design tips for geographers

Presentation Skillsfor geographers

Simple design tips to improve learning

Bad design and presentation never

killed anyone, but it never

inspired anyone either!

Take a look at this Take a look at this guy!guy!

Take a look at this Take a look at this guy!guy!

So, our aim is to learn some basics of good

design and keep things simple, balanced and

above all, Beautiful!

Check out Check out “Presentation Zen: Simple ideas “Presentation Zen: Simple ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery”on Presentation Design and Delivery” by by

Garr Reynolds . Garr Reynolds .

Check out Check out “Presentation Zen: Simple ideas “Presentation Zen: Simple ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery”on Presentation Design and Delivery” by by

Garr Reynolds . Garr Reynolds .

GarrGarrGarrGarr

Garr’s Garr’s bookbook

Garr’s Garr’s bookbook

Go Visual!

Go Visual!Empty spaceEmpty space allows us allows us

to appreciate what is to appreciate what is not there, & not there, & makesmakes ourour

visual messages visual messages stronger.stronger.

Empty spaceEmpty space allows us allows us to appreciate what is to appreciate what is

not there, & not there, & makesmakes ourour visual messages visual messages

stronger.stronger.

Make your image Make your image fill up the whole fill up the whole slide. slide. Yes, right Yes, right up to the edge! up to the edge!

Place your text Place your text inside it.inside it.

Make your image Make your image fill up the whole fill up the whole slide. slide. Yes, right Yes, right up to the edge! up to the edge!

Place your text Place your text inside it.inside it.

Use Use less than less than sevenseven wordswords in in each slide. Trust each slide. Trust

me!me!

Use Use less than less than sevenseven wordswords in in each slide. Trust each slide. Trust

me!me!

Let the image tell your story!

Good presentations Good presentations target students target students “left “left

brain” & “right brain” & “right brain”.brain”.

Good presentations Good presentations target students target students “left “left

brain” & “right brain” & “right brain”.brain”.

We are hardwired We are hardwired to understand to understand images. Going images. Going

visual visual improves improves communication.communication.

We are hardwired We are hardwired to understand to understand images. Going images. Going

visual visual improves improves communication.communication.

Use your image to draw out Use your image to draw out students students high order high order

thinking skills.thinking skills.

Use your image to draw out Use your image to draw out students students high order high order

thinking skills.thinking skills.

Sample Slides

A good image allows students to A good image allows students to think, wonder and reflectthink, wonder and reflect on an issue. A great image can help tell the story in a way on an issue. A great image can help tell the story in a way

bullet points never can.bullet points never can.

A good image allows students to A good image allows students to think, wonder and reflectthink, wonder and reflect on an issue. A great image can help tell the story in a way on an issue. A great image can help tell the story in a way

bullet points never can.bullet points never can.

What will What will this place this place look like in look like in 1000 years1000 years

time?time?

What will What will this place this place look like in look like in 1000 years1000 years

time?time?

How would he How would he describe this describe this

place place in a in a phone call to phone call to

you, right you, right now?now?

How would he How would he describe this describe this

place place in a in a phone call to phone call to

you, right you, right now?now?

ExplainExplain the the events of the last events of the last

24 hours.24 hours.

ExplainExplain the the events of the last events of the last

24 hours.24 hours.

What will they What will they need in the need in the

next next six six days?...days?...

What will they What will they need in the need in the

next next six six days?...days?...

......six six months?months?

......six six months?months?

......six years?six years?......six years?six years?

You are in charge.You are in charge. What needs to go on this What needs to go on this

plane?plane?

You are in charge.You are in charge. What needs to go on this What needs to go on this

plane?plane?

Vision beats all our other

senses, so...

Absolutely no bullet points!

Absolutely no bullet points!

If you have to If you have to use them, save use them, save

them for the last them for the last slide!slide!

If you have to If you have to use them, save use them, save

them for the last them for the last slide!slide!

Students quickly tire of bullet Students quickly tire of bullet points. points.

What other options do you What other options do you have?have?

Students quickly tire of bullet Students quickly tire of bullet points. points.

What other options do you What other options do you have?have?

Make it easy on the eye!

Make it easy on the eye!

Think about the image you Think about the image you are using. are using. AA good good

quality image speaks a quality image speaks a thousand words!thousand words!

Think about the image you Think about the image you are using. are using. AA good good

quality image speaks a quality image speaks a thousand words!thousand words!

FlickrDreamstimeMorguefilei-Stock Photo

Sources

Take care to match colours and backgrounds

Take care to match colours and backgrounds

Take care to match colours and backgrounds

Take care to match colours and backgrounds

Take care to match colours and backgrounds

Take care to match colours and backgrounds

If you can’t use colour If you can’t use colour wisely, then avoid it wisely, then avoid it

entirely!entirely!

If you can’t use colour If you can’t use colour wisely, then avoid it wisely, then avoid it

entirely!entirely!

simple Use

fonts

Helvetica

Gill Sans

Impact

The Holy Trinity!The Holy Trinity!These are all examples of These are all examples of Sans Serif fonts, that give Sans Serif fonts, that give

any presentation a any presentation a professional look and feel.professional look and feel.

The Holy Trinity!The Holy Trinity!These are all examples of These are all examples of Sans Serif fonts, that give Sans Serif fonts, that give

any presentation a any presentation a professional look and feel.professional look and feel.

FlickrDreamstimeMorguefilei-Stock Photo

Sources HelveticaHelveticaHelveticaHelvetica

Gill Sans Gill Sans MSMS

Gill Sans Gill Sans MSMS

Comic Sans MS?

Comic Sans MS?Professional Professional

designers do not use designers do not use this font, so why this font, so why

should we?should we?

Professional Professional designers do not use designers do not use

this font, so why this font, so why should we?should we?

I See No I See No Evil?!!!Evil?!!!I See No I See No Evil?!!!Evil?!!!

Practice before presenting

Practice before presenting

Don’t be temptedDon’t be tempted to to read the text straight read the text straight

from the slide!from the slide!

Don’t be temptedDon’t be tempted to to read the text straight read the text straight

from the slide!from the slide!

But what about the But what about the detail? detail? Well, the slide Well, the slide

should lead to the should lead to the worksheet, or textbook, worksheet, or textbook,

so so pupils can learn pupils can learn more.more.

But what about the But what about the detail? detail? Well, the slide Well, the slide

should lead to the should lead to the worksheet, or textbook, worksheet, or textbook,

so so pupils can learn pupils can learn more.more.

Learn from this guy!

Learn from this guy!

Check out Check out “The “The Presentation Presentation

Secrets of Steve Secrets of Steve Jobs”Jobs”by Carmine by Carmine

GalloGallo

Check out Check out “The “The Presentation Presentation

Secrets of Steve Secrets of Steve Jobs”Jobs”by Carmine by Carmine

GalloGallo

Some people Some people even dress like even dress like

this guy!this guy!

Some people Some people even dress like even dress like

this guy!this guy!

Absolutely no bullet points!

RepeatRepeat the slides in the slides in your presentation to your presentation to re-re-enforceenforce the message the message

RepeatRepeat the slides in the slides in your presentation to your presentation to re-re-enforceenforce the message the message

Say what you have to Say what you have to say. say.

Say it simply. Say it simply. Say it again!Say it again!

Say what you have to Say what you have to say. say.

Say it simply. Say it simply. Say it again!Say it again!

•Go visual!

•Let the image tell your story

•Absolutely no bullet points (until the end)

•Use simple fonts

•Practice before presenting

Presentation Skillsfor geographers

Simple design tips to improve learning

Simon Jones 2010