what makes a presentation graphic to be moving when played

PowerPoint Animations: Create Accents in Your Presentation

Want to bring your next presentation to life? Then PowerPoint animations are for you. This tutorial will show you how to create and play PowerPoint animations yourself.

Available animations in PowerPoint

Get creative: PowerPoint offers endless animation options. You can play with various effect elements such as size, shape, movement or timing until you are completely satisfied with your slide design. You can make objects rotate, grow and turn, fade, and so much more. PowerPoint itself divides its animation effects into four categories entrance , exit , emphasis and motion paths .

As their names suggest, entrance effects are animations that make objects appear on your slide and exit effects are animations that make them disappear. Emphasis effects draw attention to a specific object on the slide. You can make objects pulsate, fluctuate or play with their color intensity. PowerPoint also makes it possible to apply several effects to one object at the same time or in a sequence. This is where motion paths come into play. motion path animation effects to move slide objects in a sequence.

The following are our in-house design team’s favorite effects. We’ve divided them into three groups.

Move objects

The best PowerPoint animation effects to illustrate both linear and more complex movements of graphics or objects are:

Fly In : Makes an object appear on your slide. You can set the flight direction of the object using Effect Options . The movement can also be created with motion paths. Our favorite animation paths are Arcs, Shapes and Turns.

Enlarge/reduce objects

These are our three favorite effects to make graphics and objects grow or shrink:

Grow/Shrink: Provides the ability to enlarge and reduce an object or text to a specified size.

• Zoom In/Zoom Out :  Moves toward or away from an object.
• Grow & Turn: Spins an object into view from a distance. Shrink & Turn does the opposite.

Adjust saturation (transparency)

These effects control the intensity of an object’s appearance. In combination with motion paths or growth animations, they can quickly create dynamic sequences.

• Fade : Reduces the intensity of your objects until they disappear.
• Darken : Evenly darkens the colors of an object to draw attention away from it.

Here’s a list of all PowerPoint animation effects:

General information for using powerpoint animations:.

Animations are a key feature in PowerPoint and can enrich a presentation enormously. They are a fantastic way to support and enhance storytelling, too . Nevertheless, make sure to use them selectively and in moderation. Our tips will show you how to find the right animations for your content and how to use them wisely.

What is the goal of your animation?

Animations should always serve a purpose. They should effectively illustrate or emphasize content or contexts. Avoid any animation that doesn’t support content or lacks meaning. One of the most popular uses for animations is to gradually fade in slide content and for good reason – it ensures that written content doesn’t jump ahead of the spoken presentation. Also, it’s easier to follow a presentation if only a few keywords are faded in to match the presenter’s pace.

What function does each animation effect have?

PowerPoint offers three different types of effect: entrance animations for fading in content (e.g., making text or graphics appear), emphasis animations (for highlighting content) and exit animations for fading out content (e.g., making content that has already been faded out or disappeared). Used correctly, these animations can add structure and clarity to your content and presentation as a whole.

Need some inspiration? Take a look at our video that combines different zoom and animation effects.

Which type of animation is the right one for your presentation?

When selecting animations for a PowerPoint presentation, it is important to proceed consciously and strategically. Random or thoughtless animations can quickly appear unprofessional. The goal is to use animations purposefully to enhance the content and engage the audience, rather than using them purely for decorative purposes. Here are some best practices for choosing the right animation effects:

• Restraint: Less is often more when it comes to animations. Avoid excessive or unnecessary animations that could overload the content or distract from the core message. Select only animations that support the content and are visually appealing without being distracting.
• Consistency: Pay attention to consistency in the use of animations. Choose a limited number of animation effects and use them consistently throughout the presentation. This helps maintain a coherent visual aesthetic and prevents the audience from being confused by too many different animations.
• Appropriate animations: Select animation effects that are suitable for the nature of your content. For example, use smooth transitions for a fluid and harmonious effect, while employing an unfolding or fading-in animation for important points or bullet lists to visually emphasize them.
• Timing: Properly time the animations. Consider during preparation when and how quickly an animation should be played to achieve the best visual effect. Adjust the timing to match the flow of speech and the significance of the content to ensure a smooth and well-coordinated presentation.

Animations for different types of presentations

The use of animations can vary depending on the type of presentation. Here are some application areas and examples of using animations in different types of presentations:

• Marketing presentations: I n marketing presentations, animations can be used to visually highlight products or services. For example, use animations to demonstrate features or benefits of a product, or to showcase customer feedback and success stories. Animations can also be used to present data and statistics in an engaging way.
• Training presentations: Animations play a vital role in training presentations to convey complex information in an understandable manner. Use animations to visualize step-by-step instructions for explaining processes or conducting demonstrations. Animations can make abstract concepts more tangible for the audience.
• Sales presentations: Animations can help capture the interest and attention of potential customers in sales presentations. Utilize animations to showcase products or services in action, illustrate customer benefits, or animate comparison tables and charts to highlight advantages. Animations can strengthen trust and persuasive power.
• Conference or event presentations: In conference or event presentations, animations can make the content more dynamic and entertaining. Incorporate animations, such as displaying quotes from speakers, animating event schedules, or using animated backgrounds to create a lively atmosphere. Animations can engage the audience and add variety to the presentation.
• Pitch presentations: In this presentation format, animations can help generate interest from investors or potential clients. Use animations to visualize innovative ideas or solutions, clarify market potentials, or highlight key success factors. Animations can contribute to presenting the message more clearly and persuasively.

It is important to use animations strategically in different types of presentations to target their respective purposes and desired audiences. By using animations strategically, you can make your presentations more effective and achieve the desired results.

Create a PowerPoint animation: Here’s how!

1. Go to the PowerPoint slide with the object you want to animate (e.g., chart, graphic, SmartArt graphic, shape). Left click the object.

2. Switch to the Animations tab.

3. You’ll now see a selection of effects in the Animation group.

4. Click on More (lower arrow on the right) to see a wider range of the available PowerPoint animations.

5. Click Effect Options to apply different effects to your animation. With Float In, for example, you can determine the direction. Please note that not all effect options are available for all animations.

6. You can also change the speed of an animated object. To do this, go to the Timing group and use the arrows in the Duration box. The higher the number, the slower the effect.

7. You can also set when the animation effects should start on a slide in the Timing group. Here you have the choice between On Click , With Previous or After Previous .

8. You can test your animations at any time by clicking Preview .

How to edit your PowerPoint animations: Multiple options

The powerpoint animation pane.

You can find an ordered list of your effects in the animation pane. To open it, go to the Advanced Animation group and select Animation Pane . Right-click on an animation effect to customize it to your liking and thus personalize your presentation even more.

Start/Begin a PowerPoint animation

You control when an animation starts with one of three choices:

The first and default choice is Start on Click : Symbolized by a small computer mouse between the animation number and name. As its name suggests, the animation starts as soon as the presenter clicks on/opens the respective slide during the presentation.

The second method is With Previous and has no icon. If this option is selected, the animation starts along with the effect before it. It no longer has its own number and is assigned to the animation above it.

The last option is After Previous , symbolized by a small clock. The animation will start immediately after the previous animation. This is the best option for creating a sequence of several PowerPoint animations.

PowerPoint animation effect options

Once you’ve set the timing of your animations, you may still want to make further changes to them. This can be done using Effect Options . Go to the animation pane and right-click the animation. This will open a drop-down menu where you can find Effect Options. This is where you can set animation sounds and decide what should happen to the object after the animation ends.

Set the duration of your PowerPoint animations

Timing helps to specify the order in which each animation will be played during the presentation and to organize multiple effects. To set an animation’s duration, either go to Duration in the Timing group in the ribbon or open it by right-clicking on the animation name in the animation pane and selecting Timing from the drop-down menu. The length of the animation will be indicated by a colored bar in the animation pane. The longer the bar, the longer the duration.

Use the advanced timeline for multiple PowerPoint animations

The advanced timeline is a great tool for ensuring that multiple animations run in the correct order. The timeline doesn’t always appear by default so you may have to right-click each animation and select Show Advanced Timeline . You will then see colored bars beside your animations in the animation pane (see below). The order and duration of each animation can be adjusted with drag and drop.

Combine PowerPoint animations

You can create really individual and interesting animated objects by combining different PowerPoint animation effects. With the amount of animations PowerPoint offers, the possibilities are almost endless. Just be careful not to go overboard, as this can quickly make your objects look unprofessional. To add another animation to your object, go to Animations > Add Animation .

Copy/reuse animated objects and effects in PowerPoint

PowerPoint makes it easy to reuse any of your animated objects on other slides. Simply copy (Ctrl + C) and paste (Ctrl + V) on the new slide.

The animation effect alone can also be copied and applied to other objects. This allows you to apply custom animations to several objects in no time at all. Here’s how:

1. Select the object with the animation effect you want to copy.

2. Go to Animations .

3. In the Advanced Animation group, click Animation Painter .

4. A brush icon will appear beside your mouse cursor.

5. Now you can transfer the copied effect to any object with one click.

Applying PowerPoint animation effects to multiple objects

To apply the same PowerPoint animation to multiple objects at once, use this quick and easy way to create groups. Ctrl-click all the objects you want to group together. Right-click and select Group from the drop-down menu.

All elements in the group can be edited and animated at the same time. This saves a huge amount of time and spares you the hassle of having to edit each object individually.

Pay attention to Animation Speed and Timing

As mentioned before, animation speed and timing play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and well-coordinated presentation. Thoughtful control of these aspects also enhances your content effectively. Here are some tips to ensure effective adjustment of animation speed and timing:

• Adaptation to speech flow: Adjust the animation speed to match your speech flow. The animations should run slowly enough for the audience to have time to comprehend and process the content.
• Emphasizing important content: To underscore important content, you can use longer animation durations. This allows the audience to focus on the essential elements on the screen.
• Variation in animation speed: By utilizing different animation speeds, you create visual interest and variety. This keeps your audience engaged and enhances their attention.
• Alignment with the content: E nsure that the animation speed and timing align with the content of your presentation. For a humorous or entertaining presentation, you can play with faster animations to enhance the comedic effect. For a serious or formal presentation, slower and more restrained animations may be more appropriate.

Tip: Bring images to life with a PowerPoint animation

From old to new. From past to present. These contrasting ideas are often presented by using two versions of the same image: One version in black and white (representing the old/past) and one version in color (symbolizing the new/present/future). The PowerPoint animation menu offers numerous possibilities to visualize this progression from old to new in a vivid way.

Here is an example from our design agency. A gray wall is given a new coat of paint with the help of a simple PowerPoint animation:

Here’s how:

1. Insert an image into your presentation.

2. Duplicate the image (Ctrl + D).

3. Click the original image and recolor it black and white. Right-click the image and select Format Picture . Click Color and select the black-and-white image (Saturation: 0%) from Presets .

4. Go to Picture Format (Picture Tools in older versions) and click Selection Pane in the Arrange group.

5. Name the pictures. Here, the colored duplicate is called “Color” and the original in black and white is called “Black&White”.

6. Move the colored picture on top of the black-and-white picture by moving it with the mouse (drag & drop).

7. Click only on the colored picture. Choose an animation from the animation menu. We chose Wheel .

Other animations we recommend for a black and white to color transition are:

• Checkerboard

You can find this tutorial as a video here .

More PowerPoint animation options

Motion paths make PowerPoint animation design options seem almost infinite. The more you explore the various effects, the faster you can create more complex and professional animations on your own. Triggers are another great animated effect in PowerPoint. To learn more about triggers, check out our blog post here .

Current animation trends

Current trends and developments: PowerPoint animations continue to evolve, offering a variety of new trends and developments . Some current trends include 3D animations, Morph transitions, and the integration of augmented reality.

• 3D animations allow presentations to be enriched with three-dimensional objects and effects. They provide an impressive visual experience and can be particularly useful in product presentations, architectural visualizations, or simulations. By spatially representing content, complex concepts and information can be effectively conveyed.

For more information and helpful tips and tricks, refer to the article “ 3D Elements in PowerPoint .”

• Morph transitions are another emerging technique that enables seamless and fluid transitions between different elements and slides. The effects resemble a Prezi presentation. They create a smooth and elegant visual effect and can be particularly effective for storytelling, presentations with many visual elements, or content transformations. Morph transitions create a harmonious presentation experience and convey a professional impression.

For more information and helpful tips and tricks, refer to the article “ PowerPoint Morph. ”

• The integration of augmented reality (AR) in PowerPoint presentations opens up new possibilities for interaction and experiencing content. By incorporating AR elements, information can be expanded or enhanced in the real world. For example, 3D product models can be inserted into the presentation and interactively explored. AR offers an immersive and impressive experience that engages and involves the audience in the presentation.

These trends and developments have the potential to elevate presentations to a new level and captivate the audience. They provide new ways to visually present information in an engaging and persuasive manner.

However, it is important to use these techniques purposefully and appropriately , avoiding overloading the content and losing sight of the presentation’s intended purpose. By keeping an eye on the latest trends and developments in PowerPoint animations and correctly assessing their potential, you can create innovative and impressive presentations that have a lasting impact on and persuade the audience.

PowerPoint animations in your presentation? Go for it!

