Books Are Judged By Their Covers

Have you ever sat through a presentation and wished you were somewhere else? You know what I mean; the presenter is just not able to capture your attention or keep it for any significant length of time. That’s not to say they are bad or the presentation lacks merit, just that there is a key element missing. There might be tons of useful information on the slides, but seemingly very little concern was given for how it should be visually arranged and presented, or how to effectively deliver it to the audience. In today’s environment of instant gratification and shiny objects, we owe it to our presenters and their audience to create presentations that deliver both quality content and a visually appealing experience.

Why is visual appeal important in a professional presentation?

Personal brand:  Whether you believe it or not, your professional image, and quite possibly your brand, are at stake. A well-designed presentation will strengthen or even enhance your professional image. When it appears to the audience that time and effort have been invested into the preparations it will also help establish trust and credibility.

A more engaged audience: The visual appeal of your presentation can either capture their attention or leave them disengaged. First impressions are crucial, and your very first slide could be the very first time many in attendance come to know you, so don’t waste the opportunity to impress by ignoring the design elements in your presentation.

Increased understanding:  A well designed presentation can help enhance comprehension and improve the audience’s level of understanding. There are many types of learners in the world (auditory, visual, tactile, or analytical) and adding this extra level of detail to your presentation can help break down complex topics into simpler terms, use visual aids to illustrate key points, and create logical flows making the information easier to digest.

Differentiation:  In a world where everyone is looking to stand out from the competition, a captivating presentation can give you an advantage over those who are only focused on packing slides full of content without rhyme or reason. A good design will not only make you more memorable, but it will also help define and deliver your brand in a way that builds credibility and engagement.

You can’t undo a bad experience: Once you have missed the mark, it is hard to recover. If presentations are delivered in real-time, meaning once the words are spoken and the slides are clicked through, you cannot take it back.  Audience perception and interpretation is no longer in control and lasting memory can be difficult to erase.  And the inconvenient truth is that people will remember a bad experience more vividly than positive ones.  Presentation design can help to ensure that audience experience and impressions are positive. 

Don’t underestimate the impact of effective and high quality presentation design.  Equally, don’t underestimate the value of working with individuals and agencies who specialize in slide design. There are lots of highly skilled designers and content experts.  Make sure you reach out to one of them today. 

And as a last thought, it can be easy to rely on any of the numerousAI tools popping up to help with slide design. Always remember that they are nothing more than tools that can help enhance a presentation, but will never replace the hard earned skill and talent of professional designers. If you need help with your presentations, reach out to us today.