5 reasons why people suck at designing slides

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by Espresso 1882 5 reasons why people suck at designing slides and how to make sure to avoid them 5 best beans blog

Post on 21-Oct-2014

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People suck at designing slides. Why? Simply because they do not know designing is the very last stage of the process. First come preparation, research and some decisions everyone should make before they even open the application of their choice. I very often hear that it is powerpoint that sucks. The very truth is that it does not. It is people who do not go beyond the default templates and who make the five most common mistakes you can read about. Make sure you do not make any of those anymore.

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Page 1: 5 Reasons Why People Suck at Designing Slides

by Espresso 1882

5 reasons why people suck at designing slides and how to make sure to avoid them

5 best beans blog

Page 2: 5 Reasons Why People Suck at Designing Slides

they start designing right away 1Designing actual slides should be the very last thing you do when preparing your presentation. First think of your audience, the story you want to tell them, the structure you want to use, the ideas you want to visualise and the design style you want to use (typography, colours, mood, visuals, symbols). Many people fail because they open their chosen application and start creating slides without the preparation.

MY TIP Decide on design and prepare all the resources before you start to work on slides CLICK TO TWEET

Page 3: 5 Reasons Why People Suck at Designing Slides

they use default templates2Default templates are pure evil. They suck in some many ways it makes it even hard to explain. They are the templates everyone can use, they by no means support your individual story and help your audience relate to your persuasive communication. They are a trap you should by all means avoid. People use them because that’s easy and because no one told them it’s possible to think outside of the box. And because they are afraid to experiment.

MY TIP Trash all default templates and look for inspiration on Slideshare and Behance CLICK TO TWEETMY TIP

Page 4: 5 Reasons Why People Suck at Designing Slides

they do not think of the audience3Very often instead of thinking of our audience we tend to judge our communication using our perspective. That is wrong. You always have to use the tools, symbols and stories your audience can relate to. Many people do not even bother to research who they are going to present to. Sometimes they also rely on stereotypes instead of real research.

MY TIP Every time you present to someone think of what this person’s perspective is. CLICK TO TWEETMY TIP

Page 5: 5 Reasons Why People Suck at Designing Slides

they include too much information 4

MY TIP

Every time you put all the things you say onto your slides the presentation becomes a text document and not an actual presentation. If that is what you want to do, send this by email and don’t waste other people’s time. Slides should be like great billboards – they are just milestones, anchors you story is rooted in.

When designing your slides think of billboards. Visual, headline and strong message. CLICK TO TWEETMY TIP

Page 6: 5 Reasons Why People Suck at Designing Slides

they do not use visual communication5

MY TIP

Words are great but when it comes to presentation those should be spoken and not written on your slides. Good slide is like a perfect billboard. Visual communication (pictures, diagrams, symbols, icons) should support you story, not jeopardise it with too much information.

Emotion generating pictures help get your audience’s attention and focus. CLICK TO TWEETMY TIP

Page 7: 5 Reasons Why People Suck at Designing Slides

5 REASONS WHY PEOPLE SUCK AT DESIGNING SLIDES AND HOW TO MAKE SURE TO AVOID THEM

Those were

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5 best beans blog

Page 8: 5 Reasons Why People Suck at Designing Slides

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