Get creative and spice up your PowerPoint presentation. The variety of design options will liven up content and keep audiences entertained. Using them skillfully not only enhances the overall intention of your presentation but can also make it easier to understand. Here is an overview of the advantages of PowerPoint animations:

• They highlight important information and content
• They visualize content, making it easier to understand
• They lighten up a presentation
• They attract audience attention
• They boost the creativity and individuality of a presentation
• They make slides more exciting

Effect options specify the duration, direction and order of PowerPoint animations. PowerPoint divides animations into four groups: entrance and exit effects, which allow objects to fade in or out, emphasis effects, which provide a visual boost to objects and motion paths, which move objects in a sequence. It’s also easy to apply more than one animation to an object and apply the same group animations to more than one object with Animation Painter.

Remember not to go overboard when using animations in presentations. Too many moving objects will end up looking disorganized and chaotic. Choose PowerPoint animations that suit your content and intentions.

Our store offers a slide collection of professionally designed and embedded pre-animated objects in a stylish slide layout. Click here to get the Animated Charts Collection PowerPoint Template .

Do you have your own PowerPoint ideas but don’t know how to realize them? Or are you looking for PowerPoint support in general? Then please don’t hesitate to contact us. Send me your questions at: [email protected]

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Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials PowerPoint Animations: Animate Text, Objects, and Slides in Your Presentations

PowerPoint Animations: Animate Text, Objects, and Slides in Your Presentations

Working with graphic assets can bring a degree of expectancy when delivering a presentation, such as in the case of PowerPoint animations. They can help add emphasis to slide content and reveal parts of the slide gradually to help presenters discuss topics sequentially. 

As a presenting software, PowerPoint provides all kinds of animations for emphasis, entrance, exit, and to create a set motion. Join us today to learn all about animations in PowerPoint and unleash your creative potential.

Table of Contents

How PowerPoint Animations Can Benefit Presentation Design

Understanding powerpoint animation basics, types of animations in powerpoint, how to animate text on powerpoint, animating objects for visual impact, crafting seamless slide transitions in powerpoint, mastering advanced animation techniques in powerpoint, dos and don’ts of powerpoint animations, real-world use cases of animated presentation slides, recommended animated powerpoint templates, enhanced engagement and understanding through animations.

Dynamic presentations can have many benefits. The importance of such animations is often only realized by people familiar with PowerPoint. As we’ve seen in our guide on visual communication , graphical elements can make concepts more understandable. In the case of animations, we can use the transitions between slides or elements to split concepts and make them clearer.

Audience engagement is another factor, as eye-catching slides often include surprise elements hidden behind animations. These elements attract the audience’s interest and increase retention rate. In this case, animations serve as powerful presentation aids for the speaker.

Capturing Audience Attention

PowerPoint animations are more likely to capture the audience’s attention than static slides. The moving objects on-screen are the type of visuals people are likely to find attention-grabbing instead of trying to read through static slides or looking at static images. On this behalf, storytelling techniques boost their efficacy in connecting with the audience by implementing animations and transitions rather than sticking to static slides. 

Emphasizing Relationships Between Elements

Whenever we work with contrasting values, like pros and cons slides , animations help the presenter highlight areas of interest or disclose the opposite values section by section. This, in turn, structures the speech for real-time interaction with the graphical assets rather than having the audience read the slide and lose focus on the speech. 

Interactive Presentations

As mentioned before, presenters can craft compelling stories through the careful use of animations in PPT. What is often overlooked is the link between interactive presentations and animations. For instance, a speaker can deliver different outcomes of the presentation by selecting one path whose outcome is revealed through an animation. This “wow” factor induces surprise and creatively presents case scenarios.

Another option is when introducing your team in presentations. Rather than using static slides, incorporating animations gives more rhythm to the presentation and invites the public to interact with the speaker.

Getting Started with Animation in PowerPoint

To start with animations in PowerPoint, select an object you wish to animate and go to the Animations tab to choose an animation to add to the slide element. When adding animations to multiple objects in a slide, you should consider the sequence you wish to use to animate objects.

Accessing Animation Features

When accessing animation features, you will come across various animation types. By expanding the Animations menu, you can select animations for entrance, exit, emphasis, and motion paths to create a path for your animated sequence. You can also click to instantly preview an animation for the selected object or switch to slideshow mode to see how the animation will appear.

Adding Animations to Text and Objects

Once an animation is added to a text or object, a number is assigned. This number shows the sequence in which the object will be presented. For example, the object will be the first to be animated on screen, followed by two, three, and so on.

You can adjust the sequence of animations, triggers, and other settings from the Animation Pane in PowerPoint.

Timing and Sequence in Animations

The Timing menu in the Animations pane provides options to set the duration of the animation, the time to delay the animation on the screen (if necessary), and to assess if the animation starts on click, with the previous or after the last animation. How you select these animations will help you adjust the time and sequence of the animations. For example, you can use ‘ with previous’ option to show two animated objects simultaneously.

Entrance, Exit, and Emphasis Animations

Some of the most commonly used animation types fall under three categories: entrance, exit, and emphasis animations.

Entrance Animations

The Entrance Animations are meant to start or introduce objects. You can explore all entrance-related animations by going to Animations -> Animation (menu) -> More Entrance Effects . This will reveal all entrance animations you can click to preview for a selected object. These often consist of basic animations with effects like appear, fly-in, float-in, strips, wheel, circle, box, dissolve-in, split, wedge, wipe, plus, diamond, checkerboard, blinds, etc. The animations can be divided into three categories: basic, subtle, and moderate. These categories help identify the type of effects in each category according to how prominent they might be on screen.

Exit Animations

The Exit Animations are meant to help exit a slide or animated sequence to close a topic or subtopic, or to conclude the on-screen animations for a slide. These animations are similar to the Entrance Animations with the same effects. You can use these animation types for an exit sequence using effects like blinds, circles, checkerboard, box, plus, split, wedge, wipe, diamond, dissolve out, contract, swivel, fade, zoom, basic zoom, collapse, float up, etc.

Like the Entrance Animations, you can go to  Animations -> Animation (menu) -> More Exit Effects to preview the animations and to see the three categories for basic, subtle, or moderate animations.

Emphasis Animations

Other than basic, subtle, and moderate, the Emphasis Animations come with an additional category, ‘exciting.’ Emphasis animations in PowerPoint provide visual aids for emphasizing content within slides. The effects for these animation types in PowerPoint are also quite different from the entrance and exit-themed effects. Effects like fill color, grow/shrink, transparency, line color, teeter, color pulse, object color, desaturate, darken, lighten, blink, wave, and others can help emphasize an object within a slide to make it pop out before the audience.

Exploring Motion Path Animations

If primary effects aren’t what you want, it’s time to switch to Motion Paths . These are animated effects in PowerPoint that showcase objects across a specific path. In other words, these are elaborate animations that drag objects on the screen based on a particular shape or path, such as a 4,5, 6, or 8-point star, crescent moon, circle, diamond, football, heart, octagon, pentagon, square, trapezoid, teardrop, right triangle, arc (down, right, left, up), curvy right, bounce right, etc.

Motion Paths are divided into four categories. The basic effects consist of shapes, whereas, Line Curves provide lines and curves to animated objects. Similarly, the special category contains more elaborate effects such as inverted square, loop de loop, peanut, bean, curved square, etc.

Choosing Appropriate Animation Styles

When choosing animation styles, picking a style that best resonates with your presentation slides is important. The animations’ names and categories can help you identify what might work for you. Furthermore, after adding an animation, you can go to Effect Options to view the various directions and options used to refine the animation to build your sequence further. Depending on the animation type, you can pick variations of the animation, directions, colors, transparency, points to edit or lock, or other options for selected effects. The image below shows the variations for the Wheel animation in PowerPoint via Effect Options .

Similarly, if you select Transparency from Emphasis Effects, you can choose how transparent the object will appear on the screen. Likewise, many color-themed effects enable picking a custom color to animate an object.

Since Motion Paths are unique, you will get options to edit points, lock paths, reverse the direction of the default animated sequence, etc.

Now that you know how to animate in PowerPoint, it’s time to explore making written content more interesting using animations.

Start by opening a blank PPT file and adding a placeholder text. The idea is to learn how text interacts with animation effects without working with complex graphic layouts.

Select the text and switch to the Animations tab. In there, pick an animation effect of your preference. You will get a preview of the effect applied – which will show the number of the animation order once completed.

Animations for text, like any other animation, can be controlled in terms of behavior by accessing the panel at the right-most section of the Ribbon.

Additionally, we can expand the animations panel to select from the different effects offered by PowerPoint.

Animating Text Elements on PPT Templates

Animating text elements to highlight key aspects of your slides can be a great way to create engaging presentations. The Animated 3D 4 Steps & Core PowerPoint Template shown below are among the Animated PowerPoint templates at SlideModel that animate objects and text elements for emphasis while retaining a clear layout.

As visible from the animated sequence from the Animation Pane in the image below, the slide deck uses animated text boxes with a mix of other slide elements to create a sequence where a four-step diagram is highlighted with supported text to help elaborate each part of the diagram in an animated sequence. We can add, remove, or modify the included effects via the Animation Pane.

Balancing Text Animations for Impact

By balancing text animations, you can have maximum impact when highlighting content for your slides. The animations can be triggered to start simultaneously to reveal all the text after a sequence of objects, before objects appear, or one by one to reveal the diagram contents gradually.

Animating Images, Shapes, and Charts

When animating shapes and images, you can use a variety of animation types for entrance, exit, and emphasis, and to make the content pop out. However, charts require subtle animations, and it’s best to use basic effects to reveal charts, such as Appear and Disappear .

The Animated Network Diagram PowerPoint Template is an example of how to animate shapes.

The template’s title slide reveals shapes and icons in the form of a diagram in an animated sequence.

You can also include images in such a template to customize the given diagram and animate it to reveal the image simultaneously or after a set of objects has already been revealed.

If you are including a chart in your slide that is to be animated, make sure the animation corresponds to other elements that might also be animated. For example, you can trigger the chart to be revealed after the slide title with a simple Appear effect. In such a case, the chart can be displayed altogether or gradually, in animated form.

Applying Object Animations Strategically

When placing slide objects, you must apply the animations strategically to avoid revealing information out of sequence. Furthermore, it is also worth considering how your effects appear. For example, in the image of the diagram below, would you prefer the diagram to appear floating upward or downward? Such considerations and other vital elements, such as your branding needs, are important to ponder when setting your animated sequence.

Enhancing Presentation Flow with Transitions

While Animations for PowerPoint are one way of making your slides engaging, PowerPoint Transitions is another. You can access them via the Transitions tab in PowerPoint and apply transitions between slides.

While many legacy transitions provide basic effects when switching between slides, some of the more recent additions to this menu, such as Morph Transition , enable the creation of elaborate animations by using Transitions to animate your slides. The below example shows a slide with the Morph transition, giving an animated effect to the diagram.

Maintaining Coherence Between Slides

When applying Transitions, it is essential to maintain coherence between slides by ensuring they don’t overlap with any added Animations. To do this, you should preview your slide deck to see how it might appear once all the animated effects have been included in your slides. Like PowerPoint Animations, you can also use Effect Options for Transitions to set a sequence or direction that best suits your needs.

Layering for Complex Animation Effects

Using layers of multiple objects and slides can easily create advanced animation effects. This can be done using not only PowerPoint animations but also transitions. The Animated Pendulum Swing PowerPoint Templates from the SlideModel archive of animated templates use Transitions like Morph to create animated sequences. The below example shows a swinging pendulum created using Morph.

Combining and Triggering Animations

Depending on the number of elements within a slide and the animations used, you can use triggers to customize and set sequences for slide elements to animate. The example below shows the selected pendulum’s various linking options for the on-click trigger. By placing your slide objects to be connected and triggered with different parts of your slide, you can create and customize animated sequences that can be pretty attention-grabbing. 

PowerPoint Animation Painter

If you thought you had to start from scratch to animate each slide of your presentation, you are sorely mistaken. Much like the Format Painter option in PowerPoint, we can find Animation Painter , which is accessible via the Ribbon under the Advanced Animation control options.

This tool helps us duplicate animations between elements of the same slide or copy animation effects from one slide to another. As a format copying tool, it requires at least one animation effect to be placed otherwise the option is grayed out.

Creative Experimentation

Experimenting with Animations in PowerPoint can be pretty helpful to avoid making monotonous presentations. Experimentation does not necessarily require making slides from scratch, but you can also use ready-made templates such as the 3D animation PowerPoint Templates at SlideModel. Alternatively, some slide deck templates offer a considerable range of animation effects intended for maximum audience engagement, which users can quickly customize by editing placeholder areas for text, images, and logos.

Below is a list of do’s and don’ts of PowerPoint Animations for making presentations that best use animated effects.

Maintain Animation Moderation

It is essential to maintain moderation when using animations, as the use of too many animations on a single slide or presentation can make the content confusing.

Use of Appropriate Animations

Try to use appropriate animations for slide objects. The animation should suitably show if the object is to enter, exit, be emphasized, or be highlighted using a motion path.

Avoid Animation Overload

Avoid flashy animated sequences unless your presentation is meant for an audience that might find engaging, such as children in a classroom session.

Subtle can be Just as Engaging

Sometimes, subtle animations can be just as engaging as an animation with an elaborate effect. This can, in fact, be a better option than using animations that might be visually overpowering or difficult to follow due to elaborate effects.

Ensure Visual Consistency

As discussed earlier, it is vital to maintain consistency in using animated effects. Be it Animations or Transitions, using flashy effects or too many diverse effects can hurt how the audience perceives your content, as it might become confusing, visually overpowering, or unprofessional. In such a case, the audience might quickly lose interest in the presentation, leading to Death by PowerPoint.

