Presentation+Zen


 * Notes from //Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery// by Garr Raynolds, 2008**



“If we desire to communicate with more clarity, integrity, beauty, and intelligence, then we must move beyond what is considered to be “normal” to something different and far more effective” (7).

Normal, since the emergence of PowerPoint, has been the dominance of bullet point-focused slides. Many presentation gurus now refer to this method as “death by PowerPoint.” Raynolds urges us to break away from this mold if we are to be effective presenters.

“The aim of this book is to help professionals free themselves from the pain of creating and delivering presentations by helping them see presentations in a way that is different, simpler, more visual, more natural, and ultimately far more meaningful” (8).

“Zen scholar Daisetz Suzuki says, ‘…the first principle of the art is not to rely on tricks of technique. Most swordsmen make too much of technique, sometimes making it their chief concern….’ And most presenters make the software their chief concern in the preparation process and the delivery” (9).

PowerPoint gives us tons of on-screen options, from crazy transitions to an unending source of colors and schemes. The call here is to simplify, to not worry so much about making a fancy presentation but instead making a simple—but good—presentation. The Zen approach emphasizes simplicity.

__Presentations in the “Conceptual Age”__

The Conceptual age is an idea advanced by Daniel Pink in his 2006 book, //A Whole New Mind//. He contrasts this to the “information age,” a time dominated by the need for data, information, and logical analysis.

“Today’s world [is] an era that Pink and others have dubbed ‘the conceptual age,’ where ‘high-touch’ and ‘high concept’ aptitudes are the first among equals. ‘The future belongs to a different kind of person,’ Pink says, ‘Designers, inventors, teachers, storytellers—creative and empathic right-brain thinkers whose abilities mark the fault line between who gets ahead and who doesn’t’” (14).

“Pink claims we’re living in a different era, a different age. An age in which those who ‘Think different’ will be valued even more than ever. We’re living in an age, says Pink, that is ‘…animated by a different form of thinking and a new approach to life—one that prizes aptitudes that I call ‘high concept’ and ‘high touch.’ High Concept involves the capacity to detect patterns and opportunities, to create artistic and emotional beauty, to craft a satisfying narrative…” (14).

I’m especially interested in this notion of crafting “a satisfying narrative.” This is where PowerPoint comes in, but this is also where narrative theory comes in—and THAT’S exciting!

“Now, Pink is not saying that logic and analysis (so-called ‘left-brain reasoning’), which are so important in ‘the information age,’ are not important in the “conceptual age’ of today. Indeed, logical thinking is as important as it ever has been. So-called ‘right-brain reasoning’ alone is not going to keep the space shuttle up or cure disease. Logical reasoning is a necessary condition. However, it’s increasingly clear that logic alone is not a sufficient condition for success for individuals and for organizations. Right-brain thinking is every bit as important now—in some cases more important—than left-brain thinking” (14).

“Particularly valuable in //A Whole New Mind// are the ‘six senses’ or the six ‘right-brain directed aptitudes,’ which Pink says are necessary for successful professionals to possess in the more interdependent world we live in, a world of increases automation and out-sourcing. The six aptitudes are: design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning. Mastering them is not sufficient, but leveraging these aptitudes has not become necessary for professional success and personal fulfillment in today’s world” (15).

Design: “The best designs are so well done that ‘the design’ is never even noticed consciously by the observer/user, such as the design of a book or signage in an airport.”

Story: “Facts, information, data. Most of it is available online or can be sent to people in email, a PDF attachment, or a hard copy through snail mail. Data and ‘the facts’ have never been more widely available. Cognitive scientist Mark Turner calls storytelling ‘narrative imagining,’ something that is a key instrument of thought.”

Symphony: “…in the conceptual age, synthesis and the ability to use seemingly unrelated pieces to form and articulate the big picture before us is crucial, even a differentiator. Pink calls this aptitude ‘symphony.’” “The best presenters can illuminate the relationships that we may not have seen before.” “What’s needed are those who can recognize the patterns, and who are skilled at seeing nuances and the simplicity that may exist in a complex problem” (17).

Empathy: “It involves an understanding of the importance of the nonverbal cues of others and being aware of your own. Good designers, for example, have the ability to put themselves in the position of the user, the customer, or the audience member” (17).

Play: “In the conceptual age, says Pink says, work is not just about seriousness but about play as well. Each presentation situation is different, but in many public speaking situations playfulness and humor can go a long way toward making a presentation palatable” (18).

Meaning: “…making a presentation is an opportunity to make a small difference in the world (or your community, or your company, or school, etc.) (19).

Advice from Seth Godin, Marketing guru and author of //Meatball Sundae// “First, make slides that reinforce your words, not repeat them….No more than six words on a slide. EVER. There is no presentation so complex that this rules needs to be broker. Second, don’t use cheesy images. Use professional story photo images. Third, no dissolves, spins, or other transitions. Keep it simple” (21).

