “problem,” “potential solution,” “reasons the said solution is the best” model though some constructions include countering general skepticism regarding a proposed solution.

Audience Engagement

This skill will help you lengthen your talk without having to script every second, but that’s not its primary goal. Audience engagement shouldn’t be used as fluff but as a means to retain your public’s attention, especially if a topic is particularly dry or the talk is too long.

Stage Presence Management

This is the aspect of audience engagement that has more to do with yourself. For instance, if you ask a question, you’re getting your audience’s attention by engaging with them.

However, if you strike a particular pose, make an exaggerated gesture, or simply carry yourself in a way that draws attention, you’re managing your stage presence (and increasing your audience’s involvement).

Timely Delivery

Timing is critical in public speaking because, given the fact that speechwriters exist, one can get away without constructing an argument or even writing the words to their talk. However, you cannot get away with bad delivery because if you don’t hold your audience’s attention, you’re only speaking to yourself.

Appropriate Pacing

Pacing your talk is essential because you cannot dump data on your audience without producing a cognitive overload. That’s why you must balance information with rhetoric and pace your presentation to bring your audience along with you.

Importance of Public Speaking Skills for Students

Whether you’re a student thinking of joining a public speaking club or a debating society, or a teacher looking to introduce your students to public speaking, knowing that it is an extracurricular art form that brings the greatest number of long-term benefits to students can be quite comforting.

The importance of public speaking for students lies in its cognitive benefits and social significance. Students who learn public speaking are more confident, can communicate their ideas better, and use speaking as a tool to polish their thoughts. This sets them up for success in public-facing roles.

More importantly, these benefits go hand-in-hand with long-term career success and social satisfaction because, unlike academic skills, public speaking expertise remains beneficial even after students say goodbye to their respective universities.

Benefits of Public Speaking

As mentioned above, the benefits of public speaking often outlast the student life and remain relevant to personal success. Whether you choose a corporate job or want to be a full-time speaker, you will be able to take the skills you build as a speaker and apply them to your life.

Benefits of public speaking include but aren’t limited to higher self-confidence, clarity of thought, personal satisfaction with one’s ability to communicate, a larger network, some degree of organic celebrity status, and higher levels of charisma.

Higher Self-Confidence

Self-confidence, as essential as it is, is a tricky subject because it relies entirely on one’s self-image. And if you don’t view yourself as confident, you aren’t confident.

The best way to improve your confidence is to observe yourself being confident : i.e., get into an activity that requires confidence. Given that oratory is one of the earliest art forms developed by humans, we can safely assume that it is also the one that has more inherent prestige involved.

Clarity of Thought

Public speaking forces one to learn new words and improves how one structures an argument. Since speaking also allows us to think and formulate thoughts into full-fledged concepts, a public speaker is better able to think with clarity.

Improved Ability to Communicate

Building on clarity of thought, one’s ability to communicate is enhanced once they have thought through their positions and arguments. Public speaking helps you communicate better in both the content and delivery of your thoughts.

Better Network

Humans are social animals, and networking is intrinsic to our success. They say that most of life’s significant events aren’t “what” events (as in “what happened?”) but “who” events (as in “who did you connect with?” or “who connected with you?”). Public speaking affords you the confidence to multiply the odds of better “who” events.

Natural Celebrity

We admire those who can do what we can’t. And since public speaking is such a valuable artform regarding which over 77% of people have trouble, it is pretty straightforward to conclude that the one who can pull this off will have higher social status among any group.

Increased Charisma

Finally, building on the previous perk of better social status, with Olivia Fox-Cabane’s definition of charisma as power and empathy, one can see how an organic celebrity status among one’s friend circle can also lead to improved charisma.

That said, not every public speaker is charismatic all the time. And to make sure you make the most of your ability to be charismatic as a public speaker, check out Fox Cabane’s book .

Types of Public Speaking

In the artform’s infancy, public speaking was public speaking. There was nothing else but an individual speaking to fellow city residents in a forum, trying to persuade them to get behind a certain reform or rollback one. Now public speaking has branched into various types.

