Visual aids, including PowerPoint presentations, are the most powerful way to convey information. My message is related to helping employees with robust training materials. With the slide show presentation on PowerPoint, the employees have multimedia materials they can use for learning. For example, this presentation can teach employees how to incorporate PowerPoint presentations in their work. Using PowerPoint to teach PowerPoint is an ideal training program. Audio and video dimensions help all employees master the material. Moreover, the employees can take home the PowerPoint slides for reinforcement. The method of using PowerPoint is itself important because all workers need to create or interact with PowerPoint presentations at some point in their career.
However, not all PowerPoint presentations are equal. Some make their audiences fall asleep, while others convey information in ways that are both entertaining and informative. The intended audience for the presentation is management. With this target audience in mind, I will need to create an impressive presentation for the "wow" factor management expects. I can assume management already appreciates the value of PowerPoint but perhaps does not realize that the presentation software is being underutilized in the organization. I want to show senior management that PowerPoint offers a set of tools that can increase productivity. Because management is on a tight time schedule, I need to ensure that the presentation is brief and to the point. Information needs to be pithy. Using simple visual aids will help me to engage the audience and create positive connections.
Typography is one of the most fundamental of all visual components. Ryan (2012) describes typography as "the clothes words wear," (p. 53). As the clothing, typography is not the content itself but can say a lot about the content just as a...
The style of the typeface conveys the mood of the presentation, whether it is serious or lighthearted. Typeface choices can also correspond with the content directly. For example, an Ariel typeface evokes old typewriters, and is appropriate for a presentation on how to use presentations for journalistic or literary purposes. Alternatively, a science fiction font is appropriate when discussing the anniversary of the Dr. Who television show.
However, typography is about more than just the style of the "clothing" of the words. Typography is related to font size and its placement on the screen. For example, the font can also indicate where the viewer can place the eye on the screen. The size of the typeface can also indicate the categorization of material, or separate one idea from another (Ryan, 2012). Larger fonts will indicate big categories or overarching ideas. Smaller fonts are the subcategories, which are expanded on verbally by the speaker. In this case, I intend to follow the basic rules of presentation and typeface design: keeping it simple. Some fonts might seem attractive or unique, but they are not easily readable by the audience.
During a presentation, the audience members need to recognize words and phrases at a quick glance. For this reason, a simple and easy-to-read typeface is critical. As Ryan (2012) points out, it is also important to be consistent with the use of the typeface style in the presentation. Too many fonts creates a cluttered look. Consistency is good because it keeps the audience focused. A tight and neat presentation is more impressive than a messy and cluttered one. It may be alright to use fancy fonts and typefaces as branding elements such as a running header or footer. However, the bulk of the presentation should be in a standard font. It is also critical…