Less is More

The design language of visual designs over the past decade or more has been intended to use fewer effects and graphical elements with ample space to make the interface look clean. Be it Modern UI or Material design apps, this design language has been evident across desktop and mobile UIs. Using the same concept, you can design your slides with fewer animations and graphical elements to make your content more visually appealing.

Turning PowerPoints into Millions

Courtney Allen, a professional PowerPoint designer who came out of a BFA in graphic design from Boise State University, had all but PowerPoint as a part of her portfolio. She started her freelancing career via Upwork, making over a thousand PowerPoints for clients, bringing in as many as $2 million. She suggests using simple designs and animations to make the most out of PowerPoint presentations. 

Guy Kawasaki Pitch Deck

Guy Kawasaki, a former Apple employee, whose famous 10-slide pitch deck has inspired a variety of PowerPoint templates. This rule was designed for startups and business presentations, focusing on pitching a concept to investors. While this isn’t directly related to using animations in presentations, it is an example of making the best use of minimalist content in a few slides. You can learn more about the Guy Kawasaki pitch deck from our article about the 10/20/30 rule for PowerPoint presentations .

How not to use an Animated PowerPoint Presentation in Court! 

Presentations with animations aren’t always a great idea. In 2014, a court in the United States criticized a PowerPoint presentation by the prosecutor, which led to the court throwing the case out. The presentation was made with sound effects and animations, with flashy elements like the bullseye. Some of the significant mistakes made by the prosecutor included ‘visual advocacy,’ where the defendant was marked with the word ‘guilt’ in the slide deck. Not to mention, the animated presentation seemed to be aimed at influencing the court using visual aids. Something that did not sit well with the court.

Use of PowerPoint by the US Military

The US Military has often been accused of Death by PowerPoint for preparing what some call the worst PowerPoint slides ever created. The issue became so profound that in 2011, it was revealed that an executive communications manager at Microsoft, Dave Karle, was tasked with ensuring that the US military could finally start using the software properly. After discussions with top military officials, an updated military presentation method was created, consisting of a number of presentation templates, tips, and graphics and more than 6000 map symbols. 

In this section, you can check some ready-made templates that can be easily customized for your presentation’s purposes. All these templates feature professionally made animation effects with native PowerPoint tools.

1. Multi-Purpose Animated PowerPoint Slide Deck

Those looking for how to animate in PowerPoint now have a ready-made solution to create mind-blowing presentations in a couple of minutes. This slide deck contains 26 slides in a broad selection of topics. We can present facts, introduce our team, our company, display charts with animated effects, and so much more. Check it out now!

Use This Template

2. Animated 8-Step Social Media Carousel PowerPoint Template

Bring dynamism to your social media posts by implementing this vivid social media carousel template. With eye-catching animated effects, this template emulates the typical carousel posts we can find on platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram.

3. Problem Solving Animated PowerPoint Template

Bring professional graphics to troubleshooting sessions with your team. This template, filled with PowerPoint animations, offers a user-friendly approach to conventional problem-solving situations in which the team has to observe the Issue Matrix, suggest possible solutions, and prepare an implementation plan and its corresponding process flow diagram. Thanks to its high-quality animation effects, the speaker can introduce the facts individually, without diverting attention from the speech.

4. Animated Company Profile Presentation Template for PowerPoint

We’ve seen this template as one of the examples of animations for PowerPoint. It is a 21-slide solution offering all the tools required for a corporate-styled company profile presentation, specifically tailored for service businesses.

5. Corporate Company Profile Animated PowerPoint Template

An alternative option for company profile presentations, featuring a minimalistic graphic layout with a broad variety of animation effects. Check these 12 slides and customize them with information relevant to your organization – we bring complex animation effects in a ready-made format. Colors and placeholder images can also be replaced.

6. Animated Roadmap PowerPoint Template

Bring more action to any planning meeting using this animated PowerPoint roadmap template. After a clear path overview, each milestone slide contains animation effects to introduce relevant information to the topic. It is a new take on traditional roadmap presentations that allows the speaker to pace themselves regarding how to disclose the information about the strategy to embark on.

7. Animated Pros & Cons Comparison Slide Template for PowerPoint

We mentioned the advantages of using PowerPoint animations to discuss contrasting values of a situation. Well, this animated Pros & Cons slide is the ideal tool for that purpose, offering a generalist view, then two accompanying slides for Pros & Cons, respectively, with animated effects to introduce additional information per point.

Using animations to make visually appealing and engaging presentations requires ensuring that your content corresponds with your added animated effects. It is always best to use animations in moderation and to keep your slides minimalist while unleashing your creativity as a presenter. Using ready-made PowerPoint templates can also help give you a good starting point to begin experimenting with animations and effects. This can also be useful for people new to PowerPoint Animations to explore what is doable with an animated slide deck, using animated sequences tailored for customization. 

Whether you’re using an animated template or making one from scratch, a preview in slideshow mode can save you a lot of trouble with potential issues tied to animated effects. Last but not least, using animations in PowerPoint isn’t always necessary, and you can even go for a simple slide deck with a handful of slides. What matters is that you should be aware of the information being presented, and the visual aids should be just to aid your slides and not meant to be the whole package on their own.

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Presentations on the Move: The Power of Animation in PowerPoint

March 8, 2022 / Blog

Humans are naturally visual beings. Going as far back as the era of cave paintings, humans have always used visuals to communicate. Luckily today, we have more tools at our disposal than just soot and stone. With a platform as powerful as PowerPoint, we can create highly visual stories to captivate potential clients, partners, or investors. While there are plenty of ways to design an engaging presentation, one method stands above the rest, and that’s the use of animations.

When someone is presented with static images, they tend to take one look and be done with it. On the other hand, animated graphics effectively dictate the flow of information to the audience. Even small hints of motion will grab a person’s attention, whether it’s text fading into the screen or icons moving in a hypnotic loop.

Let’s break down some ways to use animation and the impact it can have on your next PowerPoint presentation.

Keeping Audiences Engaged   

A key reason for utilizing animation is for engagement purposes . Seasoned presenters and boardroom newbies alike know the hardest part about presenting is maintaining the attention of your audience. It’s incredibly easy for people to lose focus during a presentation when there’s nothing visually exciting to keep them engaged. We’ve all sat through presentations that have lost our attention and seem to drag on for ages. Now that virtual meetings are the norm, people are more likely to have their attention slip from their screens. Keeping people engaged is now more challenging than ever. 

The power of animation within a presentation lies in how it helps control the eyes of your audience. This can lead to plenty of playful opportunities in your design, which in turn keeps them focused on the presentation and ultimately your story. 

For example, instead of simply showcasing bullet points, you can sequentially fade in your points bullet by bullet. While people’s attention may still sometimes drift, the animation will help them jump back into the topic at any time. 

Being Memorable  

Another key goal of every presentation is to leave a lasting impression on your audience. When an audience experiences a presentation with thought-out motion graphics, it instantly becomes a point of interest. Additionally, animation adds more impact and energy to your content because it’s an element of surprise. And we always remember surprises, don’t we?   

When animation is used effectively, audiences can retain up to 95% of the information presented. While on the other hand, audiences will only remember 10% of information when it’s presented as static images and text.  

Ultimately, animation helps make your content stick out in the memory of your audience. A visually engaging presentation will leave them more likely to retain the information you discussed.  

Levels of Animation   

The good thing about animation is that it doesn’t need to be aggressive to be effective. Even just small hints of movement are enough to keep your audience fixed on the screen. 

For example, by adding simple motions like fades and slides to staple elements like text boxes and icons, you instantly inject energy into the presentation.  

However, you can explore more complex levels of animation to elevate your presentation even further. Animating content such as explainers, infographics and data visualizations can significantly raise the visual impact of your presentation. Infographics are already very visually stimulating but imagine adding animation elements that enhance the design and push your presentation over the top.  

To sum up, animation is one of the most versatile tools you can use in PowerPoint. Whether you are pitching to your next big investor or simply communicating with internal teams, animation adds a layer of flair to any presentation. It will help make your presentation stand out and create a greater impact on your business.  

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15 Effective Visual Presentation Tips To Wow Your Audience

By Krystle Wong , Sep 28, 2023

So, you’re gearing up for that big presentation and you want it to be more than just another snooze-fest with slides. You want it to be engaging, memorable and downright impressive. 

Well, you’ve come to the right place — I’ve got some slick tips on how to create a visual presentation that’ll take your presentation game up a notch. 

Packed with presentation templates that are easily customizable, keep reading this blog post to learn the secret sauce behind crafting presentations that captivate, inform and remain etched in the memory of your audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What is a visual presentation & why is it important?

15 effective tips to make your visual presentations more engaging, 6 major types of visual presentation you should know , what are some common mistakes to avoid in visual presentations, visual presentation faqs, 5 steps to create a visual presentation with venngage.

A visual presentation is a communication method that utilizes visual elements such as images, graphics, charts, slides and other visual aids to convey information, ideas or messages to an audience. 

Visual presentations aim to enhance comprehension engagement and the overall impact of the message through the strategic use of visuals. People remember what they see, making your point last longer in their heads. 

Without further ado, let’s jump right into some great visual presentation examples that would do a great job in keeping your audience interested and getting your point across.

In today’s fast-paced world, where information is constantly bombarding our senses, creating engaging visual presentations has never been more crucial. To help you design a presentation that’ll leave a lasting impression, I’ve compiled these examples of visual presentations that will elevate your game.

1. Use the rule of thirds for layout

Ever heard of the rule of thirds? It’s a presentation layout trick that can instantly up your slide game. Imagine dividing your slide into a 3×3 grid and then placing your text and visuals at the intersection points or along the lines. This simple tweak creates a balanced and seriously pleasing layout that’ll draw everyone’s eyes.

2. Get creative with visual metaphors

Got a complex idea to explain? Skip the jargon and use visual metaphors. Throw in images that symbolize your point – for example, using a road map to show your journey towards a goal or using metaphors to represent answer choices or progress indicators in an interactive quiz or poll.

3. Visualize your data with charts and graphs

The right data visualization tools not only make content more appealing but also aid comprehension and retention. Choosing the right visual presentation for your data is all about finding a good match. 

For ordinal data, where things have a clear order, consider using ordered bar charts or dot plots. When it comes to nominal data, where categories are on an equal footing, stick with the classics like bar charts, pie charts or simple frequency tables. And for interval-ratio data, where there’s a meaningful order, go for histograms, line graphs, scatterplots or box plots to help your data shine.

In an increasingly visual world, effective visual communication is a valuable skill for conveying messages. Here’s a guide on how to use visual communication to engage your audience while avoiding information overload.

4. Employ the power of contrast

Want your important stuff to pop? That’s where contrast comes in. Mix things up with contrasting colors, fonts or shapes. It’s like highlighting your key points with a neon marker – an instant attention grabber.

5. Tell a visual story

Structure your slides like a storybook and create a visual narrative by arranging your slides in a way that tells a story. Each slide should flow into the next, creating a visual narrative that keeps your audience hooked till the very end.

Icons and images are essential for adding visual appeal and clarity to your presentation. Venngage provides a vast library of icons and images, allowing you to choose visuals that resonate with your audience and complement your message. 

6. Show the “before and after” magic

Want to drive home the impact of your message or solution? Whip out the “before and after” technique. Show the current state (before) and the desired state (after) in a visual way. It’s like showing a makeover transformation, but for your ideas.

7. Add fun with visual quizzes and polls

To break the monotony and see if your audience is still with you, throw in some quick quizzes or polls. It’s like a mini-game break in your presentation — your audience gets involved and it makes your presentation way more dynamic and memorable.

8. End with a powerful visual punch

Your presentation closing should be a showstopper. Think a stunning clip art that wraps up your message with a visual bow, a killer quote that lingers in minds or a call to action that gets hearts racing.

9. Engage with storytelling through data

Use storytelling magic to bring your data to life. Don’t just throw numbers at your audience—explain what they mean, why they matter and add a bit of human touch. Turn those stats into relatable tales and watch your audience’s eyes light up with understanding.

10. Use visuals wisely

Your visuals are the secret sauce of a great presentation. Cherry-pick high-quality images, graphics, charts and videos that not only look good but also align with your message’s vibe. Each visual should have a purpose – they’re not just there for decoration. 

11. Utilize visual hierarchy

Employ design principles like contrast, alignment and proximity to make your key info stand out. Play around with fonts, colors and placement to make sure your audience can’t miss the important stuff.

12. Engage with multimedia

Static slides are so last year. Give your presentation some sizzle by tossing in multimedia elements. Think short video clips, animations, or a touch of sound when it makes sense, including an animated logo . But remember, these are sidekicks, not the main act, so use them smartly.

13. Interact with your audience

Turn your presentation into a two-way street. Start your presentation by encouraging your audience to join in with thought-provoking questions, quick polls or using interactive tools. Get them chatting and watch your presentation come alive.

When it comes to delivering a group presentation, it’s important to have everyone on the team on the same page. Venngage’s real-time collaboration tools enable you and your team to work together seamlessly, regardless of geographical locations. Collaborators can provide input, make edits and offer suggestions in real time. 

14. Incorporate stories and examples

Weave in relatable stories, personal anecdotes or real-life examples to illustrate your points. It’s like adding a dash of spice to your content – it becomes more memorable and relatable.