Types of public speaking are divided across two dimensions: medium and mission .

Digital public speaking, on-stage speeches, and pre-recorded talks are three types differentiated by category. Keynote address, seminar, and debate are three forms differentiated by end-result.

• Division by medium allows us to see the type of speech by the method of delivery. You can conduct keynote, seminar, and debate in the digital type, but a live discussion is very likely off the table when you’re uploading a pre-recorded talk.
• Division by end-result allows us to see how public speaking can differ depending on the content format regardless of delivery. You can give a keynote address on stage or even have it pre-recorded. As long as you get the key point across, you’re doing your job.

Apple’s keynotes are consumed far more often online than they are in-person. So, being clear on the end result allows hybridization across different formats, especially with technology. Still, you should optimize the content and delivery of your talk for the medium you set as the primary one and let the others be optional.

In other words, if you’re conducting a seminar and interaction matters, do not sacrifice live interaction trying to force your seminar into a pre-recorded format.

However, once the seminar has been delivered digitally, or in person, the video can be uploaded as pre-recorded for those who want to follow along or are simply curious about your seminar’s content and might sign up for the next one.

To understand which format or type to set as your primary one, you must know the pros and cons of each kind of public speaking.

Digital public speaking emerged alongside the telethon selling format on cable TV. While the first telethons weren’t entirely digital, the format’s inception lies firmly in this period because TV’s shift to streaming brought about the first boom in digital public speaking.

In 2020, there was yet another shift as Corporate America got thoroughly familiarized with Zoom, a digital conferencing tool.

And once people knew how to use it to participate in meetings, listening to live talks was only a few clicks away. Zoom launched webinar mode, making it even more convenient to start giving talks to a large digital audience.

Still, there are multiple platforms through which you can engage in digital public speaking, including Facebook Live, Youtube Streaming, and even Twitch.

Pros of Digital Public Speaking

• Low overhead – You don’t need to book a conference center; people don’t have to pay to fly.  
• Easy for higher frequency – You can easily deliver more talks in a shorter period, thanks to the lack of traveling involved.

Cons of Digital Public Speaking

• Harder to hold the audience’s attention – Task-switching is the key obstacle in digital public speaking, making it harder to deliver keynotes. However, interactive digital workshops really thrive in this environment.

Pros of on-Stage Public Speaking

• Better translates to other arenas – If you learn to speak from the stage, you can speak to smaller groups, give talks digitally, and hold a confident conversation. This doesn’t always work the other way: Zoom maestros aren’t as equipped to give a talk from a stage.  
• Instant authority – The Lab Coat Effect is one where we automatically infer authority if someone resembles a figure of authority. That’s why stage presentations are important for big ideas. The audience is more receptive when they see you on a stage regardless of your credentials.

Cons of on-Stage Public Speaking

• Limits the ability to interact – Since the format allows monologuing, it can be easy to get carried away giving your talk without bringing the audience along. In some instances, it can be downright tough to engage more personally with people because the crowd is too big.  
• Hard to master – While it can ultimately be an advantage, you must recognize it for the drawback that is initially, as getting on stage is difficult for most people with no prior experience. Even seasoned public speakers admit to being nervous before each talk.

Pros of Pre-Recorded Talks

• Room for error – Since pre-recorded talks are not live, you can get away with making errors, especially if you’re adept at editing. You also don’t have to be in front of a crowd and can talk to the camera as if it were your friend. This allows even the uninitiated to get involved with public speaking without taking extensive training.  
• Simultaneous delivery for multiple talks – While it isn’t important for most people to give multiple tasks at once, it is possible to do so with a set of pre-recorded talks. If you’re a busy executive or a business owner, you can be more productive. If you’re trying to elevate your career as a professional speaker, a few pre-recorded webinars delivered to potential clients for free can help get your foot in the door without too much effort.

Cons of Pre-Recorded Talks

• Can become a crutch – The convenience of these talks is also their greatest drawback. You cannot give pre-recorded talks exclusively because that severely limits your public speaking muscles. Using them in conjunction with other forms of speaking is the ideal balance for skill maintenance and productivity boosting.  
• Lower engagement – Since you are not able to interact live, you’re limited to predetermined engagement tools like asking people to imagine a scenario or posing rhetorical questions. You can pop in live at the end of your talk to take live questions. This hybridization or pre-recorded public speaking with digital public speaking is best for consultants and thought leaders.

