PowerPoint Visualization Techniques
Good visualization techniques can help deliver amazing PowerPoint presentations. The key is to use good visuals – illustrations, images, maps, graphs, charts, tables, diagrams and animation and not just text.
These tips should help you understand the importance of visuals in presentations:
1. Image clarity – “A picture is worth a thousand words”. This old saying still holds true, provided it is big and clear to be visible on your PowerPoint slide.
- Use higher resolution images. Compressed pictures work best for documents and email and not always for PowerPoint
- While cropping or stretching images, do it from corners and not the sides. By doing so, you retain the ratio of the original image without distorting the image
- When using any image in slide master, ensure it is big enough to be clearly visible in large presentation venues
2. Visual metaphors – Use familiar objects to explain abstract concepts and ideas to help your audience understand.
3. KISS – Keep It Short and Simple. Avoid sentence fog on the slides. Thumb rule being no more than six words in a sentence; no more than six sentences on one slide. Showing fewer words allows for more engagement.
4. De-clutter – Less is more, really. The human brain gets bored easily, especially with too much information at one go. Use one or two impressive visuals in place of text to retain the attention of your audience.
5. Image format – When using multiple images (or clipart or shapes) on a single slide, ensure consistent picture format and color scheme. Images have a profound awe-inspiring effect when blended with few keywords or phrases on a single slide. Posters and greetings cards use this mantra quite often.
6. Color zen – Colors are very powerful, especially when used in contrast and complimenting shades.
- Background colors – Avoid bright, sharp colors like red, green and yellow. Also, keep in mind, when presenting in brightly lit rooms that a white background causes a glare effect for readers.
- Font Colors – Color-code key words or phrases to draw attention.
- Shadow – Tint images to enhance the emotional experience of the audience.
7. CUIKA – Data is often depicted pictorially with charts, graphs, and tables. Its purpose is to deduce and convey meaning out of complex numbers. The CUIKA approach does just that; it lets the data speak:
- Collected: Represent data which is actual and measurable
- Understandable: Use appropriate chart/graph to make data understandable
- Integrity: Ensure data is accurate and not distorted
- Known: Use known variables
- Actionable: It must solicit action
8. Smart animation – Good animation promotes understanding and appreciation of a topic. The right mix of animation gives a gentle stir to senses of audience. Overuse of animation can kill a presentation. You can also use readily available animated graphics to save time. Use animations to…
- depict relationships between key topics to either compare or contrast or sequence.
- set pace to information being shared in pieces to ensure easy grasp
- evoke and stir thinking amongst the audience
- simplify points presented or to discuss parts that make up a whole headline
A presenter has the responsibility to educate, excite and entertain. One can use PowerPoint tools to make a visually compelling presentation; nonetheless, the essence is the core content.
Wittten by Kitty Kachwa for Chillibreeze
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