15. Nail that delivery

Don’t just stand there and recite facts like a robot — be a confident and engaging presenter. Lock eyes with your audience, mix up your tone and pace and use some gestures to drive your points home. Practice and brush up your presentation skills until you’ve got it down pat for a persuasive presentation that flows like a pro.

Venngage offers a wide selection of professionally designed presentation templates, each tailored for different purposes and styles. By choosing a template that aligns with your content and goals, you can create a visually cohesive and polished presentation that captivates your audience.

Looking for more presentation ideas ? Why not try using a presentation software that will take your presentations to the next level with a combination of user-friendly interfaces, stunning visuals, collaboration features and innovative functionalities that will take your presentations to the next level. 

Visual presentations come in various formats, each uniquely suited to convey information and engage audiences effectively. Here are six major types of visual presentations that you should be familiar with:

1. Slideshows or PowerPoint presentations

Slideshows are one of the most common forms of visual presentations. They typically consist of a series of slides containing text, images, charts, graphs and other visual elements. Slideshows are used for various purposes, including business presentations, educational lectures and conference talks.

2. Infographics

Infographics are visual representations of information, data or knowledge. They combine text, images and graphics to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing manner. Infographics are often used in marketing, reporting and educational materials.

Don’t worry, they are also super easy to create thanks to Venngage’s fully customizable infographics templates that are professionally designed to bring your information to life. Be sure to try it out for your next visual presentation!

3. Video presentation

Videos are your dynamic storytellers. Whether it’s pre-recorded or happening in real-time, videos are the showstoppers. You can have interviews, demos, animations or even your own mini-documentary. Video presentations are highly engaging and can be shared in both in-person and virtual presentations .

4. Charts and graphs

Charts and graphs are visual representations of data that make it easier to understand and analyze numerical information. Common types include bar charts, line graphs, pie charts and scatterplots. They are commonly used in scientific research, business reports and academic presentations.

Effective data visualizations are crucial for simplifying complex information and Venngage has got you covered. Venngage’s tools enable you to create engaging charts, graphs,and infographics that enhance audience understanding and retention, leaving a lasting impression in your presentation.

5. Interactive presentations

Interactive presentations involve audience participation and engagement. These can include interactive polls, quizzes, games and multimedia elements that allow the audience to actively participate in the presentation. Interactive presentations are often used in workshops, training sessions and webinars.

Venngage’s interactive presentation tools enable you to create immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact and enhance audience retention. By incorporating features like clickable elements, quizzes and embedded multimedia, you can captivate your audience’s attention and encourage active participation.

6. Poster presentations

Poster presentations are the stars of the academic and research scene. They consist of a large poster that includes text, images and graphics to communicate research findings or project details and are usually used at conferences and exhibitions. For more poster ideas, browse through Venngage’s gallery of poster templates to inspire your next presentation.

Different visual presentations aside, different presentation methods also serve a unique purpose, tailored to specific objectives and audiences. Find out which type of presentation works best for the message you are sending across to better capture attention, maintain interest and leave a lasting impression. 

To make a good presentation , it’s crucial to be aware of common mistakes and how to avoid them. Without further ado, let’s explore some of these pitfalls along with valuable insights on how to sidestep them.

Overloading slides with text

Text heavy slides can be like trying to swallow a whole sandwich in one bite – overwhelming and unappetizing. Instead, opt for concise sentences and bullet points to keep your slides simple. Visuals can help convey your message in a more engaging way.

Using low-quality visuals

Grainy images and pixelated charts are the equivalent of a scratchy vinyl record at a DJ party. High-resolution visuals are your ticket to professionalism. Ensure that the images, charts and graphics you use are clear, relevant and sharp.

Choosing the right visuals for presentations is important. To find great visuals for your visual presentation, Browse Venngage’s extensive library of high-quality stock photos. These images can help you convey your message effectively, evoke emotions and create a visually pleasing narrative. 

Ignoring design consistency

Imagine a book with every chapter in a different font and color – it’s a visual mess. Consistency in fonts, colors and formatting throughout your presentation is key to a polished and professional look.

Reading directly from slides

Reading your slides word-for-word is like inviting your audience to a one-person audiobook session. Slides should complement your speech, not replace it. Use them as visual aids, offering key points and visuals to support your narrative.

Lack of visual hierarchy

Neglecting visual hierarchy is like trying to find Waldo in a crowd of clones. Use size, color and positioning to emphasize what’s most important. Guide your audience’s attention to key points so they don’t miss the forest for the trees.

Ignoring accessibility

Accessibility isn’t an option these days; it’s a must. Forgetting alt text for images, color contrast and closed captions for videos can exclude individuals with disabilities from understanding your presentation. 

Relying too heavily on animation

While animations can add pizzazz and draw attention, overdoing it can overshadow your message. Use animations sparingly and with purpose to enhance, not detract from your content.

Using jargon and complex language

Keep it simple. Use plain language and explain terms when needed. You want your message to resonate, not leave people scratching their heads.

Not testing interactive elements

Interactive elements can be the life of your whole presentation, but not testing them beforehand is like jumping into a pool without checking if there’s water. Ensure that all interactive features, from live polls to multimedia content, work seamlessly. A smooth experience keeps your audience engaged and avoids those awkward technical hiccups.

Presenting complex data and information in a clear and visually appealing way has never been easier with Venngage. Build professional-looking designs with our free visual chart slide templates for your next presentation.

What software or tools can I use to create visual presentations?

You can use various software and tools to create visual presentations, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Prezi and Venngage, among others.

What is the difference between a visual presentation and a written report?

The main difference between a visual presentation and a written report is the medium of communication. Visual presentations rely on visuals, such as slides, charts and images to convey information quickly, while written reports use text to provide detailed information in a linear format.

How do I effectively communicate data through visual presentations?

To effectively communicate data through visual presentations, simplify complex data into easily digestible charts and graphs, use clear labels and titles and ensure that your visuals support the key messages you want to convey.

Are there any accessibility considerations for visual presentations?

Accessibility considerations for visual presentations include providing alt text for images, ensuring good color contrast, using readable fonts and providing transcripts or captions for multimedia content to make the presentation inclusive.

Most design tools today make accessibility hard but Venngage’s Accessibility Design Tool comes with accessibility features baked in, including accessible-friendly and inclusive icons.

How do I choose the right visuals for my presentation?

Choose visuals that align with your content and message. Use charts for data, images for illustrating concepts, icons for emphasis and color to evoke emotions or convey themes.

What is the role of storytelling in visual presentations?

Storytelling plays a crucial role in visual presentations by providing a narrative structure that engages the audience, helps them relate to the content and makes the information more memorable.

How can I adapt my visual presentations for online or virtual audiences?

To adapt visual presentations for online or virtual audiences, focus on concise content, use engaging visuals, ensure clear audio, encourage audience interaction through chat or polls and rehearse for a smooth online delivery.

What is the role of data visualization in visual presentations?

Data visualization in visual presentations simplifies complex data by using charts, graphs and diagrams, making it easier for the audience to understand and interpret information.

How do I choose the right color scheme and fonts for my visual presentation?

Choose a color scheme that aligns with your content and brand and select fonts that are readable and appropriate for the message you want to convey.

How can I measure the effectiveness of my visual presentation?

Measure the effectiveness of your visual presentation by collecting feedback from the audience, tracking engagement metrics (e.g., click-through rates for online presentations) and evaluating whether the presentation achieved its intended objectives.

Ultimately, creating a memorable visual presentation isn’t just about throwing together pretty slides. It’s about mastering the art of making your message stick, captivating your audience and leaving a mark.

Lucky for you, Venngage simplifies the process of creating great presentations, empowering you to concentrate on delivering a compelling message. Follow the 5 simple steps below to make your entire presentation visually appealing and impactful:

1. Sign up and log In: Log in to your Venngage account or sign up for free and gain access to Venngage’s templates and design tools.

2. Choose a template: Browse through Venngage’s presentation template library and select one that best suits your presentation’s purpose and style. Venngage offers a variety of pre-designed templates for different types of visual presentations, including infographics, reports, posters and more.

3. Edit and customize your template: Replace the placeholder text, image and graphics with your own content and customize the colors, fonts and visual elements to align with your presentation’s theme or your organization’s branding.

4. Add visual elements: Venngage offers a wide range of visual elements, such as icons, illustrations, charts, graphs and images, that you can easily add to your presentation with the user-friendly drag-and-drop editor.

5. Save and export your presentation: Export your presentation in a format that suits your needs and then share it with your audience via email, social media or by embedding it on your website or blog .

So, as you gear up for your next presentation, whether it’s for business, education or pure creative expression, don’t forget to keep these visual presentation ideas in your back pocket.

Feel free to experiment and fine-tune your approach and let your passion and expertise shine through in your presentation. With practice, you’ll not only build presentations but also leave a lasting impact on your audience – one slide at a time.

Services Quick Links

Motion graphics & video presentations.

An innovative way to communicate, motion graphics blends storytelling and design with audio and movement to create eye-catching content that audiences want to consume. Stand out with 2D and 3D hand-drawn digital illustrations and advanced animations that bring your story to life.

Demo Videos

The classic how-to video reinvented, demos show your customers how something works step by step.

• This instruction-led, educational approach allows your viewer to follow along visually as you show them how to use your platform, software or mobile app in full detail.
• This is usually done using a screencast, which displays the user interface a viewer can expect to see, where to navigate in order to find key features, and how to gain the most from the product.
• Demos can also be animated, and used to showcase the functions of a physical product.
• Commonly used to tackle Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) or to onboard new customers and employees, a demo video will no doubt create an outstanding brand experience.

PowerPoint Explainer Videos

Quick and simple, explainer videos beautifully describe your business, product, or service in 2 minutes or less by highlighting key benefits, leaving your audience engaged and ready to take action.

• Think of an explainer video as an elevator pitch for your company—something you can use again and again, that turns complex ideas into easy-to-understand explanations.
• Watching a video with both audio and visuals makes it easier for your viewers to remember you than if they were reading a text description. In fact, audiences are 10x more likely to engage with video content than a text-only post.
• With or without animated characters, use this quick, informative and effective way to identify with your customers’ pain points, and offer your solution.

Video Infographics

Information transformed, video infographics bring data to life, using motion graphics to package dense content into an interesting, logical, and easy-to-digest format.

• Using storytelling to take the viewer on an engaging journey, custom illustrations represent information in a way that is exciting and most importantly, memorable. When a relevant image is paired with information, people retain 65% of the information three days later, as opposed to retaining only 10% when there isn’t an associated visual.
• All kinds of information can be conveyed in a video infographic—findings from a report, industry stats and current trends, or high-level conclusions from research. Upgrade a static infographic to a video infographic, and grip your audience in a highly shareable blog post or email newsletter.

Animated Presentation Process

From initiation to final delivery, we ensure the highest quality service.

Scriptwriting

Storyboarding, illustration.

We kick off with an in-depth conversation about your brand, audience, and story. It’s important that we understand your requirements and preferences upfront to ensure the most successful result. At this stage, we go through a few questions, which form the brief we use to get the creative juices flowing!

Here, our talented wordsmiths weave together the perfect story. Based on our initial discussions, we develop a video script that meets your project objectives, including the desired length, personality and tone. We rely on your revisions and feedback to craft an award-winning script.

Conceptualization

With a strong understanding of your business objectives, we collaborate to develop a stand-out visual concept. This is where the fun begins: mood boards, color palettes, icon styles and potential character development all begins here! The result? A strong theme we’re proud to present to you.

We select the best combination of voiceover, sound effects, and music to give your video a personality of its own. By sifting through a library of options, we choose a few of the best suited audio options for your video and, together with you, decide on the right fit.

Once the concept is a go, we create digitally hand-drawn sketches that lay out the  story, frame by frame. In conjunction with the script, the storyboard brings the theme to life, demonstrating a tangible aesthetic which hints at the final product.

Illustration takes the storyboard to the next level. By combining elements of the mood board, color palette and styles we agreed on in the conceptualization phase, custom characters, backgrounds, and other visual elements add the detail required to take us into our most exciting phase: animation!

This is where the magic happens! We bring the video to life with sophisticated design and motion graphics. We check in regularly to update you on our progress and direction, listening to any input and feedback you may have.

Final Delivery

Once every detail is perfected, watch it all come together in the home stretch. We deliver the final product in HD, in any file type you require. Whether for your website, social media pages, or your next email marketing campaign, get ready to debut your final video and impress your audiences!

Motion Graphic Samples

Innovations in class action settlements.

At a legal event, innovations in class action settlement processes were discussed. To showcase the future of digital settlements, and to highlight how technology is empowering class members to choose their own payment options, we put together this clean and crisp demo video for Sipree, Inc. Flowing from screen to screen, this video displays the ease with which claimants can be paid and the impact on the speed and efficiency of the judicial process.

How to Crop Images

One of Stinson's core values is excellence, and we believe that to be excellent also means to share knowledge. For a simple tip like cropping images in PowerPoint, this short screencast is the perfect way to help us help you!

Randstad Employer Brand Research

For their Employer Branding Report, Randstad needed to appeal to brands looking to increase their attractiveness to employees in the market. With a wide range of findings in the report, it was our task to bring this data together and portray it in a way that viewers could quickly understand the information, as well as its relevance. To do so, we leveraged off the report’s key findings to create a detailed video infographic that tells the story of what motivates employees to work for one brand over another.

10 Things Your Audience Hates

If a 'listicle' is a list in article form, then we present you with a 'listimation': a list in animation form! This explainer video takes viewers through structured content in an engaging and memorable way.

Taxes Your Way

During their Tax Rally, H&R Block launched a new exciting program: Taxes Your Way. Rather than present this solution in a traditional PowerPoint, they needed a quick and simple way to communicate what it is, how it works, and how it benefits clients. The result? An animated explainer video to do just that: seamlessly take employees through the Taxes Your Way process for each and every H&R Block customer.

5 Characteristics of Great Presenter

What do decks and video animations have in common? They're often used in presentations, of course! We put together an animated video on the top qualities of great presenters, based on our client experiences over the years. This video is quirky, fun, and shows off just one of the many illustration styles we can create.

UoT Achievements

Every year, the University of Toronto gives an Impact presentation to celebrate its achievements and awards. To truly reflect the outstanding achievements of students and professors, we elevated the presentation with uniquely animated infographics. These detailed visuals establish flow and draw attention to the points that matter, impressing audiences by giving meaning to data.

Moneris Offlinx Product Launch

Moneris is Canada’s largest financial technology company, specializing in payment processing. In preparation of their new product launch, we helped create a video to communicate the benefits to new and existing clients. From start to end, we worked collaboratively with Moneris to storyboard the video, develop the script, conceptualize the visuals, and create and animate the final video.

Voiceover & Audio

Background music or talk tracks can make or break your presentation. Where relevant, we integrate voiceover and audio tracks that complement the presentation and keep the audience engaged.

Data Visualization

Motion graphics used in animated infographics, research findings, or financial reports can tell a visual data story with an added layer of movement. Sophisticated transitions connect one idea to the next, elevating the audience experience from static to dynamic.

Custom Graphics

Our technical illustrators can source, edit, or build new digital assets, such as iconography, illustrations, and dynamic graphics, to engage viewers.

Video Integration

We can integrate video files into new or existing presentations, depending on your use case and technical specifications. If required, videos can be cut and edited to align with the presentation style and timing.

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Using a Motion Graphic Designer for Your Next Presentation

People say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, a moving picture (or moving graphics) can be worth even more. Adding a creative visual to your work is powerful. Whether you have a complicated idea or want to show how things change over time, or simply want to add some sparkle to your content, then hiring a motion graphic designer will help you every time and be more creative at the same time. In this article, we’ll look at why they are important and why our sales presentation and graphic design agency can help you wow your audience and get the results you want from your presentation. Ultimately, content is king, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important to also use some visual magic along the way.

We see motion graphics all the time:

at the bank, at fast-food restaurants, on commercials, on every online streaming video site, and of course of Social Media. These are all avenues where showing a creative visual engages the audience. This can’t just be a coincidence. Marketers know that the use of visual motion graphics in a video or animation form is a powerful tool that creates interest and memorability to your brand/message to an audience. Gone are the days where custom motion graphics are only available to large productions with insane budgets. Our team at Presentation Geeks have motion graphic designers that can use anything from data to logos to concepts and bring them to life in an exciting and visual motion graphic. These videos can then be implemented seamlessly into a PowerPoint to truly elevate your presentation. Now we don’t do a lot of KeyNote, but here’s a great example of how implementing a motion graphic can add a little pop to your existing deck. This is just an example of how you can get your audience to say, “ I like it! “

The Power of Motion & Animation

Did you know that Psychologists have found that a moving image is more likely to grab our brain’s attention than a static one? That’s because during our long evolution, moving things might be something that would eat us, or that we could eat. So your brain is wired to go “hey! Pay attention to this!” It’s a visual thing.

Learning from the Greats

Steve Jobs was one of the masters of presentations. There have even been books written about his presentation secrets. He typically used a very clear calligraphy style, an uncluttered look and the careful but powerful use of motion graphics. Remember he helped found Apple but also, Pixar. He knew the power of video and motion graphics ; from start to finish. Yes, his content was interesting to the masses, but he also knew how to display it in a visual way that engaged his audience. And so does every good sales presentation and graphic design agency.

Who needs Animations & Motion Graphics?

Let’s say you are in Marketing, Sales, Learning and Development, HR, or in a Franchise. So, you have something really important you want to tell an audience. You want to motivate that audience to do something. Or, you want to motivate that audience to buy something – either a product, or a service, or just buy into an idea.

It’s very easy to create long Powerpoint presentations, but that’s a mistake. You might be excited to tell your audience all the things that you have in your mind. You might have a great time but the trouble is often they won’t. The problem with huge presentations with dozens and dozens of slides is your audience either may not really follow your ideas (as it’s too much to take in) or worse still they, will switch off at some point (from fatigue or boredom). So, any sales presentation and design agency will tell you those very long presentations can be a mistake, even if they look good.

“OK” you might be thinking “I never do that. I keep it short and get all the information across in a few slides”. Well, that’s fine, except if those few slides are crammed with complex information. Hands up: who has never made a slide packed with text or multiple diagrams that the audience will struggle to read, at the same time as you are standing there talking over it?. How about those huge long bullet-pointed lists? Or those 12 point unreadable text boxes? Ever see Steve Jobs doing that? So, every sales presentation and design agency knows very short cluttered presentations can be a mistake, even if they cover all your points. Also, even if the content is captivating, everybody has a limit on how much they can digest in one sitting.

Instead, a better and more effective way is to see if motion graphics can help you get your ideas across. Sometimes even a simple visual animation can start to make all the difference. Remember, we are visual creatures. Don’t forget, you can always use and/or send your audience detailed information after the presentation, or show them where to go find more.

Three situations that need Motion Graphics

A motion graphic or designer can be advantageous in three situations:, you want to show change over time - like sales or marketing data, or improvements., you want to show how things relate to each other, like forces acting on a business, a market, a product or service., you want to illustrate a complex topic by breaking it down for your audience..

In fact, Motion Graphics can help in most presentations but we all know about keeping key points to three or four, right?

Now you’ve decided to use a motion graphic designer for your next presentation, what next? Powerpoint and some basic abilities, but other software tools have powerful motion graphics & animation capabilities that can export to a video format that can then be inserted into PowerPoint. This could be the powerful Adobe After Effects, AutoDesk 3D Studio, or even Adobe Animate. So, just dive in and do, some right? Well, you could but doing it all yourself isn’t ideal. It takes hours and hours and usually professional training to be able to create/design a visual, animated video that truly captures your content to the user. You will get a better result using a sales presentation and graphic design agency (especially one that specializes in animation). Well-designed motion graphics look great and add to the credibility of you as a presenter and – very importantly – what you are presenting. However, it’s really easy to get carried away with moving graphics and you end up with presentations that look cheesy, cheap or amateurish. The problem when that happens is, sometimes subconsciously, your audience will be judging you and your content. You don’t want their impression of you, or what you are saying, to be cheesy, cheap or amateurish.

You will get a far better result using an expert sales presentation and graphic design agency that knows how to make your vision come alive. That’s when it’s time to work with a team like Presentation Geeks comes in.

What Presentation Geeks can do for you:

You might have the most exciting information to give your audience – but unless you get that excitement in your presentation, you won’t be doing it justice. Your audience is lending you their time and attention and you must make the most of it. The expert team at Presentation Geeks will help you do just that. We publish our own tips and tricks and We know how to capture and excite an audience and motion graphics are one way to do that.

On the other hand, you might have some very complex or frankly plain dull information which is still important. It’s unfair on your audience to just give them an ‘information dump’. You have a responsibility to keep them engaged. The team at Presentation Geeks handles these situations all the time and will make sure your audience stays engaged and motivated to find out more and a new visual and/or video animation can often help. Also, the last thing you want to say when you walk away is, “I’ll make sure to engage them more next time. “

Finally – and this happens more than people realize – you may have a situation where some of your audience is likely to be skeptical or opposed to what you have to say. No matter how creative your video, your animation, or your design, sometimes it’s just the content that the audience is struggling with. In this case, you are trying to persuade not just inform or motivate. Presentation Geeks have just about seen it all with tough audiences and motion graphics – expertly done – is one of several tools that can guide the audience into a new perspective that is the first step towards changing their views and in a visual way. Working with your team, and your content, give us a chance to create a video, an animation, a fresh design, or anything else you like and watch the creative process work!

Get Started Today

So, don’t miss the opportunity to speak to Presentation Geeks. Start by giving us a cal l and we’ll go from there. We are an expert sales presentation and graphic design agency, that will help you get the results you want, whatever it is you have to say.

Author:  Ryan

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Presentation animation made easy

Summary/Overview

Incorporating animation into your presentation can add necessary energy that will pull your coworkers into your ideas and plans for your workplace. Follow along with our easy guide to presentation animation and you’ll be engaging your colleagues in no time.

What is presentation animation?

Presentation animation is any visual effect applied to individual slides or specific objects on slides. You can animate text boxes, images, tables or indices, shapes, or any additional graphics. These effects can include changes in color or size, entrance and exit effects, slide transitions, or any other movement.

Adding animation to your presentation is easy with the free Adobe Express presentation maker . Get started today with fun and customizable animated presentation templates .

Types of presentation animation

Text animation.

Text animations are animated effects applied to text already on a slide. These effects can include flickering, fading, sliding across the slide, growing in size, shuffling the colors of the text boxes, or a typewriter-style action.

Photo animation

Photo animations are animated effects applied to the static visual elements of a slide. These visual elements could be a shape, an icon, or a photograph. Effects applied to these elements could be blurring them, changing their color filter, zooming in or out of the image, using greyscale, panning from side to side, or fading the image.

More than one animated effect can be added to the same element, which can be customized based on your intended feel for the slide.

Why use animation in presentations?

Animation should be a contributing factor to your overall message. They keep the focus of your audience so you can get your point across.

Movement is a universal concept. Whether you’re using Adobe Express, Google, Prezi, or attempting to use PowerPoint animation tools, animation can be added to develop your ideas, maintain consistency in your branding, and be applied equally to multiple formats — like social media thumbnails or infographics.

Benefits of adding animation to your presentation:

• Well-placed animation can make any presentation more dynamic, and therefore more memorable. Your audience will better retain any information you provide because they feel more engaged with your presentation.
• Because visuals engage audience more than any other medium, they can help you say more. Adding animation can extend your point past what would’ve otherwise been a text-heavy deck.
• Most people — 65%, to be exact — are visual learners. Using animation can deepen one’s understanding of the concepts presented more than traditional diagrams or text breakdowns, thus allowing for a quicker communication of ideas.
• Animation can cut down on time, and as we know, time is money. The more time you save in your work, the more resources you’ll have to apply elsewhere as needed.

How do I animate my presentation?

• Start with a free presentation template from Adobe Express . Add in whatever text and images you’d like, or simply use what’s provided.
• Tap the “Animation” tab on the righthand side to see the available elements for your slide.
• Select which text and images you’d like to animate and play around with the effects to find out what works best with your content.
• Once you’ve picked your animation elements, you can add additional slides, view all the slides at once to get a cohesive vision of your presentation, or start a new project.

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30 Presentation Design Ideas & Tips to Impress Your Audience in 2022

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Update March 2022: Fixed broken links and added new presentation design idea examples

PowerPoint and its alternatives are multifunctional tools that serve a wide variety of purposes for both marketers and non-marketers. The popular software for presentation design holds unlimited powers of influence, as long you know how to use it right.

Today we’ll share valuable presentation design ideas and tips, so you can make the most out of your presentation. Before moving on to the actual design process, put your ideas on paper. This will help you clear up your concept and is crucial for building a high-quality presentation. Now, let’s begin!

1. Make Sure Your Eye-Catching Visuals Don’t Steal the Spotlight

The design of a presentation is supposed to support your information in more than one way. Overlooking your presentation design means throwing away all of your efforts to prepare a presentation in the first place. No matter the topic, you need to convey value. This means you need to make your presentation eye-catchy but try not to let your visuals steal the spotlight from the information itself.

• Presentation: Digital 2020 Global Digital Overview (January 2020) v01 by DataReportal

2. Go Simple and Witty

Simplicity is a highly advocated practice simply because it gives results. Now, there are simple and boring presentations, and there are simple and witty ones. The second one will win your audience to your side.

• Presentation: Marco Gold Standard by MarcoTechnologies

3. Prioritize Clarity Over Complexity

Push the boundaries but not too far. Obviously, clarity is a factor that definitely works in favor of your presentation’s success. A familiar pattern is a better approach than presenting the information in a completely new arrangement.

• Presentation: 10 Things your Audience Hates About your Presentation by Stinson

4. Turn your Presentation Design into a Story

We all know that design can provoke powerful emotions. But do you know which technique provokes even a stronger emotion? That’s right, stories. Use this double power for your presentation to influence your audience on a deeper level.

• Presentation: Apple Inc Case Study by Shail Daswani

5. Don’t Underestimate Power of Pop Culture References

Use the power of association to your advantage. When people connect new information with things they already know, they are more inclined to listen to you and accept your message.

• Presentation: The Art of the Presentation by Jeffrey Stevens

6. Leverage the Power of Whitespace

This is a blank space left between design elements in the composition. It is a great tool when you want to make a point and focus the viewer’s attention on a particular part of the design.

7. Apply the Rule of Thirds

3 stages, 3 steps, 3 points, 3 ideas… People tend to accept, understand and memorize these things better if they are narrowed down to 3. The audience simply loves this number, so all that’s left for you is to make the best out of this rule.