Examples of Public Speaking

To be a great public speaker, you must consume great relevant content. That’s why you need to know what type of audio content constitutes public speaking. The following section covers examples of public speaking:

Basic Elements of Public Speaking

Now that you know what kind of content you should consume as a budding public speaker let’s look at the key elements to watch out for. Most well-constructed speeches will include the following:

• Signposting – The beginning portion introduces not just the topic but sections of the talk, including what will be addressed later on. Look at the third paragraph of this post to get an idea of what signposting is.  
• Main argument – This rests in the body of the speech, where the speaker makes the main point. You should never make a point without supporting it with logic, fact, and even a compelling narrative.  
• Supporting the argument – As mentioned above, your argument needs support. Use analogies, metaphors, and of course, data to back up the point you’re making.  
• Recap – The conclusion is the final part where your talk’s recap sits. Here, you tell your audience briefly the main points you have made without taking them down the details lane.

Tips to Become a Better Public Speaker

To become a better public speaker, you must use the observe, internalize, and practice formula. Here’s how you should go about it:

• Observe – Look at the types and examples of public speaking listed in this article and consume different talks that fall into all sorts of categories. Don’t rely too much on one speaker, or you may inadvertently become a knock-off.  
• Internalize – By consuming content without judgment, you’ll start to internalize what you find compelling. You must let go of conscious deconstruction tendencies and simply consume content until it is second nature to you.  
• Practice – Finally, the toughest and the most critical part of becoming a public speaker is simply practicing more often. Find opportunities to give talks. If you don’t find on-stage openings, simply give recorded talks or even stream your keynote. With enough practice, you’ll find your talks rising to the level of great public speakers whose content you so thoroughly consumed.

Credit to cookie_studio (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited)

10 Benefits Of Live Drawing For Presentations- No Artistic Skills Required

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation

Drawing for presentations is more than just doodles on a page—it’s the art of transforming ideas into visuals that captivate and communicate. As Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up.” So, let’s unleash our inner Picasso and master the art of presentation drawing!

What Is Live Drawing for Presentations?

Live drawing in presentations, also known as real-time or interactive drawing, is a dynamic and engaging technique where an artist or presenter creates visuals on a digital or physical canvas during a live event. 

This approach adds an element of excitement and interactivity to presentations, making them more memorable and impactful. It can involve sketching, diagramming, or illustrating ideas on the spot, helping to clarify complex concepts and capture the audience’s attention in real-time.

 Live drawing can be a powerful tool for educators, speakers, and businesses looking to enhance their communication and storytelling abilities.

What Is The Art Of Presentation Skills? 

The art of presentation skills is a multifaceted craft that involves the ability to communicate, captivate, and persuade an audience effectively. It’s not just about conveying information; it’s about creating an experience that leaves a lasting impact. Effective presenters master the art of connecting with their audience, conveying their message clearly, and engaging their listeners on both intellectual and emotional levels.

Presentations, whether they’re in a business, educational, or public speaking context, require a delicate balance of several key elements. These elements include content organization, body language, vocal tone, and the use of visual aids. Presentation skills encompass the art of storytelling, the power of persuasion, and the ability to adapt to the needs and preferences of your audience.

Now, let’s introduce Drawing as one of the essential skills within the Art of Presentation:

Drawing, as an integral part of presentation skills , brings a unique dimension to the craft. It allows presenters to visually illustrate their ideas, clarify complex concepts, and create a stronger connection with the audience. Whether it’s through live drawing during the presentation or integrating pre-made visuals, drawing adds a creative and engaging element that can leave a lasting impression.

Drawing can be used to create diagrams, charts, and illustrations that simplify complex data, making it more accessible and relatable to the audience. Visual metaphors, sketches, and illustrations can be powerful tools to reinforce your message, evoke emotions, and enhance the overall storytelling experience.

