1. Painless Presentations:
Overcoming the pitfalls of public speaking
Using Visual Aids

2. Visual Aids
The Eyes Have it

3. Visual Aids The Eyes Have it
Visual aids get the eyes involved in the presentation
The enhance the experience for the audience
Improve interest, understanding, and memory
Contributes to speaker credibility

4. 1
versus

5. Myth 1: Visual Aid = PowerPoint or slide deck
Slide decks are only one type of aid. You can consider:
A physical demonstration
A sample to pass around
Props
Handouts
Videos
Any of these can help you tell your story visually

6. Myth 2: There is a “correct” number of slides
The correct number is what best supports your message
Some presentations only need one
Some use lots of images
It’s more about what’s on the slides rather than how many

7. Myth 3: I need to read my slides to the audience
Slides should support and emphasize your points, not act as the text of your speech.
Only read to add emphasis not to help you remember
Presentation Myths: Richard A. Becker and Sallie Keller-McNulty.
If the audience CAN’T read them, you have a design problem

8. Myth 4: I need all of my data on my slides
Data on slides should be used to help tell your story, not to prove you have data
Only add easily readable charts
Make the point clear
Presentation Myths: Richard A. Becker and Sallie Keller-McNulty.
If it’s not clear, leave it out.

9. Qualities 2

10. Aids should have:
Simplicity – Audiences can’t process too much information
Size – Everyone from front to back should see/read it
Appeal – Consider content and appearance.
Appropriateness – consider shock off limits in most scenarios
Adapted from College of Southern Idaho:

11. Aids should have: Reliability – if they don’t work, the don’t work.
Integration – makes sure they fit into the flow of your speech
Relevance – they should always add, and never distract
Timeliness – use them at the right time in the presentation
Adapted from College of Southern Idaho:

12. 3
PowerPoint

13. 48 point 44 point It’s about design 40 point 36 point
Keep Fonts between 28 and 48 for readability
48 point
44 point
40 point
36 point
32 point
28 point
22 point
18 point
14 point
12 point

14. It’s about design
What looks big enough
on a computer screen

15. What looks really small on a projection screen
It’s about design
What looks really small on a projection screen

16. It’s about design
ALL CAPS IS HARD TO READ
Mixed Case is Easier

17. It’s about design
Use “SanSerif Fonts” for readability (Arial, Calibri, etc.)
Serif Fonts are great for books
San Serif Fonts are better for presentations

18. It’s about design Design should be clean Design should use balance
Design should distribute text and photos evenly
Design should use compatible color choices

19. Design should be clean: Don’t clutter your slides
It’s about design
Design should be clean: Don’t clutter your slides

20. It’s about design Design should use balance Keep equal weight
Left and right
Top and bottom

21. No more than 3-7 points at most on a slide (3 is best)
Keep it simple
No more than 3-7 points at most on a slide (3 is best)

22. Be Mindful of Space Make sure that you are distributing text
Don’t bunch it up at the top
You have a whole slide to use
Image from Wikimedia Commons

23. Use Images (Properly)
Choose high quality images Use Google “tools” for size & usage rights Stick to one per slide Keep it relevant
Images courtesy of Pixabay

24. Stay Simple
Animations can be distracting Audio and Video can be tricky Too much stuff confuses
Images courtesy of Pixabay

25. 3
Practice

26. Practice with your visual aid
Know when to show your visual aid
If it’s a demonstration, practice it over and over
Say your speech out loud with the aids

27. Technical difficulties
Technology may not transfer between mac, pc, or cloud
Internet connections may not work well
There may be no slide advancer, limiting your movement
Be ready to give the speech without the visual aid

28. Cite your sources
If you didn’t draw it, photograph it, invent it, write it, research it, or create it, give credit to who did.
Image courtesy of: