Learn From Others
"A comprehensive and practical guide for those who want to seriously raise the bar on their presentations but don’t have the time to learn design theory."
(It's really good!)
Resources
Want to use what I use to create presentations? Here's a good place to start.
Duarte Presentation Resources >: A fantastic set of tool and resources from the presentation 🐐 (I highly recommend their Diagrammer tool).
Seven Questions to Knowing Your Audience >: Use this to determine how to best engage your audience.
8 Classic Storytelling Techniques for Engaging Presentations >: A handy article from Sparkol that introduces tried-and-true methods of telling any story.
Data Visualization Chart Suggestions >: Not sure how to best visualize data? Check out this handy infographic.
44 Types of Graphs >: Another handy option to learn which type of chart is best to visualize data.
Text-Based Symbols >: Easily add symbols in text blocks.
PresentationGO >: Free presentation templates, including diagrams and charts.
Flat Icons >: Download free icons.
Image Background Remover >: Easily cut people out of a photo. (Note: requires you to sign up for a free account).
Inspiration & Thought Leadership
Every once in a while, I’ll run into an article, video, or podcast that shares an idea that completely changes my perspective on design and communication. Here are a few I’d like to share that I hope you’ll also benefit from.
HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations: This book is my go-to for presentation design knowledge and inspiration. Much of my Presentation Design 101 training was revamped after reading this book because of Nancy Duarte’s brilliance in the space of creating presentations.
Nobody Wants To Use Your Product: This article from 2016 introduced me to the idea of “results, not features”. Essentially, it’s an idea that people want a result (e.g., to know the current temperature) and don’t necessarily wake up excited to use the thing that gives them the result (e.g., a phone, smartwatch, etc.). Most people just wish they had the knowledge they want, and part of design is determining the easiest way to deliver that result.
The Graphic Sound – Simplicity: "Simplicity takes courage” is a mantra that’s embedded into my brain. This podcast episode is one I listen to annually to help remind me of why simplicity plays such an important role in design (and really, in life). I find that many aspects of our work (and our deliverables) are more complicated than it needs to be, and simplicity is often the best course of action.
Start With Why: This video (and book) was mind-blowing to me when I first saw it. The focus of Simon Sinek’s main idea is about how leaders inspire others, which is fantastic in my opinion. However, the lessons I’ve learned about communication — specifically, how focusing on the why resonates with people — are invaluable.