• Presentation: Achieving digital maturity: Adapting your company to a changing world from Deloitte United States

8. Use Minimum Text In Your Slides

A presentation design is created in order to help the presenter communicate certain information. Moreover, a presentation in front of an audience is meant to be listened to, and not read. This is why some professionals advise not to use more than 6 words per slide. Use more visual content, instead.

• Presentation: How to think like a startup by Loic Le Meur

9. Don’t Forget the Mobile Users

Mind this tip when designing a presentation that will also be watched on mobile devices. Big sections of text in presentation design are hard to read on small screens.

• Presentation: How to Master Difficult Conversations at Work – Leader’s Guide by Piktochart

10. Match the Presentation Design with the Topic

The topic of the presentation often dictates the theme of the design. For instance, a wedding-themed presentation suggests a soft, romantic color scheme, a business presentation is often designed in brand colors, etc.

• Presentation: How To Have Your Dream Wedding Without Burying Your Budget by DesignMantic

You’d probably like to learn  4 Invaluable Presentation Design Tips You Wish You Knew Earlier

11. Use Semi-Transparent Gradient Graphs

Different tools are used to present data. However, presenting it in a visually appealing way will bring more positives for you. Semi-transparency and partial overlapping are super trendy when it comes to presenting graphs. Choose different colors complementing each other, and apply semi-transparency increasing to the top.

• Presentation: Achieving digital maturity: Adapting your company to a changing world by Deloitte United States

12. Be Trendy with Gradient Overlays

Gradients and color transitions are still trendy. This means you can use them bravely in all of your designs including presentation design. White text on top works amazing for this kind of overlay.

• Presentation: 10 Insightful Quotes On Designing A Better Customer Experience by Yuan Wang

13. Use a Partial Overlay to Put an Accent

We already established that white lettering goes well with a colored semi-transparent background. Another technique is to use this background as an element and not a full background, so you can draw the eye to a certain area.

• Presentation: 500 Demo Day Batch 19: Gluwa by 500 Startups

14. Use Brand Colors

Choosing a presentation design style according to your brand is a smart move. This way, you will certainly differentiate your work from other presentations. Also, it’s wise to include your business’s branding – your logo in all of your slides.

• Presentation: How to Market your Charity in the Digital Age by Michael Horton

15. Try Bright Colors

Bright colors still rule the web in 2022, so there will be a lot of them in presentation design, as well. With these colors, it’s more than easy to catch the attention and make a statement. Combine them with 3D or flat illustrations and flattering text color (white works amazing) to make the presentation design pleasant for the eye.

16. Choose One Popping Color

If you want to keep the vibe of the bright colors but still make the presentation design elegant and classy, use just one popping color (it can be even neon) over a black-and-white themed background (or simply over muted colors).

• Presentation: 24 Design Tips from Real Designers by Edahn Small

17. Try Sticking to Black and White

Going black-and-white has always been trendy. This look can provoke a variety of moods depending on how you use it. The Black and white duo provokes nostalgia, drama, mystery. But it could also make your concept look elegant and simple.

• Presentation: A Guide to User Research (for People Who Don’t Like Talking to Other People) by Stephanie Wills

18. Use Trendy Pantone Colors

This presentation uses the Ultra Violet Pantone color of the year 2018 , but you can go with any annual Pantone color to vibe with the current. Now is the time to try Very Peri Color of the year 2022 .

• Presentation: Top Productivity Working Hacks by Jan Rezab

19. Use Simple Outline Illustrations to Explain a Concept

Using illustrations instead of pictures can help you emphasize a point. Illustrations are great conceptual tools, so when it comes to presenting, they can help you get your message across with ease. Flat outline illustrations, on the other hand, are simplistic enough to explain a concept and attractive enough to catch the viewer’s attention in a presentation design.

20. Flat Illustrations are Always a Good Choice

Flat has been the king of illustration in the graphic design world for so long, that we can’t make this list without it. The multifunctional simplistic shapes make this style suitable for both icons and conceptual illustrations in a presentation design.

• Presentation: The 12 Characteristics Of A Horrible Boss by Debra Ulrich

21. Mix Styles

You don’t have to limit yourself to using only one style throughout the whole presentation. Feel free to combine gradients with flats, outlines, and other styles to achieve a more attention-grabbing look.

• Presentation: 5 Storytelling Lessons From Superhero Stories by HighSpark | Visual Storytelling Agency

22. Use Art Illustrations

A fully illustrated slide is a move that pushes the boundaries of the ordinary presentation design. This approach, especially used as an opening slide, will certainly nail your audience’s attention from the very beginning, so it’s worth giving it a shot.

• Presentation:  Achieving digital maturity: Adapting your company to a changing world by Deloitte United States

23. Try Modern Low-Poly Illustrations

Low-poly is a style of illustration that has become modern in recent years. The style brings a futuristic vibe and makes the design look edgy. This style can be applied to the presentation design elements or even the background for a bolder look.

• Presentation: One Point Per Slide – Why It’s Important and How to Do It by Stinson

24. Use Geometric Shapes

Geometric shapes can totally make a design look modern, elegant, and more interesting. Whether circles, triangles, diamonds, or else, geometric shapes provide a wide field for experimenting. This means your opportunities are endless and the result could be an absolutely unique presentation design.

• Presentation: Designing For Emails: 8 Hacks To Design Emails That Are Eagerly Awaited by DesignMantic

25. Give Each Concept a Different Color

Colors are a perfect way to distinguish different ideas and concepts. Plus, they help the audience follow your thought more easily. Distinguishing your ideas from each other by using colors is a great way to focus on different messages in the same presentation. Just make sure to keep the style consistent.

• Presentation: 125 Clickass Copywriting Tips by Barry Feldman

26. Try Creative Typography

You should absolutely step outside your comfort zone and experiment with attractive new ways of presenting your lettering.

• Presentation: 14 Inspiring Paul Rand Quotes! by DesignMantic

27. Try Unconventional Fonts

With the huge diversity of fonts available online, don’t be afraid to try out new looks. A new font stands out and makes the presentation design feel completely different.

• Presentation: GAME ON! Integrating Games and Simulations in the Classroom by Brian Housand

28. Use Numbers to Mark Progress

Numbers are a great way to help your audience keep track of your thoughts. They help you take the viewer through the whole process and they boost the clarity. Numbers also give the feeling of a step-by-step process. They can simplify any idea and make it easier to be understood. In the following example, each slide is a numbered step. This is a provenly effective practice but you can experiment with expanding each number over a few slides.

• Presentation: 21 Hottest Productivity Hacks for 2016 by HubSpot

29. ABC of Anything

The ABC is a cool way to make your audience follow a list. Unlike numbering which could be infinite, this type of alphabetical bulleting does have an end obviously.  This technique engages the viewer a lot because, first of all, the viewer sees something familiar – the alphabetical order. Secondly, people like the feeling of completion which helps them keep their interest till the end of the alphabet.

• Presentation: The ABC’s of Living a Healthy Life by Dr. Omer Hameed

30. Call to Action

Don’t be afraid to tell your audience what to do next. A CTA button is rewarding your efforts spent on the presentation.

• Presentation: 4 Biggest Challenges for Creative Teams by Wrike

Presentation design doesn’t have to be boring. These 30 presentation design ideas and tips will help you breathe life into your presentation and win your audience’s attention. You are welcome to share more ideas in the comments below, so we can discuss what works and what doesn’t. Happy designing!

You may also be interested to read these related articles:

• The Best Free PowerPoint Templates to Download in 2022
• How to Calm Down Before a Presentation: 10 Practical Tips and Techniques
• Top Graphic Design Trends 2022: Raising the Game

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Iveta Pavlova

Iveta is a passionate writer at GraphicMama who has been writing for the brand ever since the blog was launched. She keeps her focus on inspiring people and giving insight on topics like graphic design, illustrations, education, business, marketing, and more.

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Chapter 14 Creating Presentations: Sharing Your Ideas

14.2 incorporating effective visuals into a presentation, learning objectives.

• Recognize the characteristics of effective visual aids.
• Analyze different types of visual aids and appropriate ways to use them.
• Determine how to create original visual aids and how to locate visual aids created by others.

Good communication is a multisensory experience. Children first learning how to read often gravitate toward books with engaging pictures. As adults, we graduate to denser books without pictures, yet we still visualize ideas to help us understand the text. Advertisers favor visual media—television, magazines, and billboards—because they are the best way to hook an audience. Websites rely on color, graphics, icons, and a clear system of visual organization to engage Internet surfers.

Bringing visuals into a presentation adds color, literally and figuratively. There is an art to doing it well. This section covers how to use different kinds of visual aids effectively.

Using Visual Aids: The Basics

Good writers make conscious choices. They understand their purpose and audience. Every decision they make on the page, from organizing an essay to choosing a word with just the right connotations, is made with their purpose and audience in mind.

The same principle applies to visual communication. As a presenter, you choose the following:

• When to show images or video for maximum impact
• Which images will best produce the effect you want
• When to present information using a table, chart, or other graphic
• How much text to include in slides or informational graphics
• How to organize graphics so they present information clearly

Your goal is to use visual media to support and enhance your presentation. At the same time, you must make sure these media do not distract your audience or interfere with getting your point across. Your ideas, not your visuals, should be the focus.

As you develop the visual side of your presentation, you will follow a process much like the process you follow when you write. You will brainstorm ideas, form an organizational plan, develop drafts, and then refine and edit your work. The following sections provide guidelines to help you make good decisions throughout the process.

What Makes Visual Aids Effective?

To help you get a sense of what makes visual media work, think about what does not work. Try to recall occasions when you have witnessed the following visual media failures:

• Websites crammed with so many images, flashing phrases, and clashing colors that they are almost unreadable
• Assembly instructions with illustrations or diagrams that are impossible to follow
• Photographs that are obviously (and badly) altered with photo-editing software
• Distracting typos or other errors in signs, advertisements, or headlines
• Tables, charts, or graphs with tiny, dense text or missing labels

In each case, the problem is that the media creator did not think carefully enough about the purpose and audience. The purpose of images, color, or flashing text on a website is to attract attention. Overusing these elements defeats the purpose because the viewer may become overwhelmed or distracted. Tables, charts, and graphs are intended to simplify complex information, but without clear labels and legible text, they will confuse the audience.

In contrast, effective visual elements are chosen or created with the purpose and audience in mind. Although a photo shoot for a magazine article might result in dozens of images, editors choose those few that work best with the article. Web designers and video game creators have an audience test their products before they are released, to ensure that people will understand how to use them. Understanding the function of different visual aids will help you use them with purpose.

Types of Visual Aids

Visual aids fall into two main categories—images and informational graphics. Images include photographs, illustrations and clip art, and video footage. Informational graphics include tables, charts, bar graphs, and line graphs.

These visual aids serve two purposes: to add emotional impact to your presentation and to organize information more clearly. With that in mind, read to find out how specific types of visual aids achieve those purposes.

Photographs

A striking photograph can capture your audience’s attention far more successfully than words can. Consider including photographs at the beginning or end of your presentation to emphasize your main ideas or to accompany a particularly important point in the body of your presentation. Remember that, as with other types of graphics, less is often more. Two or three well-chosen photographs are more effective than a dozen mediocre ones.

When you choose photographs, ask yourself these questions:

• What purpose does this image serve? Will it surprise the audience? Will it provoke a strong emotional response? Does it support an important point?
• Will this photograph be more effective if shown with only a caption, or does it need additional text?
• Will the audience understand what is happening in the photograph? Is the meaning immediately evident, or does the photo need some context?
• Would editing the image make it more effective? Consider using image-editing software to crop the photo, change the brightness, or make other cosmetic changes. (Do not go overboard, though. A slightly imperfect but authentic image is preferable to one that has been obviously altered.)

To illustrate the sense of helplessness people felt in the midst of tragedy, a student could use a photograph that shows fear, weariness, or defeat on the face of the photograph’s subject.

Illustrations

Illustrations, such as editorial or political cartoons, serve much the same purpose as photographs. Because an illustration does not capture a moment in time the way a photo does, it may have less impact. However, depending on your topic and the effect you want to achieve, illustrations can still be very useful. Use the same criteria for choosing photographs to help you choose illustrations.

The style of an illustration or photograph affects viewers just as the content does. Keep this in mind if you are working with the stock images available in office software programs. Many of these images have a comical tone. This may be fine for some topics—for instance, a presentation on television shows for children. However, if you need to project a more serious tone, make sure you choose images to suit that purpose. Many free (or reasonably priced) image banks are available online.

Video Footage

Even more than photographs, video footage can create a sense of immediacy, especially if your video includes sound. Showing a brief video clip can help your audience feel as if they are present at an important event, connect with a person being interviewed, or better understand a process. Again, ask yourself the following questions to ensure you are using the footage well:

• What purpose does this video serve? (Never rely on video clips just to fill time.)
• How much footage should be shown to achieve your purpose?
• What will need to be explained, before or after showing the video, to ensure that your audience understands its significance?
• Will it be necessary to edit the video to stay within time requirements or to focus on the most important parts?

Informational graphics, such as tables, charts, and graphs, do not provoke the same response that images do. Nevertheless, these graphics can have a powerful impact. Their primary purpose is to organize and simplify information.

Tables are effective when you must classify information and organize it in categories. Tables are an especially good choice when you are presenting qualitative data that are not strictly numerical. Table 14.1 “Example of Qualitative Data Table” was created for a presentation discussing the subprime mortgage crisis. It presents information about people who have held powerful positions both in the government and at one of the investment banking firms involved in the subprime mortgage market.

