Tips on Designing Visuals by Caitie Tanner

Visuals are a key element to the success of a presentation. Here are some tips on ways to make your visuals more efficient and professional:

1. Design a visual that presents one major point.
-A visual should get one major point across that is clear to the audience immediately
-This should be supported by factual information in bullet format

2. Keep your visual simple and organized.
-If your visual is cluttered, the reader or audience might loose focus
-A clean and organized visual looks professional

3. Limit the number of words that you use on your visual.
-Using to many words will make your visual look unorganized
-This can also confuse or mislead the reader or audience

4. Be sure and proofread your visual before presenting it.
-Grammatical errors can be seen as unprofessional
-Make sure that you check your data and that it is all factual

5. Use creative and catchy titles.
-The title is the first thing that grabs the reader or audience’s attention
-The title should get the point across and let the audience or reader know what they are going to be informed about

6. Use key words and graphics in your visual.
-This will help to get the attention of the audience and help them focus on a specific point that you are trying to make

7. Don’t mix horizontal and vertical formats.
-Make sure that you stick with one style rather than trying to incorporate both
-This will make the visual hard to follow

8. Make sure not to “over design” your visual.
-A classy and organized visual will have much more of an effect on a reader or an audience than a cluttered visual that will take their attention away from what you want to accomplish

References:

http://www.ua.edu/academic/oit/frc/resources/pdf/10tips.pdf