Moreover, drawing doesn’t require advanced artistic skills. Even simple sketches can effectively convey ideas and make your presentation more engaging. Whether you’re presenting in a boardroom, classroom, or on a stage, the ability to incorporate drawing into your presentation skills toolkit can set you apart as a more dynamic and compelling communicator.

In the art of presentation skills, drawing is a creative tool that transforms presentations into Visual stories , making them more memorable and impactful. It’s a skill that, when mastered, can take your presentations to a whole new level, making your messages not only heard but also seen and felt by your audience.

10 Benefits Of Live Drawing For Presentations

Live drawing in presentations is not just about putting pen to paper; it’s a dynamic and captivating technique that can transform your communication. Let us explore ten compelling benefits of incorporating live drawing into your presentations: 

1. Drawing Improves Memory and Recall

 Drawing engages both the visual and motor cortex of the brain, which enhances memory retention. When you draw during a presentation, you create a visual memory for yourself and your audience, making the information more memorable.

 A study published in the “Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology” found that drawing information led to significantly better recall compared to writing or visualizing alone.

2. Greater Understanding and Clarity:

 Live drawing helps in breaking down complex concepts into simple, visually digestible elements. Visual representations can make abstract or intricate ideas more accessible, reducing cognitive load for the audience and increasing comprehension and clarity. This simplification aids in greater understanding and clarity, making it easier for the audience to grasp the content.

  “When information is presented pictorially, it is often easier to understand and recall than when it is presented verbally.” – Barbara Tversky, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University.

3. Picturization of Content:

By translating information into visual form, live drawing allows you to represent data and ideas as images, making them more relatable. It allows you to transform abstract ideas and data into tangible images. This approach aligns with the brain’s preference for processing information visually, with up to 90% of the information transmitted to the brain being visual. This makes the content more relatable and accessible for the audience, as they can connect with the visuals on a deeper level.

The brain processes visual information 60,000 times faster than text, and 90 percent of information transmitted to the brain is visual.

4. Enhanced Engagement and Interactivity:

Live drawing is inherently engaging as the audience witnesses the creation of visuals in real-time. It adds an element of interactivity, as viewers can ask questions or provide input, fostering a more dynamic and participative environment.

 A study in “The Journal of Educational Psychology” showed that interactive learning methods, like live drawing, can lead to significantly improved learning outcomes and engagement.

5. Storytelling Amplification:

Visuals created through live drawing enhance storytelling by adding depth and emotional resonance to the narrative. Visual metaphors and illustrations can convey complex emotions and ideas more effectively. This is supported by research indicating that stories are far more memorable than facts alone, and visuals enhance the emotional impact of a narrative.

 “Stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone.” – Jennifer Aaker, Professor of Marketing at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

6. Customization for Specific Audiences:

Live drawing enables presenters to adapt their visuals in real-time, catering to the specific needs and preferences of the audience. This customization fosters a more personalized and impactful presentation.

“Audience engagement increases by 18% when content is personalized.” – Demand Metric Research Corporation.

7. Improved Information Processing:

The combination of spoken words and live visuals creates dual coding, reinforcing the message in the audience’s memory. This leads to higher information processing rates.

The Cognitive Load Theory suggests that the use of visual aids, such as live drawing, can significantly reduce cognitive load, making it easier for the brain to process and retain information.

8. Overcoming Language Barriers:

Live drawing transcends language barriers, making it an effective tool for international or diverse audiences. Visuals can convey universal concepts, ensuring a broader reach and understanding.

“Visual language is a global medium for communication.” – Keith Williams, Professor of Visual Communication at Yale University.

9. Demonstration of Creative Thinking:

Live drawing showcases creativity and problem-solving skills, which can enhance the presenter’s credibility and engage the audience on a deeper level.

Studies have shown that creative demonstrations can lead to increased trust and positive perception of the presenter.

10. Enhanced Emotional Connection:

Visuals created through live drawing have the power to evoke emotions and create a stronger connection between the audience and the content, leaving a lasting impact.

