Not all presentations are created equal. Each type requires a unique design approach based on its purpose and audience. Here’s how to tailor your presentation design to different kinds of decks.
1. Keynotes
These are meant to inspire and engage. They usually rely heavily on visuals and storytelling to capture the audience’s attention. Bold, powerful imagery and minimal text are key components.
2. Marketing Presentations
These presentations aim to persuade. The design should be brand-driven, using high-impact visuals, consistent branding elements, and clear calls to action that encourage the audience to take the next step.
3. Sales Pitches
Sales pitches focus on problem-solving and ROI. Design your presentation around client needs, featuring testimonials, product visuals, and data that demonstrate the value of your product or service.
4. Training Presentations
Training presentations need to be informative and interactive. They often include diagrams, infographics, and examples that help explain complex information in a digestible format.
Remember that this list is not all-encompassing, and there are different delivery channels and formats for presenting your material. For example, nowadays, it is very common to present online, which, as one can imagine, brings other factors to mind. Each type of presentation serves a different purpose, and your design should reflect that. By customizing your approach, you can create presentations that are more engaging, impactful, and aligned with your goals. Visit the other posts on this blog to learn more about specific presentation tips.
SlideDocs: A Common Mistake to Avoid—Not Your Typical Presentation Deck
It's important to understand that not all slide-format documents are presentations. One such format is the SlideDoc(TM), a type of visual report created using presentation software but intended to be read rather than presented.
The term "SlideDoc" was coined by Nancy Duarte, a leader in the presentation design field, to describe these standalone reports. Unlike a traditional presentation, where the slides support the speaker’s narrative, a SlideDoc(TM) is designed to speak for itself. Many people make the mistake of converting their PowerPoint presentations into PDFs and sending them out, but this doesn’t always work if the slides weren’t designed with the purpose of being read independently in mind. Modern presentations often rely heavily on visuals, with the speaker providing the narrative, but when these slides are shared without context, they can appear incomplete or confusing.
A SlideDoc(TM), however, is carefully designed to function without the presenter and still communicate effectively to the reader. It’s essential to make this distinction when designing your slides and to ensure you meet the specific needs of your presentation or report format. For more on SlideDocs, check out our blog article here.
I hope these tips help you tailor your presentations to their unique purpose! If you need assistance deciding what route to take or creating a customized presentation for your specific needs, I’m here to help. Let’s collaborate to ensure your message resonates with your audience, no matter the type of presentation.
