Principles of
Presentation Design
Tips on how to think like a designer
Planning a Presentation Without Technology
John Consultant
Fallon
Presentation Skills

Planning a Presentation without
Technology

Use analog instead of digital

Brainstorm

Use paper for sketching,
whiteboards and post-its

Slow down the tempo of completion

Busyness kills creativity

Have some
“alone” time to
be creative

Ask the right
question

Asking the right
question eliminates
ineffectiveness,
wasted time and
general
dissatisfaction

Technology does not determine
presentation effectiveness

Think how to craft the
story which is the most
effective, memorable and
appropriate for your
audience

Wrong Questions to Ask
• How many bullets points per slide
• How many slides per presentation
• Should I use pictures

Questions to ask…

What is my absolute central point?

If the audience remembers one
thing, what will it be?

Two Questions to remember…

What’s your
point?

Answer the question by putting
yourself in the “shoes” of your
audience (answer the question- so
what?)

Why does it matter?

Make sure the
core message
can pass the
“Elevator Test”

Handouts…

Make detailed handouts

Handouts aren’t copies of your slides

3 parts to a presentation…

Slides the audience will see

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Notes you will see

Handouts that are taken away

Create a document not a “slideument”

A “Slideument” isn’t effective,
efficient or pretty

Having slides serve as projected
visuals and handouts makes for bad
visuals and bad documentation

Be different and effective… use a
well written, detailed document
for your handout and well
designed, simple, intelligent
graphics for your visuals.

Though it requires more effort, the
quality of the visuals and take away
documents will improve

Benefit of planning well…

If you prepare well, the preparation
process itself should help you know
your story

“The computer is
a moron.”
– Peter Drucker

“Get away from the computer in
the early stages, the time when
your creativity is needed the
most. Clarity of thinking and a
generation of ideas come when
my computer and I are far
apart.” Garr Reynolds