KEY:

“A New Era Requires New Thinking

The skills necessary to be an effective communicator today are different than in the past. Today, literacy is not only about reading and writing text…but also about understanding visual communication. Today, we need a higher degree of visual literacy and an understanding of the great power that imagery has for conveying important messages. …Books have their place, but you should to looking to other forms of proven, visual storytelling as well. Documentary films, for example, are a medium that tells a non-fiction story incorporating narration, interviews, audio, powerful video and still images, and at times, on-screen text. …[another place to look is the] art of comics. …A key point to remember is that the principles and techniques for creating a presentation for a conference or a keynote address have more in common with the principles and techniques behind the creation of a good documentary film or a good comic book than the creation of a conventional, static business document with bullet points” (22).

__Some General Design Principles__ (p 121ff)


 * 1) Signal v. Noise Ratio (SNR)—“The SNR is the ration of relevant to irrelevant elements or information in a slide or other display. The goal is to have the highest SNR possible in your slides….In other words, if the item can be removed without compromising the visual message, then strong consideration should be given to minimizing the element or removing it altogether” (122).


 * 1) Picture Superiority Effect—“…says that pictures are remembered better than words, especially when people are casually exposed to the information and the exposure is for a very limited time” (132).


 * 1) Using Quotations—“While long bullet points are not very effective as ‘visual enhancer,’ displaying quotations in your presentation slides can be a very useful technique….Quotes can add credibility to your story. A simple quote is a good springboard from which you can launch your next topic or weave into your narrative to support your point” (141).


 * 1) Text within Images—“When I use a quote I sometimes use a graphic element that targets people’s emotions, adds more visual interest, and enhances the effect of the slide. But rather than using a small photo or other element, consider placing the text within [upon] a larger photo” (142).


 * 1) Empty Space—“One of the biggest mistakes that typical business people make with presentation slides is going out of their way to seemingly use every centimeter of space on a page, filling it up with text, boxes, clip art (etc.)….Empty space implies elegance and clarity. Empty space can convey a feeling of high quality, sophistication, and importance….It is the empty space that gives a design air and lets the positive elements breathe” (145).


 * 1) Balance—“A well-designed slide has a clear starting point and guides the viewer through the design. The viewer should never have to think about where to look. A visual must never confuse anyone. What is the most important, less important, and least important parts of the design can be clearly expressed by having a hierarchy and a good balance of the display elements….Symmetrical designs have a strong emphasis along a central vertical axis. Symmetrical balance is vertically centered and is equivalent on both sides. Symmetrical designs are more static than asymmetrical designs and evoke feelings of formality or stability. There is nothing wrong with centered, symmetrical designs, although empty space in such designs is generally passive and pushed to the side….Good presentations will incorporate a series of presentation visuals that have a mix of slides that are symmetrical and asymmetrical” (148).


 * 1) Grids and the Rule of Thirds—“The rule of thirds is a basic technique that photographers learn for framing their shots. Subjects placed exactly in the middle can often make for an uninteresting photo. A viewfinder can be divided by lines—real or just imagined—so that you have four intersecting lines or crossing points and nine boxes that resemble a tic-tac-toe board. These four crossing points (also called ‘power points’) are areas you might place your main subject, rather than in the center” (151).


 * 1) Contrast—“Contrast simply means difference. And for whatever reason…we are all wired to notice differences….Contrast is what we notice, and it’s what gives design its energy. So you should make elements that are not the same clearly different, not just slightly different….Making use of contrast can help you create a design in which one item is clearly dominant. This helps the viewer ‘get’ the point of your design quickly. Every good design has a strong and clear focal point and having a clear contrast among elements (with one being clearly dominant) helps” (153).


 * 1) Repetition—“The principle of repetition simply means the reusing of the same or similar elements throughout your design. Repetition of certain design elements in a slide or among a desk of slides will bring a clear sense of unity, consistency, and cohesiveness. Where contrast is about showing difference, repetition is about subtly using elements to make sure the design is viewed as part of a larger whole” (155).


 * 1) Alignment—“The whole point of the alignment principle is that nothing in your slide design should look as if it were placed randomly. Every element is connected visually via an invisible line” (157).


 * 1) Proximity—“The principle says that related items should be grouped together so that they will be viewed as a group, rather than as several unrelated elements. Audiences will assume that items that are not near each other in a design are not closely related. Audiences will naturally tend to group similar items that are near to each other into a single-unit” (157).

__Presentation__

“If you want your presentation to be more effective, then don’t touch that light switch. Even when you are using slides, the more lights you can keep on, the better off you will be. Remember, you’re trying to connect, to tell a story, to sell an idea to the board or other decision makers. It is very difficult to make a connection if the audience can’t see you….The audience must experience both your ‘verbal speech’ and your ‘visual speech.’ A relatively small part of your message is actually verbal. The rest of your message is expressed visually and vocally. Influencing people verbally becomes far more difficult when they can’t see you” (208).