Table 14.1 Example of Qualitative Data Table

Sources: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/%3Bkw=%5B3351,11459%5D ; http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/business/19gold.html ; http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/henry_m_jr_paulson/index.html?inline=nyt-per ; http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/r/robert_e_rubin/index.html?inline=nyt-per , http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/13/us/man-in-the-news-economic-adviser-from-other-side-of-the-deficit-stephen-friedman.html ; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/342086.stm .

If you are working with numerical information, consider whether a pie chart, bar graph, or line graph might be an effective way to present the content. A table can help you organize numerical information, but it is not the most effective way to emphasize contrasting data or to show changes over time.

Pie charts are useful for showing numerical information in percentages. For example, you can use a pie chart to represent presidential election results by showing what percentage of voters voted for the Democratic presidential candidate, the Republican candidate, and candidates from other political parties.

Figure 14.5

Source: http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2008/2008presgeresults.pdf

Bar graphs work well when you want to show similarities and differences in numerical data. Horizontal or vertical bars help viewers compare data from different groups, different time periods, and so forth. For instance, the bar graph in Figure 14.6 allows the viewer to compare data on the five countries that have won the most Olympic medals since the modern games began in 1924: Norway, the United States, the former Soviet Union, Germany, and Austria. Bar graphs can effectively show trends or patterns in data as well.

Figure 14.6

Source: http://www.nbcolympics.com/medals/all-time-standings/index.html

Line Graphs

Like bar graphs, line graphs show trends in data. Line graphs are usually used to show trends in data over time. For example, the line graph in Figure 14.7 shows changes in the Dow Jones Industrial Average—an economic index based on trading information about thirty large, US-based public companies. This graph shows where the Dow closed at the end of each business day over a period of five days.

Figure 14.7

Source: http://www.google.com/finance/historical?cid=983582&startdate=May+17%2C+2010&enddate=May+21%2C+2010

In this exercise, you will begin to refine your ideas for incorporating media into your presentation. Complete the following steps on your own sheet of paper.

• Revisit the list you brainstormed for Note 14.12 “Exercise 3” in Chapter 14 “Creating Presentations: Sharing Your Ideas”, Section 14.1 “Organizing a Visual Presentation” and the annotated outline you developed for Note 14.17 “Exercise 4”.
• Analyze the two different types of visual aids: images and informational graphics. Identify at least two places in your presentation where you might incorporate visual aids.
• Evaluate the purpose of the visual aid. Does it create emotional impact, or does it organize information? Is the visual effective?
• Determine whether you will be able to create the visual aid yourself or will need to find it.

Creating Original Visual Aids

You will include original visual aids in your presentation to add interest, present complex information or data more clearly, or appeal to your audience’s emotions. You may wish to create some visual aids by hand—for instance, by mounting photographs on poster board for display. More likely, however, you will use computer-generated graphics.

Computer-generated visual aids are easy to create once you learn how to use certain office software. They also offer greater versatility. You can print hard copies and display them large or include them in a handout for your audience. Or, if you are working with presentation software, you can simply insert the graphics in your slides.

Regardless of how you proceed, keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Create visual aids with purpose. Think carefully about how they will enhance your message, and choose a form that is appropriate for your content.
• Strive for quality. You do not need the skills of a professional photographer or designer, but do take time to make sure your visual aids are neat, attractive, and legible. Proofread for errors, too.

Using Software to Create Visual Aids

You can use standard office software to create simple graphics easily. The following guidelines describe how to work with word-processing software and presentation software.

Working with Photographs

Most personal computers come equipped with some basic image-editing software, and many people choose to purchase more advanced programs as well. You can upload photographs from a digital camera (or in some cases, a cell phone) or scan and upload printed photographs. The images can then be edited and incorporated into your presentation. Be sure to save all of your images in one folder for easy access.

Creating Tables

To create a table within a word-processing document consult your software program’s help feature or an online tutorial. Once you have created the table, you can edit and make any additional changes. Be sure that the table has no more than six to seven rows or columns because you do not want to compromise the size of the text or the readability. Aligning with precision will help your table look less crowded. Also, the row and column titles should spell out their contents.

Creating Graphs

Figure 14.8

Pie charts and bar and line graphs can also be created using standard office software. Although you can create these graphics within a document, you will need to work with both your word-processing application and your spreadsheet application to do so. The graph should visually explain the data using colors, titles, and labels. The use of color will help the audience distinguish information; however, avoid colors that are hard on the eyes, such as lime green or hot pink. The title should clearly state what the graph explains. Lastly, avoid using acronyms in the titles and other labels.

Creating Graphics in an Electronic Presentation

If you plan to work only with hard copy graphics during your presentation, you may choose to create them as word-processing documents. However, if you are using presentation software, you will need to choose one of the following options:

• Create your graphics using the presentation software program.
• Create your graphics within another program and import them.

Standard office presentation software allows you to create informational graphics in much the same way you would create them within a word-processing application. Keep the formatting palette, a menu option that allows you to customize the graphic, open while you use the software. The formatting menu provides options for inserting other types of graphics, such as pictures and video. You may insert pictures from an image bank available within the program, or insert images or video from your own desktop files. Shape your use of multimedia in accordance with the message your presentation is trying to convey, the purpose, and your audience.

Creating Visual Aids by Hand

Most of the time, using computer-generated graphics is more efficient than creating them by hand. Using office software programs helps give your graphics a polished appearance while also teaching you skills that are useful in a variety of jobs. However, it may make sense to use hand-created visual aids in some cases—for instance, when showing a 3-D model would be effective. If you follow this route, be sure to devote extra time to making sure your visual aids are neat, legible, and professional.

Flip charts are inexpensive and quick visual aids used during face-to-face presentations. The flip chart can be prepared before, as well as during, the presentation. Each sheet of paper should contain one theme, idea, or sketch and must be penned in large letters to be seen by audience members farthest away from the speaker.

Writing Captions

Any media you incorporate should include a caption or other explanatory text. A caption is a brief, one- to two-sentence description or explanation of a visual image. Make sure your captions are clear, accurate, and to the point. Use full sentences when you write them.

Captions should always be used with photographs, and in some cases, they can be useful for clarifying informational graphics, which represent qualitative data visually. However, informational graphics may not require a caption if the title and labels are sufficiently clear. For other visual media, such as video footage, providing explanatory text before or after the footage will suffice. The important thing is to make sure you always include some explanation of the media.

In this exercise, you will begin to develop visual aids for your presentation. Complete the steps in this exercise—and enjoy the chance to be creative. Working with visuals can be a pleasant way to take a break from the demands of writing.

• Revisit the ideas you developed in Note 14.24 “Exercise 1”. Choose at least two ideas that you can create. ( Note: If you are using software to develop a slideshow presentation, count this as one of your self-created visual aids. Include at least one other self-created visual aid, such as an original photograph, within your slideshow.)
• Get creative! Take your photographs, construct a 3-D model, create informational graphics, or work on your presentation slides. Develop good working drafts.
• After you have completed drafts of your visual aids, set them aside for a while. Then revisit them with a critical eye. First, check any text included with the graphic. Make sure your facts are correct, your words are clear and concise, and your language is free of errors.
• Next, evaluate how well your aids work visually. Are they large enough to be seen and read from a distance? Are captions and labels easy to find? Are photographs of reasonably high quality? Ask someone else for feedback, too.
• Begin making any needed changes. As you proceed through the rest of this section, continue to revisit your work to improve it as needed.

Collaboration

Please share the first version of your visual aids with a classmate. Examine what they have produced. On a separate piece of paper, note both the elements that catch your attention and those that would benefit from clarification. Return and compare notes.

Testing and Evaluating Visual Aids

Regardless of how you create your visual aids, be sure to test-drive them before you deliver your presentation. Edit and proofread them, and if possible, show them to someone who can give you objective feedback. Use the following checklist.

Checklist 14.1

Visual Aid Evaluation Checklist

• Visual aids are clearly integrated with the content of the presentation
• Photographs and illustrations suit the overall tone of the presentation
• Images and text are large and clear enough for the viewer to see or read
• Images are shown with explanatory text or a caption
• Informational graphics include clear, easy-to-read labels and headings
• Text within informational graphics is easy to read (Watch out for wordiness and crowded text or a font that is too small and hard to read.)
• Formatting choices (color, different fonts, etc.) organize information effectively
• Any text within graphics is free of errors
• Hyperlinks within slides function properly
• Display text for hyperlinks is concise and informative (Never paste a link into a slide without modifying the display text.)

Writing at Work

Office software includes many options for personalizing a presentation. For instance, you can choose or create a theme and color scheme, modify how one slide transitions to the next, or even include sound effects. With so many options, students and employees sometimes get carried away. The result can seem amateurish and detract from, rather than enhance, your presentation.

Remember, you are delivering a presentation, not producing a movie. Use the customization options to help give your presentations a consistent, polished, appearance. However, do not let these special effects detract from the substance of your slides.

Using Existing Visual Media

Depending on your topic, you may be able to find images and other graphics you can use instead of creating your own. For instance, you might use photographs from a reputable news source or informational graphics created by a government agency. If you plan to use visual aids created by others, keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Set a purpose before you begin your search. You will search more efficiently if you start with a general idea of what you are looking for—a line graph of unemployment rates for the past twelve months, for example, or a video clip of the most recent State of the Union address.
• Filter out visual aids that are not relevant. You may come across eye-catching graphics and be tempted to use them even if they are only loosely related to your topic, simply because they are attention getting. Resist the temptation. If the graphic is not clearly connected to your point, it does not belong in your presentation.
• Read carefully. In addition to reading labels, headings, and captions, read any text that accompanies the visual. Make sure you understand the visual in its original context. For informational graphics, make sure you understand exactly what information is being represented. (This may seem obvious, but it is easy to misread graphic information. Take the time to examine it carefully.)
• Evaluate sources carefully and record source information. When you look for visual media to complement your presentation, you are conducting research. Apply the same standards you used for your research paper. Choose reliable sources, such as reputable news organizations, government and nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions. Verify data in additional sources. Finally, be sure to document all source information as you proceed.

Searching Efficiently for Visual Media

You will probably find it most efficient to use the Internet to search for visual aids. Many students begin by typing keywords into a search engine to locate related images. However, this search technique is not necessarily efficient, for several reasons:

• It often pulls up hundreds or even thousands of images, which may be only loosely related to your search terms.
• It can sometimes be difficult to understand the image in its original context.
• It can be hard to find copyright information about how you may use the image.

A more efficient strategy is to identify a few sources that are likely to have what you are looking for, and then search within those sites. For instance, if you need a table showing average life expectancy in different countries, you might begin with the website of the World Health Organization. If you hope to find images related to current events, news publications are an obvious choice. The Library of Congress website includes many media related to American history, culture, and politics.

Searching this way has the following advantages:

• You will often find what you are looking for faster because you are not wasting time scrolling through many irrelevant results.
• If you have chosen your sources well, you can be reasonably certain that you are getting accurate, up-to-date information.
• Images and informational graphics produced by reputable sources are likely to be high quality—easy to read and well designed.

If you do choose to use a search engine to help you locate visual media, make sure you use it wisely. Begin with a clear idea of what you are looking for. Use the advanced search settings to narrow your search. When you locate a relevant image, do not download it immediately. Read the page or site to make sure you understand the image in context. Finally, read the site’s copyright or terms of use policy—usually found at the bottom of the home page—to make sure you may use the material.

If you are unable to find what you are looking for on the Internet consider using print sources of visual media. You may choose to mount these for display or scan them and incorporate the files into an electronic presentation. (Scanning printed pages may lower the quality of the image. However, if you are skilled at using photo-editing software, you may be able to improve the quality of the scanned image.)

Inserting Hyperlinks in an Electronic Presentation

If you are working with images, audio, or video footage available online, you may wish to insert a link within your presentation. Then, during your presentation, you can simply click the link to open the website in a separate window and toggle between windows to return to your presentation slides.

To insert a hyperlink within your presentation, click on insert in the toolbar and then select hyperlink from the menu. Doing so will open a dialogue box where you can paste your link and modify the accompanying display text shown on your slide.

Copyright and Fair Use

Before you download (or scan) any visual media, make sure you have the right to use it. Most websites state their copyright and terms of use policy on their home page. In general, you may not use other people’s visual media for any commercial purpose without contacting the copyright holder to obtain permission and pay any specified fees.

Copyright restrictions are somewhat more ambiguous when you wish to download visual media for educational uses. Some educational uses of copyrighted materials are generally considered fair use —meaning that it is legally and ethically acceptable to use the material in your work. However, do not assume that because you are using the media for an educational purpose, you are automatically in the clear. Make sure your work meets the guidelines in the following checklist. If it does, you can be reasonably confident that it would be considered fair use in a court of law and always give credit to the source.

Checklist 14.2

Media Fair Use Checklist

• You are using the media for educational purposes only.
• You will make the work available only for a short period and to a limited audience. For instance, showing a copyrighted image in a classroom presentation is acceptable. Posting a presentation with copyrighted images online is problematic. In addition, avoid any uses that would allow other people to easily access and reproduce the work.
• You have used only as much of the work as needed for your purposes. For video and audio footage, limit your use to no more than 10 percent of the media—five minutes of an hour-long television show, for example. Image use is harder to quantify, but you should avoid using many images from the same source.
• You are using the media to support your own ideas, not replace them. Your use should include some commentary or place the media in context. It should be a supporting player in your presentation—not the star of the show.
• You have obtained the material legally. Purchase the media if necessary rather than using illegally pirated material.
• Your use of the media will not affect the copyright holder or benefit you financially.

