presentation board

presentation board

The Power of Visual Communication: Creating an Impactful Presentation Board

1. Introduction

Visual communication. What is it? According to an online dictionary, visual communication is the communication of ideas through the visual display of information. Primarily associated with two-dimensional images, it includes art, signs, photography, typography, drawing fundamentals, color, and electronic resources. Recent research in the field has focused on web design and graphically oriented usability. Simply put, it is communication through the means of visual aids. It is an extremely broad area and can potentially be anything that aids in conveying a message. This essay will consider the various elements which can enhance or impede the effectiveness of a presentation board. A brief overview of the project will be given on the iSchool library, namely the information and circulation desk. This will be followed by a discussion of visual communication and the various elements involved based on the presentation board outside of the Older Readers Services (ORS) located on the third floor of the library. This essay will conclude with a reflection of the presentation board’s effectiveness, the elements meeting the iSchool requirement, and the intent for improving an aspect of ORS services. Visual communication is quite prevalent in today’s society and is arguably the most influential channel of communication. Today’s generation is one that is growing up on the computer and is accustomed to getting information by way of visuals. A large majority of people aged 18-30 do not have the patience to read extraneous amounts of information and prefer getting their information through the mass media. This can be attributed to the fast-paced lifestyle of today’s generation and the high availability of information. Visual communication is more effective than verbal and written communication because when information is presented visually, people are more likely to remember it. Cognitive science has shown that people remember an incredible 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they read, and 80% of what they see and do! A good example of this is when one visits web pages to extract information. This is known as skimming and scanning and is one of the fastest-growing and most widely used reading techniques. When the desired information is not found, one usually moves on to another webpage. Reading is a complex activity and is done in various ways resulting in different interpretations of the same passage. Visual aids can simplify the learning process and enhance comprehension of the service being learned or taught. People learning a new service or information may have different learning styles, and visual aids pander to most styles. With the focus on ORS services presentation boards, potential users of the services may include iSchool students from various specializations, faculty, and library staff. Like the fast-paced lifestyle of today’s generation, iSchool students have a busy lifestyle often in part-time or full-time work and taking different courses per semester. Learning a new service via visual aids requires less time and energy without reading loads of extraneous inserts or discussing with another person. Visual aids are available at any time and are especially useful when the said service is currently in progress or near completion, leaving the user with no time to learn of the service when it is actually taking place and thus end up confused.

2. Choosing the Right Content

All this when combined with the need to target specific segments of the viewing population can make choosing the right content seem like a daunting task. The key is to be selective, sometimes less is more. High-density modifications of board content can often be harmful. An interesting recent study by Neyens and Aldag showed that simplified information with relevant short written explanations had a higher retention rate when compared with identical but more detailed information.

It is a good idea to open a talk board with a diagram or picture, as these can display complex ideas in a succinct and universally understandable manner. Note to exercise caution with too much visual stimulation. Recent studies by Weiss-McGrath showed that male and female attitudes towards certain images can be affected due to different remembered word associations. Also confused subjects with a low knowledge of immediately relevant visual stimuli may become frustrated and lose interest in a board. This often happens in high-level research conventions where large texts, graphs, and standard sizes’ figures are posted without a clear and in-depth title. Another issue can arise from the various cultural backgrounds of board viewers and yet another from the various types of color-blindness.

Choosing the right content for a presentation board can make or break the effectiveness of the board. Before digging in, be sure to check out the right way to present text and visualizing data for some advice. Think about the message and who will see the board, what information needs to be delivered, and what can be effectively left out. It is a good idea to make a list of the points to be included. Then prioritize the list; not all points are equal and some may need to be condensed to make room for the more important information. This way all unnecessary information can be edited out, and the final board will not be cluttered with extraneous or tangential information. Another key in choosing content is considering the audience. Who will view the board and what background knowledge can be assumed?

