It simply amazes me time and again how people who claim to be communicators are completely incapable of communicating to their peers in a public arena. What in God’s name to do you do in a client presentation? How is it that you can get ideas across in a visual format from an outside source to a marketplace, and you can’t do it when you are talking to me? A complete frickin’ mystery.
I will now use my design brain to attempt to bring about change, by providing these helpful tips for presenters everywhere. Please bookmark this page.
1. Make sure your talk addresses the conference theme. Your talk should have its own theme within that theme. Begin by stating the premise of your talk, then make all the points throughout the talk to support that premise, and wrap it up by returning to your original intent, or proving your point in such a way that we all say, “Aha. Now I see.” Your talk should have a point, and at the end of it, we should be able to understand what that point was.
2. Do not include images of your own work unless you are doing a show-and-tell all about yourself, or unless examples of your own work support your premise.
3. If you are doing a show and tell about yourself, be sure to provide more information than we would see in a Design Annual. Tell us the funny stories, the problems you overcame, what you were thinking, what the client thought. Consider limiting your presentation to a handful of work which you go into in-depth, showing sketches, process, rejected comps.
4. Know how much time you have and tailor your talk accordingly. Practice at least once. Run through the images, saying your text to yourself with an eye on the clock, and edit edit edit until the talk easily fits into the alotted time.
5. If you’ve never spoken before or are unsure of your material, practice in front of someone else. Find out if your talk made sense and if you engaged their attention.
6. Know your material well enough to be able to speak while looking at the audience at least most of the time. Try to speak as though you are speaking to one individual in a passionate and engaged manner about something you actually care about. Modulate your voice. Do not read other than for cues of what to say next.
7. Never ever, ever project the same words you are saying onto the screen. Key words as pointers, yes; the complete text, NO.
8. You’re a designer! Use images to support your message. This can be diagrams, charts, emotive pictures, sketches, photos of people or places … I don’t know, you’re the fuckin’ designer, do for yourself what you do for your clients.
These are just a few things written off the top of my head. I encourage anyone to add more: especially those people, like Debbie Millman, who really are good speakers and may have some tips for others.
Great advice. Thanks Marian! I thought I was doing well and had followed, or tried to upheld all your points at some stage when presenting, but then I got to number 7 and realised I was guilty of talking and having the same text on display - oops! I do have sympathy for those presenting as I've found presenting design and talking about it far from easy when its to a design crowd.
Anyhow great to see someone is keeping them honest and making sure at this level the presentations are what they should be!
NB. Why they succeed at client presentations I’m guessing is the clients don’t see through the ‘bullshit’ as easily as designers..? Not that designers are smarter – just they use or see/know of the same talk that’s used.
On Jul.17.2006 at 04:27 AM