Creating Great Visual Aids

Transcription

1 Creating Great Visual Aids

2 How to create and use visual aids well! l Keep it simple, Stern! l Use message titles l Ensure readability l Be consistent l Think visually

3 Follow design guidelines 1. Keep it simple, Stern! 2. Use message titles 3. Ensure readability 4. Be consistent 5. Think visually

4 Example: not simple! Profit analysis--by region and 4th quarter profits th quarter figures 40% -- Central (OH) 60% -- Central (Other) st Qtr 2nd 3rd 4th Qtr Central North East Source: Misguided computer fan Central 46% 46% East

5 Bullet slides: lots of information! l You can put lots of print on a horizontal chart, without wrapping text lines too many times l Even if you had 12 bullet points, you could fit them all on a single slide l You might even decide to change the line spacing to squeeze in your last idea l Your font size might still be readable in the back row -- this, by the way, is a 32 point font l And writing complete sentences means you can stop worrying about those memory loss moments l If you make margins really wide and use the space under the bullets, you can squeeze more in, too, just to make sure all your points are there

6 Think 6 x 6 6 lines per slide 6 words per line Think 6 x 6

7 Follow design guidelines ΠKeep it simple Use message titles Ensure readability Be consistent Think visually

8 Good titles improve comprehension l Clarify the main point l Tell the audience what to think l Help visuals make stand-alone sense

9 Example: poor slide title Sales ($ Millions)

10 Example: better slide title Sales hit new peak in 99 ($ Millions)

11 Example: better slide title Sales are virtually flat ($ Millions)

12 Follow design guidelines 1. KISS 2. Use message titles 3. Ensure readability 4. Be consistent 5. Think visually

13 Use the correct font size: at least 36! For a subtitle: 24 point For the Y axis label: 18 point For the source: 16 point For the X axis label: 18 point

14 Choose fonts carefully l Use CAPITAL LETTERS sparingly l Avoid fancy fonts l Select a serif font for dense text l Choose left justification l Use contrasting colors

15 What s wrong with this slide? l Sometimes the font size can be too small -- this is 18 points l WRITING IN ALL CAPS IS HARD TO READ l too much info on one slide can be a pain l Whoops! Check the color on a screen!!!! l Using unusualk fonts can be a problem don t forget, always spell check l Not being parallel slows readers down

16 Example: font, color choice THIS IS A CENTERED, ALL CAPITALIZED, ARIAL FONT, WHICH IS A SANS SERIF FONT. THESE CHOICES MAKE THIS VISUAL HARD TO READ.

17 Follow design guidelines 1. Keep it simple, Stern! 2. Use message titles 3. Ensure readability 4. Be consistent 5. Think visually

18 Be consistent with Graphics and Text Ø Layout: horizontal or vertical? u Maintain stylistic patterns: use colors, graphics & fonts same way (throughout) Transitions that don t distract are key. u Lists must be parallel. ð Consistency is really professional

19 Be consistent with design decisions l Choose horizontal layout l Maintain stylistic patterns for fonts colors graphics transitions l Use parallel structure in bullets

20 Emphasize consistency l Repeat the agenda slide l Add trackers to long presentations l Use color to highlight structure l Work with templates

21 Follow design guidelines 1. Keep it simple, Stern! 2. Use message titles 3. Ensure readability 4. Be consistent 5. Think visually

22 Think visually with charts, diagrams, colors Charts Diagrams Colors Simplify data Show concepts Highlight messages

23 Bad Example: chart choice Saudi Arabian Oil Production Barrels per day (millions) SCALE Source: The Economist World Atlas and Almanac, 1989, p.267

24 Example: diagram choice Generating enthusiasm Manage your time Or doom the project Procrastinating Missing the deadline Blaming the innocent Rewarding the nonparticipants

25 Use clip-art carefully l Make sure art is appropriate l Remember to support, not to distract l Consider that everyone has the same resources; avoid cliches!

26 Using visual aids effectively l Who s the most important visual aid? l How do you move? l What do you do with the lights? l How well do you know your slides? l Why you should never read or memorize!

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