“The more emotional the content, the more likely it is to be shared and remembered.” – Jonah Berger, Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Incorporating live drawing into presentations can yield numerous cognitive, emotional, and practical benefits, enhancing the overall impact and effectiveness of your communication.

How Drawing Helps You To Think Better?

Drawing is a powerful tool that can enhance your thinking processes, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and communication. This TEDxTalk offers valuable insights into how drawing can contribute to improved thinking. Let’s explore each of the five points that are mentioned:

1. Intuition

 Drawing can help tap into your intuition by allowing you to express ideas, feelings, and concepts that might be difficult to articulate with words alone. Through the act of drawing, you can access your inner thoughts and emotions, enabling a more intuitive understanding of complex issues.

In the video, the speaker discusses how drawing can help individuals connect with their inner selves and harness their intuition as a valuable source of insight.

Drawing, whether it’s creating art or diagrams, can elevate the aesthetics of your thoughts and ideas. Visualizing concepts in a visually appealing way can make them more attractive and engaging, enhancing the overall quality of your thinking.

The video emphasizes the importance of incorporating aesthetics into your work and how visual beauty can be a driving force in creative thinking.

3. Reflection:

Drawing provides an opportunity for reflection. When you put your thoughts on paper or canvas, it becomes easier to evaluate, analyze, and refine your ideas. You can step back and critically assess your work, facilitating deeper thinking and self-reflection.

The video highlights the role of drawing as a tool for self-reflection, helping individuals gain clarity and insight into their thoughts and emotions.

4. Imagination:

Drawing is a medium that encourages imagination and creativity. It allows you to explore possibilities, experiment with ideas, and push the boundaries of your thinking. By sketching and visualizing your imagination, you can discover new perspectives and solutions.

The video underscores the role of drawing in unlocking one’s imagination, enabling a free flow of creative ideas and solutions to problems.

5. Communication:

Drawing is a universal language that transcends barriers. It enables effective communication by simplifying complex concepts and making them accessible to a wide audience. Whether you’re explaining a complex scientific theory or a new product design, visuals created through drawing can convey your message with clarity.

The video emphasizes the role of drawing as a means of communication, highlighting its power in connecting with and compellingly engaging others.

In summary, drawing can be a transformative tool for thinking. It engages intuition, enhances beauty, promotes reflection, fuels imagination, and facilitates effective communication. The video offers further insights and inspiration on how drawing can be harnessed to improve your thinking processes.

What Are The Requirements Of Presentation Drawing?

Creating effective presentation drawings requires a combination of skills, tools, and considerations to ensure that your visuals are engaging and communicate your message effectively. Here are the 7 key requirements for presentation drawing:

1. Clear Message and Objective:

The foundation of a successful presentation drawing is a well-defined message and objective. Your drawing should align with the core message you want to convey. Before you begin drawing, clarify what you want your audience to take away from your visual.

2. Understanding Your Audience:

Understanding your audience is crucial to creating effective presentation drawings. Consider their knowledge level, interests, and preferences. Tailor your visuals to resonate with your specific audience, making the content more relatable and engaging for them.

3. Storyboard or Plan:

Planning your drawing in advance is essential. Create a rough outline or storyboard to map out the structure and sequence of your drawing. This helps ensure a logical flow and consistency in your visuals, allowing for a smooth and coherent narrative.

4. Basic Drawing Skills:

While you don’t need to be an expert artist, having basic drawing skills is important. This includes the ability to create simple shapes, lines, and symbols that effectively convey your ideas. Practice and hone your skills to become more confident in your drawing abilities.

5. Visual Hierarchy and Consistency:

Establish a visual hierarchy to emphasize key points in your drawing. This can be achieved through the size, color, or positioning of elements. Consistency in style and formatting across all your drawings within a presentation is crucial for creating a cohesive look and maintaining audience engagement.

6. Simplicity and Relevance:

Keep your drawings simple and relevant. Avoid clutter and unnecessary details that could distract from your message. Each element in your drawing should directly relate to the content you’re presenting. Simplicity enhances clarity and helps the audience focus on what’s important.

