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Summary of Preparation
! Make your ideas sticky by keeping things simple
– Examples, stories, and the unexpected
! A presentation is never just about the facts
! Brainstorm the topic away from the computer
– Chunk most important bits together
– Identify the underlying theme
– Be true to the core message throughout the creation
! Make a storyboard of the ideas on paper
! Use software to lay out a solid structure
! Show restraint and bring everything back to the core message of
the presentation
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The Big Picture

! A general algorithm for presentation organization
– Introduction – 5%
– Body – 75-80%
– Conclusion – 5%
– Q&A Session – 10-15%
! If the presentation takes more than 20 mins – divide it in units
– A brief intro & conclusion to the whole presentation
– Each unit with its own intro, body & conclusion

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Number of Slides
! How many slides?
– Similar to “how many LOC for a program?”
! There is not enough info to answer it precisely
! The rule of thumb is
– 2 minutes per slide
– More appropriate today is 80 seconds
! Parameters influencing the time per slide
– Size of the audience
– Number of bullet points per slide / amount of text
– Information density of graphics
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4. Creating Technical Presentations

II. Design

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Design – Simplicity
! Simple ≠ simplistic or dumbed down
! Simple ≠ oversimplification ignoring complexity
! Simplicity comes from an intelligent desire for clarity that
gets the essence of an issue
! Simplicity is not easy – it is hard!
– Clarity
– Directness
– Subtlety
– Essentialness
“Make everything as simple as possible but not simpler.”
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Design – Simplicity (2)

! How can I save more time? My time
! How about “their time”?
– 1h death-by-PP to 200 people = 200h wasted time
– 25-30h more planning of a good presentation can lead to 200h
of worthwhile memorable experience
! A good speakers makes the audience happy that they
have attended
! A poor speaker gives the audience the feeling of lost-time
just after beginning to speak…
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Design – Principles & Techniques

! “It depends” is not a weak statement – it is a wise one…
! One must know
– The place and circumstance
– The content and context
– In order to say what is appropriate and what not
! Design does not happen at the end!
– It comes at the beginning – right from the start
! Design is not decoration
– It makes things easier for the viewer

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Design – Principles & Techniques (2)

! Design is more about subtraction than addition
! You don’t want to include/exclude too much
– Typically people include too much
– The needle in the haystack tactic is not helpful
! In design there are more solutions to the same problem
– You need to explore for the most appropriate solution in a
given the context
! Design is about making conscious decisions about
inclusion & exclusion

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Design – Signal vs. Noise Ratio

! Borrowed from radio communication
– Ratio of relevant to irrelevant information on slides
! It should be as high as possible
– It tries to make it easier for people to “get it”
! Avoid cognitive strain
– Trying to make sense of what is presented
! Candidates for removal
– Footers, logos, lines in grids or tables, etc.
! Make all visual distinctions as subtle as possible but still
clear and effective
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Design – Signal vs. Noise Ratio (2)

! Is the nonessential always “noise”
– A bar-chart with a contrasting
background is ok
– Clarity should be the guiding principle
– Choose one depending on the
circumstances

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Design – Signal vs. Noise Ratio (3)

! 2-D or not 2-D
– Slideware apps have many features
– The 3-D charts are really one you can do without
– 3-D charts increase the “ratio of ink-to-data”
– They are less accurate & harder to follow

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Design – Picture Superiority Effect

! Pictures are remembered better than words
! Use this principle to improve the recognition & recall of key
information
! The effect is strongest when the pictures represent common
concrete things
! Widely used in marketing: posters, brochures, reports, etc.

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Design – Picture Superiority Effect (2)

! What information can be replaced by a photo
or an image/graphic?
! Text is still needed for labeling
! Digital cameras offer good quality material
! Getting good images:
Commercial: Free:
www.istockphoto.com www.morguefile.com
eu.fotolia.com www.flickr.com/creativecommons
www.dreamstime.com www.imageafter.com
www.shutterstock.com www.sxc.hu
www.everystockphoto.com
www.bluevertigo.com.ar
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Graphics
! Most audiences enjoy graphics
! They are expressive and take a lot of time to prepare

! A mix of graphics and text is usually the best choice

– The graphic is relatively simple

– The text is brief and supports the graphic

– Alternatively place the graphic/text on different slides

! Beware of cliché Clip Art & Cartoons

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The Complexity of a Graphic

! Before creating graphics consider:
– Will the presentation be using a high-quality screen or on a wall
with (a bright/pale) color?
– Will your audience be close enough to view the details in the
graphics?
– Will you be able to point to selected details in the graphics while
giving presentations?
! Classic mistakes – too much detail!
– Solution – reduce the detail in the graphic
– A graphic should be equivalent to a paragraph

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Design – Text Within Images

! Quotes enhance messages & add credibility
! Choose images supporting the text
! Images should have plenty of “empty” space to
allow for the text to fit in

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Design – Empty Space

! Negative space is simple yet difficult to apply
! The urge to fill the empty space is too great
! Empty space implies elegance and clarity

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Design – Directing 72

the Eye with Images

! Images can be used to help guide your eyes
! Pictures of people can also guide your eyes

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Design – Grids and The Rule of Thirds

! The “golden mean/ratio” is widely used
1:1.618
! We are naturally drawn to things with these
proportions – the rule of thirds is just as good
! This technique adds balance, beauty and
aesthetic quality to visuals
! There are 4 Power-Points

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Design – Contrast
! Contrast simply means difference
! We are naturally wired to notice differences
! We notice contrast and it gives design its energy
– Make elements clearly different not just slightly
! Achieving contrast:
– Manipulating space – near / far
– Color choices – dark / light, cool / warm
– Text selection – serif / sans-serif, bold / narrow
– Positioning – top / bottom, isolated / grouped
! Every design element can be used to create contrast

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Design – Repetition
! Reusing the same elements thought your design
! Repetition shows unity, consistency, and
cohesiveness
! Usually built-in templates
! Too much repetition is not good

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Design – Alignment & Proximity

! Alignment
– Nothing in the slide should look as if it is placed randomly
– Alignment ensures unity among elements on a slide
– Always align elements in the slide
! Proximity
– Moving things closer or farther apart to organize elements on a slide
– Related items should be grouped together
– The audience will assume that items far from each other are unrelated
– Do not make audiences “think” about the wrong things
– Determine & guide the order your eyes follow on a slide

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Summary of Design
! Design matters – it is about making communication as easy and
clear as possible
! Use the signal-vs-noise principle to remove nonessential elements
! Visuals are better than bullets
! Empty space is not nothing – it is a powerful something that you
must learn to use
! Use contrast to create strong dynamic differences
! Use repetition to repeat selected elements
! Use alignment to connect elements visually
! Use proximity to group related items together

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