Designing a Presentation: Why Do We See It So Little?

As a presentation designer, your duty is to turn concepts into visual representations of them. A successful presentation relies on a clear message conveyed via visual representations that are easy for your audience to understand. Good design makes the difference between a successful visual and a failure.

Some instances of extremely shoddy designs that we all see every day might help us recognize the value of excellent design. Bad design is all around us, and it's making our lives more difficult.

The worst thing about badly designed products is that they could have saved many people a lot of pain if the creator had just a little more forethought. The boundary separating excellent design from terrible design may be blurry. It may be as simple as putting a button in a location where it's hard to press by accident, putting a label where it's easy to notice before doing the incorrect thing, or designing a multi-step process so you don't have to go all the way to step seven before realizing you did step three wrong.

A more refined sense of aesthetics leads to a critical eye that asks, "Could this have been done any better?" and "What would it have taken to make it function like that?"

Take a peek at your most recent presentation. Do you think there were any factors that may have produced even a brief misunderstanding? Did they ask, "Oh, I understand it—but why didn't you simply say it this way?" after you described the element?

It takes more work to get the same outcome from a lousy design. The less energy you have available to digest your information, the more work it takes to absorb it. Discomfort is the result of making an effort. Comfort in the presenting setting may be disastrous since disassociation from the message is caused by discomfort. Why do professional trainers ensure that their students are in a learning environment that is as pleasant as possible? The ancient adage, "The mind can only take in as much as the buttocks can bear," is still valid today. Having a bad presentation is a pain in the rear, and it also reduces the effectiveness of the message.

For the time being, let's take a break from lectures.

The things you use or come into contact with on a daily or weekly basis might be anything from electrical to mechanical to architectural to digital. Things made for human consumption were originally conceived by a human being. Because some people are more gifted than others, you already know this fact. Almost everyone has experienced irritation or frustration with technology that was created by a member of the less gifted group.

Observe whether the switch from high to low works as expected or if you have to press the switch to the lower position in order to get a high setting. Is it possible to use your drip coffee maker without spilling any water or coffee? In your glass or on the floor, where does your refrigerator spit the most ice? Is it possible for your pals to use your microwave without you having to demonstrate it to them?

An important goal of this exercise is to encourage you to think deeply about the impact your presentations have on those to whom you give them and why it is worthwhile to put forth effort into creating effective ones. If you're concerned about the quality of your audience's experience, you'll want to design in a manner that enhances, rather than detracts from, that experience. You must take advantage of every chance to convince your audience, and you must do it in a way that does not cause them any distress. Audiences are vulnerable. Respect them, "advises Edward Tufte."

Final regret about poor design: so many customers who are irritated by broken products believe it is their fault!Instead of blaming others, individuals who have difficulty understanding what they are being taught or seeing on screen typically place the blame on their own abilities to learn.

Is there a less-than-obvious "operating system" in your presentations? Is it necessary for your audience to grasp and understand your presentation's design before they can understand your message?

It's critical that you keep your audience focused on the topic you're trying to convey while putting together a presentation. Your design should never cause them to lose focus or even notice you. The bells and whistles won't help folks recall your message, but rather the bells and whistles they'll remember. Your message must be the main focus of your presentation in order for your audience to remain focused on it.

Your audience has taken some time and effort out of their day to hear you talk. Good design is an excellent way to convey your appreciation for their presence.