Presentation & Poster Design

By: Chandler Vidrine, Communication Consultant 

Instructions for a more creative and successful presentation:

Have you ever done a PowerPoint or poster presentation and observed something about it just appeared a bit…off? If you’re unaccustomed with simple PowerPoint design principles, it can be tough to produce a presentation to demonstrate your material in the best light. Poorly designed presentations will cause your audience to feel confused, uninterested and even exasperated. Evaluate these recommendations to make your succeeding presentations more appealing.

Simple rules for better presentations 

1. Don't read your presentation straight from the slides
2. Don't forget your audience
3. Choose readable colors and fonts
4. Don't overload your presentation with animations
5. Use animations sparingly to enhance your presentation
6. Use a transition that works with your presentation
7. Create your own color scheme
8. Use interesting fonts
9. Try bold themes
10. Highlight large images

Presentation Resources

• Cain Project:Resources for presenting Science & Engineering Posters from Rice University
• University of Washington:Good set of tips on creating and delivering memorable presentations.
• Presentation Zen: TED Talk presenter Garr Reynolds website on telling compelling stories and giving amazing presentations.
• UNC, Chapel Hill's Poster & Presentation Resources Webpage:A great guide for anyone presenting academic research in a formal setting.