7. Choice of Medium:

Your choice of drawing medium, whether traditional or digital, depends on your comfort and available resources. Traditional tools, like markers and paper, offer a tactile experience, while digital tools provide flexibility and ease of editing. Choose the medium that suits your style and resources. 

A. Drawing In PowerPoint Presentation

PowerPoint allows for in-slide drawing, which is particularly useful for digital presentations. It offers basic drawing tools, shapes, and the ability to annotate slides directly. It’s an excellent option for enhancing visuals during virtual or in-person presentations.

Drawing in PowerPoint is effective for real-time, digital presentations. You can highlight key points, underline text, add arrows, or create simple illustrations on your slides. It’s a versatile tool that integrates seamlessly with your presentation, making it interactive and engaging.

Basic Guide:

     – Open your PowerPoint presentation.

     – Select the slide where you want to add a drawing.

     – Go to the “Insert” tab and choose “Shapes” or “Scribble” from the “Illustrations” group.

     – Use the drawing tools to create your visual elements.

     – Customize colors, line thickness, and style.

     – Annotate your slides as needed.

B. Drawing In Canva

Canva is a graphic design tool known for its user-friendly interface and extensive library of templates and elements. It offers a wide range of drawing and illustration options, making it ideal for creating visually stunning graphics, infographics, and presentations.

Canva’s design features are highly effective for creating professional and aesthetically pleasing visuals. You can choose from a wide variety of templates, graphics, and drawing tools to make your presentations visually compelling. Canva’s collaborative features also make it a great choice for team projects.

   Basic Guide:

     – Sign in to your Canva account or create one.

     – Start a new presentation project or select an existing one.

     – Use the “Elements” tab to access various drawing tools and shapes.

     – Drag and drop elements onto your canvas.

     – Customize colors, size, and position.

     – Save your work and download it for use in your presentation.

C. Live Drawing On Board

Live drawing on a board, whether physical or digital, provides a dynamic and engaging experience during presentations. It allows presenters to illustrate concepts in real time, fostering a direct connection with the audience.

 Live drawing on a board is highly effective for face-to-face presentations or virtual events with a shared whiteboard. It enables real-time interaction, allowing presenters to respond to audience questions and ideas immediately. This technique adds a personal touch and can make complex concepts more accessible.

D. White Chart Paper

Using white chart paper is a traditional, low-tech method for drawing and presenting. It’s often used in classrooms and brainstorming sessions. It’s unique for its simplicity and accessibility.

 White chart paper is effective for interactive group discussions and brainstorming sessions. It allows participants to collaborate and visualize their ideas collectively. It’s particularly useful in settings where technology is limited or when a tactile, hands-on approach is desired.

In summary, the choice of drawing tools and methods depends on the context and your specific presentation needs. PowerPoint and Canva offer digital options with various features and templates, while live drawing on a board and using white chart paper provide a more hands-on, interactive approach. Choose the method that best suits your presentation style and objectives.

Do I Need To Be Good At Drawing To Add It To My Presentations?

No, you don’t need to be exceptionally skilled at drawing to incorporate it into your presentations effectively. While having advanced drawing skills can be an asset, there are various ways to add drawing elements to your presentations, even if you consider yourself a novice artist. 

Let me give you an example, I very well remember some memories of my dad drawing funny figures on paper as he narrated captivating tales. It was all about the sheer joy of the moment, not the perfection of the artwork. I mean, the dog hardly ever resembled a real dog, and the human figure was nothing more than a basic stick figure, but those drawings added a touch of whimsy that made the stories unforgettable and incredibly engaging.

Drawing in presentations can be a lot like that. You don’t need to be a professional artist. Here’s why:

1. Expression over Perfection:

Presentations are about conveying ideas and engaging your audience, not showcasing your artistic skills. Simple drawings or sketches can effectively express your message, and sometimes, the authenticity of a less-than-perfect drawing can be endearing and relatable.

2. Digital Tools:

With modern presentation software and graphic design tools, you can leverage pre-made shapes, icons, and templates. These tools make it easy to create professional-looking visuals without needing advanced drawing skills.