By following these guidelines, you are respecting the copyright holder’s right to control the distribution of the work and to profit from it.

In some fields, such as teaching, job applicants often submit a professional portfolio to a prospective employer. Recent college graduates may include relevant course work in their portfolios or in applications to graduate school. What should you do if your course work uses copyrighted visual media?

This use of media is acceptable according to fair use guidelines. Even though you are using the work for your personal professional advancement, it is not considered an infringement on copyright as long as you follow the additional guidelines listed in the previous checklist.

Crediting Sources

As you conduct your research, make sure you document sources as you proceed. Follow the guidelines when you download images, video, or other media from the Internet or capture media from other sources. Keep track of where you accessed the media and where you can find additional information about it. You may also provide a references page at the end of the presentation to cite not only media and images but also the information in the text of your presentation. See Chapter 13 “APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting” for more information on creating a reference page.

Write captions or other explanatory text for visual media created by others, just as you would for media you created. Doing so helps keep your audience informed. It also helps ensure that you are following fair use guidelines by presenting the media with your commentary, interpretation, or analysis. In your caption or elsewhere in your presentation, note the source of any media you did not create yourself. You do not need to provide a full bibliographical citation, but do give credit where it is due.

In this exercise, you will locate visual aids created by others and continue developing the work you began earlier. Complete these steps.

• Revisit the ideas you developed in Note 14.24 “Exercise 1”. Choose at least two ideas for which it would make more sense to find the visual aid than to create it yourself.
• Use the search tips provided in this section to locate at least two visual aids from reputable sources that you can use. Prepare them for your presentation by adding clarifying text as needed. Be sure to credit your source.
• Incorporate the visual aids you created in Note 14.26 “Exercise 2” and Note 14.32 “Exercise 3” into your presentation. This may involve preparing physical copies for display or inserting graphic files into an electronic presentation.
• If you are working with presentation software, refine your slides. Make sure the visual approach is consistent and suits your topic. Give your text a final proofread.
• If you are not using presentation software, review the annotated outline you created in Note 14.24 “Exercise 1”. Update it as needed to reflect your current plan. Also, determine how you will physically set up your visual aids.

Key Takeaways

• Visual aids are most effective when they are chosen with the purpose and audience in mind. They serve to add emotional impact to a presentation and to organize information more clearly.
• Visual aids should always be clearly related to the presenter’s ideas. Captions, labels, and other explanatory text help make the connection clear for the audience.
• Like writing, developing the visual components of a presentation is a process. It involves generating ideas, working with them in a draft format, and then revising and editing one’s work.
• Visual aids can be divided into two broad categories—image-based media and informational graphics.
• Widely available software programs make it relatively easy to create visual aids electronically, such as photo images, charts, and graphs.
• When using visual aids created by others, it is important to apply good research skills, follow guidelines for fair use, and credit sources appropriately.
• Successful Writing. Authored by : Anonymous. Provided by : Anonymous. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/successful-writing/ . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

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Presentations and moving

Before I was a presentation skills trainer – not quite in my youth –  I spent about seven years touring as the technical director of a dance company. I learned a lot from them to do with discipline and hard work. I learned about focus and I learned what effort looks like. (I might even try it myself some time! 🙂 )

And one of the more odd-sounding things I learned was that there’s a huge difference between standing still and not moving. Stay with me – I know it sounds weird and woo-woo, but when you’ve seen it you’ll know what I mean.

It doesn’t matter what terminology you use, what I’m trying to describe is a difference in something that’s very hard to describe, but a choreographer I’ve worked with (hi Tess!) calls the state of not-moving-but-clearly-about-to ‘suspended’ where as the state of not-moving-because-they’re-just-standing-there as ‘still’.

‘Suspend’ is what you want in your presentations, not ‘Still’.

Whatever you call it however, I’m sure you know it when you see it. But what has it got to do with presentations?

Presenters who stand still

There’s quite a bit of research about moving during your presentations. The less you move, or at least the less you move without purpose, the less authoritative you’ll be perceived as being. So – if you want to look like you know what you’re presenting about, stand still. Move when – and only when – there’s a good reason for doing so.

On the other hand, moving can make you feel more “approachable” to the audience. Moving during your presentations is something of a trade-off therefore!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that always standing still gives you authority. If you’re artificially still, it clearly signals you’re terrified as you present! I’m saying you should be conscious of how much (and when) you stand still during your presentations. Consider what impression you want to give to your audience. Do you want to seem flat, or energised? Do you want to give an impression of retreating from your audience – or to give the impression of coming at them and engaging with them?

On a rather silly note, I often have clients (particularly on our public courses ) look at various bits of TV theatre to figure out who’s in charge. Even with the sound turned off, it’s not usually hard – the person in charge is the person who stands still at the middle of the fuss… it’s rather like being the still eye at the centre of the storm.

By the way, you might want to have a look at this post about using remote controls in presentations . A good remote control gives you the option of moving, but doesn’t force you!

Introvert presenters and movement

I can speak to this one from personal experience. I’m an introvert and when I’m not presenting I’m rather hard to get into social chit-chat etc. What that means when I’m presenting is that my preferred style and place is ‘defended’ from the audience. I instinctively want to pull back behind a lectern or other physical barrier and no move about.

From an audience’s perspective that can make my presentations rather abstract and not very engaging. Consequently I’ve learned to move forward and make a point of looking at where and when I can move during my presentations. Then, when I’ve got to where I’m going, I stand still.

Extravert presenters and movement

For extraverts therefore, the important thing is to look at ways to pin yourself to the floor and/or not to by too ‘in your face’ for audiences.

Movement tools to try for your next presentation

Different strokes for different folks, as they say – but here are a few ideas to start you thinking…

• By co-incidence, one of my daughters had an interview today which included a presentation.  (Before you ask, no, she didn’t ask for my help with it!) What she did do, however, was deliberately put on a higher pair of heels than she normally wears. Why? Because as an extravert she tends to move around a lot… but as a young, female doctor she particularly feels the need to convey her authority and credibility in her presentations.
• A few people I know (particularly extraverts )have found it very helpful to mark the floor of where they rehearse their presentations with brightly coloured electricians’  tape. They can see that out of the corner of their eye. They allow themselves to stand on those marks and only on those marks. That stops them wandering around during their presentations.
• When they design and develop their presentations, some of my clients find that a move comes to mind while they’re jotting down their ideas. In particular, when ideas are jotted down on a set of Index Cards, there’s a lot of shuffling around to get them in the best order for the presentation… and lots of removing of cards. And once the cards are in the right order, they can be put on a table that represents the stage… Index Cards 1, 2, 3 on the front left of the stage, Index Cards 4 and 5 are over on stage right. The next Index Card’s content is back at stage right… you get the idea.
• Ask your friends. Seriously. Get someone to do an audit of your presentation and ask them to watch your presentation specifically and only for how you move.  I’ve written before about getting proper “council” rather than just any old feedback, but asking for specific and limited question is different. That will at least give you a starting point about whether you move too much, too little or if you’re the perfect presenter. And don’t just ask one person once. Get a consensus about different presentations or from different people. One person is feedback, group feedback is opinion…
• Think of Tess’s idea of ‘suspend’ rather than ‘still’.  When you’re stationary you can give the impression of energy still if you’re ‘suspended’ rather than ‘still’. Dancers do it properly but my way of doing it is to keep my weight forward onto the balls of my feet, as though I’m about to make a step forward, but don’t actually make that step.
• Don’t forget that other things make it look like you’re moving too – big dangly ear-rings and faffy hand gestures give an impression of movement, even when you’re not doing, for example. Consider the idea of Go Big And Go Home .

Some thoughts tucked away at the end…

A quick thought about gestures in your presentations.

I’m talking about moving during your presentations here, not gestures – that’s a whole different ball game… but it does have an impact. Why? Because the more you waver your arms around as you present, the less you can get away with moving!

A second thought about online presentations

Look at Beth on the right. Now imagine her filling your screen. And now imagine her being a very animated, in your face presenter! 😉

Great blog Simon. Most of my presentation is on video rather than in person, but I’m definitely a hand waver – probably because the screen itself is a barrier. Definitely something for me to pay more attention to.

Gets even more important on a screen, ‘cos people are both close to your face and it’s JUST your face… nothing to “dilute” you.

Very helpful and practical! Will definitely use these tips when planning upcoming presentations ?

Thanks Rozanne – they’re not for everyone but if it helps, it helps! 🙂

Thanks Simon, Can see these things being really helpful for general communication rather than just presentations. Especially on webcalls!

You’re right in many ways… presentations aren’t “special” in many ways. Communication is communication – though the balance between (for example) visual impact and the sound of your voice obviously changes as you change medium etc.

Love this article! I’m certainly going to these tips on board the next time I create a teaching video.

Glad it helped. BTW have you seen this article on why we hate seeing ourselves on videos ? 🙂

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Make PowerPoint presentation/animations run smoothly

I've got a presentation I'm currently working on where the timing of animations in relation to other things (e.g. videos) is very important. I've noticed when I first play the presentation, some of the animations can be jerky and the timings are off. If I run through a slide, then go back and play it back again, it works properly. In fact, as far as I can tell, there has been a similar effect since I first started using PowerPoint 95.

Is there any way to achieve this effect without running through a slide first? Maybe it's something to do with loading the whole presentation into the RAM, and if so, is there any way to do this? Would it make a difference if I moved the file from OneDrive to my local drive (which is a SSD)?

As a last resort, if this isn't possible, is there any way I can play through a slide to ensure it's fully loaded while in the middle of the presentation in a way that won't be visible to viewers? I'm actually going to be sending it through Zoom so there will effectively be two screens, one for me and one for viewers.

Thanks very much.

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Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks for your reply. I tried what you suggested, but unfortunately it didn't help. I also tried the option below it - "Disable Slide Show hardward graphics acceleration", but if anything that made it worse.

Most things are fine - really it's the faster animations that cause the problems. The main issue is some text which shrinks to 10% size in 0.4 seconds. I'm guessing the sudden change in size is why it jerks/freezes up, but it does still run smoothly the second time. I just don't want to have to play through it twice and ruin the effect.

I have 8 GB RAM - I hope that should be enough!

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Blog – Creative Presentations Ideas

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Make Impactful Presentations with Playing Card Graphics

Last Updated on October 6, 2022 by

Playing cards are an easily recognized symbol. Whether you’re using the cards laid flat to represent 4 unique elements or as a hand of cards metaphor, playing card graphics can be very effective. Using graphics to remind your audience of feelings or abstract concepts can save you from additional explanation.

Ways to use Playing Card Graphics

Playing cards are great for illustrating risk or luck. Why? Most people already associate them with those things Card graphics can also add some playfulness to your presentation. We can’t be serious all the time!

Need to illustrate a variety of options? Using card values, colors and suits will make it easier. To see the full Playing Cards Graphics for PowerPoint, click here .

Rather than relying on individual cards, you can also use card stacks or piles for more evocative visuals.

List 4 elements using playing card graphics

Using cards with headers, icons and descriptions are more interesting than a bland, default table. Playing card graphics can be customized with colors and feature any value you’d like. You can incorporate lists or a table if you would like, as in the second example.

Use classical french suit playing card graphics

Classic French Suit playing cards use Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades. You can also use Jokers to represent an additional category. Because this style of card is easily recognized and synonymous with gambling, games of chance, and risk, you can use the graphics as visual shorthand. Bring those things to your audience’s mind before you say a word.

Use a poker hand as a metaphor

Do you need to illustrate teamwork, having resources together, or a plan coming to fruition? These are just some of the ways we’ve found to utilize poker hand graphics like this one. Provide any additional explanation or description you might need to the description box. Don’t forget to add a catchy header!

Use a card switching or shuffling diagrams

Can you use playing card graphics to represent a process or course of action? Yes! Diagrams like this one can be used to represent switching between steps of a process or guessing which action to take next. If you’re presenting your audience with a choice of options, this type of graphic can help them visualize the decision. If you’d like to provide supplementary information about each of the options, the text boxes provide space for headers and additional details.

Use a pyramid of cards to explain your point

A house or pyramid of cards is easy to recognize the shape. If you need to explain how different departments within your organization must work together to reach a common goal – a house of cards diagram would serve you well. If you wanted to explain how different elements of a sales strategy support your overall success, a card pyramid would also work well. Customize each card with a relevant icon, and supplement your presentation speech with additional description.

Explain Business Risk and Provide Visual Lists

We created the Playing Cards Presentation Graphics set to give you an engaging alternative to dull bullet-point lists and simple tables, so you can create compelling visuals yourself. We know you want to have eye-catching presentations that your audience can follow and understand.

Resource: Playing Cards Presentation Graphics

You can articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely if the visuals on your PowerPoint presentation align with what you’re trying to express. You’ll give more impactful presentations if you can focus on what you need to say, rather than trying to explain it. Using visual metaphors and visual shorthand will help save you some time and will make your presentations easier for your audience to follow.

See the full Playing Card Graphics set and get inspired to build more cohesive, visually appealing presentations:

Playing Cards Presentation Graphics

If you’d like to customize your presentation with more specific icons or graphics, check out the ultimate infographics bundle , which contains 225 various diagrams for your choice.

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