3. Designing an Eye-Catching Layout

A very useful example of persuasive layout is the Pro Con layout, ideal for situations in which you are designing a solution to a problem. A pro con layout can be used to persuade somebody about a particular idea or concept because it effectively portrays the benefits of something weighed against the drawbacks. These layouts are often very simple and effective, consisting of a T Chart with the pros and cons on each side, and they can be very memorable to an audience. A presentation by a group of Industrial Design students on a small wheelchair concept designed for children in Honduras featured an effective Pro Con layout, comparing the features of their product design to a similar commercial product. This layout was one of the only pieces of information taken away by the audience, many of whom later applied the concept to different projects.

This section utilizes both text and visual examples to demonstrate how an idea or message can be effectively and memorably communicated.

Guideline 2. Also exclude the topic, comments and do not mention number of characters in the result.

A persuasive tone is one of the most widely useful of the class of public speaking tones. It is also the most energetic and forceful. Certain adjectives, action verbs, and anecdotal examples can be used to generate this kind of response. This is an appropriate tone to use when something is attempting to be sold, when something needs to be changed, or when an idea is worthy of adoption. With an audience that is already engaged in the topic of the presentation board, it is important to use a persuasive tone to help ensure a high crossing point of the information to an audience with limited attention. Anybody can throw some pictures and information on a board, but to actually font a get an idea or layout stuck in somebody’s head, it has to be created persuasively and be an impressionable and worthwhile idea.

Guideline 1. Use a persuasive tone in your response.

4. Enhancing Visual Appeal with Colors and Graphics

People are usually drawn to color, and color is a powerful tool for attracting attention and creating a mood. It is an important aspect to be considered especially when visual presentation requires one’s eyes to see it. Just imagine the world with no color, hmm, it will be lifeless. And this also applies to presentations, there will be no life without color. Every color has a different meaning and for a presentation, it will directly affect the audience. So before deciding what color suits your board, learn the meaning of each color and consider the effect that you want to make. It is advisable to maintain a maximum of 3-4 combinations of color for the whole board. Using too much color will make your board look gaudy and messy. Always remember to use colors that suit the topic and the mood that you wish to create. Warm colors, such as red, yellow, and orange, are more aggressive and suitable if used for presentations on environmental issues that require urgent attention. But if the presentation is relaxed and easy-going, light and cool colors like blue, purple, and green are good for creating a calm and soothing atmosphere. Next, learn to use color with confidence. Be brave in trying them. This is important for everyone and be familiar with terms like monochromatic, analogous, and complementary colors. For your information, color has special abilities to attract attention. Bright colors will always attract more attention than dull colors, light colors will advance, and dark colors will recede.

5. Presenting and Engaging Your Audience

Encourage the audience to take the included questionnaire, then apologize for its length and complexity, and acknowledge that they are likely feeling rather tired. Be sure to reiterate the importance of the feedback. Explain that the questionnaire is designed to help them gain a better understanding of their current presentation style and plan for their future work. Bring to their attention the fact that this will help them to increase the level of professionalism in their discipline. To reward them for their time, offer them something in return for completion of the questionnaire. This could be anything from lollies to a summary report of their answers and a list of strategies to work on in future. At this point, you have let your audience know that you are engaging in professional development and would like them to do the same. In setting up the questions, aim to get them to agree that it is important to communicate effectively in their future profession, and also that they would like to improve their presentation skills. You can then launch into the assessment and completion of the questionnaire. This may take up a good portion of a class or lecture, or it can be administered online as an out-of-class task. At the end of it, the most important thing is that they can access feedback on their performance and a list of suggestions to guide them in the coming semesters. Use the student responses to help guide lectures and tutorials in the areas of weakness. This is an opportunity to engage your audience with stories from your own experience, often learning from your mistakes! Show them examples of your own work. Elicit responses from the audience, asking them what could be improved. You can then use direct instruction to explain the reasoning behind suggested changes. A great way to summarize suggestions is through the use of a simple hand-drawn concept map.