3. Concept Clarity:

The primary goal of adding drawings to your presentation is to enhance conceptual clarity. Even basic illustrations can serve this purpose by simplifying complex ideas, making them more understandable to your audience.

4. Audience Engagement: 

Drawing can enhance audience engagement. It adds a personal touch to your presentation and can spark curiosity. When your audience sees that you’ve put effort into creating visuals, it can leave a positive impression.

5. Practice and Improvement: 

If you’re interested in enhancing your drawing skills, presentations are a perfect platform to practice. As you use drawing more frequently, you’ll likely see improvement over time.

6. Uniqueness: 

Hand-drawn visuals can set your presentations apart. They give your content a distinct, human touch that can make it more memorable and relatable.

In a nutshell, the key is not your artistic prowess but the effectiveness of your visuals in conveying your message. Simple drawings and graphics can work wonders in making your presentations engaging and memorable. So, go ahead and have some fun with your drawings in your presentations. Who knows, just like those funny stories stuck in my head that my dad used to tell, your presentation drawings might become unforgettable for your audience!

In conclusion, drawing for presentations is a versatile and powerful tool that doesn’t require advanced artistic skills. Whether you’re using basic shapes, templates, or digital tools, the goal is to enhance the clarity and impact of your message. The authenticity and simplicity of drawings often resonate with audiences, making your content more engaging and memorable. 

With a bit of practice and the right tools, you can unleash the creative potential of drawing and take your presentations to a whole new level. So, don’t hesitate to add a personal touch to your presentations through the art of drawing!

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What is Art?

Jul 22, 2014

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What is Art?. Art Standard: The Functionality of Art. Which one is easier to recognize?. this one?. or this one?. It’s going to rain today. Which one is easier to recognize?. this one?. or this one?. Tow Away Zone. Types of Communication. Written Verbal Visual

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Presentation Transcript

Whatis Art? Art Standard: The Functionality of Art

Which one is easier to recognize? this one? or this one? It’s going to rain today.

Which one is easier to recognize? this one? or this one? Tow Away Zone

Types of Communication • Written • Verbal • Visual Art is visual communication. our brain is built to remember images  not words...so draw it.

Why do we learn about Art? • The objective of learning art is not just to learn how to draw lines on paper, but how to express your views and what you see in a visual way.

Why do we learn about Art? • Imagine, just for a minute, a world without art! • You may think "So what?“, but consider not having graphics on your favorite video game. • Art gives us a way to be creative and express ourselves. It’s another form of communication…like talking or writing.

Art Form and Function: • Art is such a large part of our everyday lives that we may hardly even stop to think about it. • Look at the chair you are sitting in. Someone designed that chair. It is art. Your shoes are art. • Art is something that is both functional and pleasing to our eyes.

What are the Fine Arts? Visual Art Music Dance Drama

Art Content: • Besides Form and Function…Art may also have Content, which means: • What the artist meant to portray, • what the artist actually did portray and • how we react, as individuals, to both the intended and actual messages. • Content includes ways in which a work was influenced--by religion, or politics, or society in general, or even the artist's use of hallucinogenic substances--at the time it was created. All of these factors, together, make up the content side of art.

Definitions: • Art Form - Materials which make up the art, including color, texture, shape and form of the object. • Art Function - Purpose of an art work. • Art Content - Meaning and significance, including physical detail and information in a work of art. • Applied Art - Functional art made by hand or machine. • Fine Art - Communicate’s the artist’s feelings or ideas.

What is Art? • Does something have to be beautiful to becalled art? • Is art anything we want it to be, or does the term "art" refer to objects that have special characteristics? • Is art found only in art museums? • Should natural objects be considered works of art? • Can works that have no recognizable subject be considered art? • What do we respond to if there is nothing to recognize?

What is Art? • Can works that are designed primarily to sell things be called art? • Can objects that are primarily functional be considered as works of art? • Under what circumstances can we consider utilitarian objects as works of art? • What role does art play in a consumer oriented materialistic society? • Are there careers and occupations that require a background in the visual arts?  

Read pp. 2-5, Exploring Art Whatis Art? Art Standard: The Functionality of Art

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