I am learning so much at work and I had to share. We are in
a degree for Strategic Communications, but that communication happens as much
with pictures as it does with words. I am responsible for creating these five
minute PowerPoint based presentations that will have questions at the end to
check for understanding.
I have the privilege of working with one of our
professionals over in Interactive Media Services that also happens to be an
instructor at Otis College of Art and Design. (Click here to check the school out.) He and I had a couple
of meetings and then I was off to design my PowerPoint slides. Well, let's just
say I did not do well my first time out. I thought I had listened to everything
he said, but alas to put it mildly...I FLOPPED.
He has shared so much with me over the last week about
communicating visually and I know that this is enhancing the coursework I am
doing here at NU. I feel at times though like I am in TWO Master's programs,
because I have to get what he is teaching me quickly because we are under some
stringent deadlines.
I would like to recommend to those of you that have to do
visual presentations to really not only consider the words that go on your
slides, but the images as well. The backdrop however can make or break a
presentation. With budgets being reduced, we may not have the graphic staff of
days before to make our words look pretty visually and so as Moshe' (my
tutor/instructor/mentor) has said it is important to know how to use the tools
available to you.
Some recommended reading will follow. Who knew...but as the
old saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words."
Duarte, N. (2008). slide:ology. Cambridge, MA:
O'Reilly.
Reynolds, G. (2010). Presentation Zen Design: Simple
Design Principles and Techniques to Enhance Your Presentations. Berkeley,
CA: New Riders.
Williams, R. (2008). The Non-Designer's Design Book.
Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.
Wood, B. (2010). Teach Yourself Visually PowerPoint 2010.
Indianapolis, IN: Wiley Publilshing, Inc.
A couple of websites he recommended were:
Powerpoint design tips for beginners (Read this first)
General design tips:
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