+

EFFECTIVE VISUAL PRESENTATIONS

November 3, 2020

How to deliver an effective, engaging presentation

of your research
+ EFFECTIVE VISUAL PRESENTATIONS
November 3, 2020

How to deliver an effective, engaging presentation

of your research and ideas to audiences.
+
WHO IS THIS GUY ON MY SCREEN?
Richard leBrasseur, PhD
Assistant Professor, Landscape Architecture
Director, The Green Infrastructure Performance Lab
OUTLINE
WHAT IS A VISUAL PRESENTATION
Interpersonal Communication
Graphic Communication
WHY VISUAL PRESENTATION IS IMPORTANT
EXAMPLES and RESOURCES
QUESTIONS
EFFECTIVE VISUAL PRESENTATION
WHAT IS A VISUAL PRESENTATION
NOT your content, language, data, results, etc.
PRESENTING YOUR RESEARCH
Components of a Successful Visual Presentation
Planning, Preparation and Practice
DELIVERY
1. Interpersonal Communication (you)
2. Graphic Communication (poster, etc.)
WHY VISUAL PRESENTATION IS IMPORTANT
GOAL
Present yourself and have people remember you as
confident, knowledgeable and interesting.
NOT presenting research …
GOAL
To not put audience to sleep…
GENERAL CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
STRUCTURE your PRESENTATION - logical, clear progression
LIMIT BULLET POINTS
IMAGES as SUPPORT - Images are GOOD !
COMMUNICATE your IDEAS
1
Humans are VISUAL LEARNERS (humans and perceptions)

1. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=587201
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNMICATION
Academic Context
- Public vs Scientists

Understand them, speak to them.

- Public vs Scientists

Age and Culture

- Address their concerns.
- Redo presentation often.
ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE - TRICKS and TIPS
Speak S L O W L Y
- Critical CB Skill
Use Hands, Facial Expressions and Move Body
- Highlight important points
Eye Contact
- Scan the room
Vocalize and Project Voice
- Must exude confidence
ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE - TRICKS and TIPS
Can use handouts
- Notes are key - outline of your main points
DO NOT use long sentences
Start off with a Hook. A question, an idea, an image.
- Attracts audience
ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE - TRICKS and TIPS
Consider PREZI vs Microsoft Templates
- flash-based presentation
Data Visualization is Key
- Use good colors and clear, legible text.
- Graphically show patterns and results
- Limit use of charts, 3-D powerful if used correctly
- Movies or flash of data-vis change
- Work of Edward Tufte
ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE - TRICKS and TIPS
Find someone who is looking intently or someone
whos name you know
- Speak to them directly - question or anecdote.
Make time for humor
- Self-deprication, current events, etc.
Likely Questions
- Prepare for this. Be positive, say “I will look into
that, thank you for your suggestions.”
ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE - TRICKS and TIPS
Make website. Add video/audio.
- Multi-sensory engagement.
DO NOT USE Microsoft Templates
- Audience will go to sleep…
Proper spelling, grammar, references, bibliography
- See examples provided
Visual Clarity NOT Visual Complexity
- See examples provided
GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
KNOW YOUR TOOLS
16:9 Ratio or ?
Fonts (only Sans-Seriph), 2-3 types only
Colors (Complementary NOT Primary) 2
Lineweights and Symbols (archetypes)
If Physical Poster, 2” margins

2. http://rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=3856
SLIDE LAYOUT
• Avoid having too many words on each slide as people will
tend to read rather than listen. Use slides for key messages,
quotes, examples, simple diagrams/charts and images. Aim
to use one slide for every 1-2 minutes of talk.
• Use a maximum 10 lines of text per slide, and aim for five or
six lines where possible.
• Use size 32 to 36 font for headings and size 18 to 28 for the
body text.
• Choose a professional design and colours.
• Avoid using flashy graphics and distracting backgrounds; this
detracts from what you are saying.
EXAMPLES
KEY WORDS
White Space and Organization
Clarity and Hierarchy
Color Theory
Density = Disclarity
GRAPHIC DESIGN PRINCIPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
RESOURCES
https://sls.navitas-professional.edu.au/presenting-your-research

https://methods.sagepub.com/book/using-visual-data-in-qualitative-research/n5.xml

https://ggu.libguides.com/c.php?g=485266&p=3318697

https://libraryguides.salisbury.edu/present

https://venngage.com/blog/presentation-design/

https://cafemeetingplace.com/mayo-s-clinics/item/2005-teach-students-the-value-of-a-
visual-presentation
RESOURCES
Green Infrastructure Performance Lab

According to Bleicher (2011), there are five main color schemes (and some
combinations and variants of these schemes) that allow designers to achieve harmony
in their designs:

Monochromatic Scheme
The monochromatic scheme is based on the colors created from different tints (created
by adding black or white to the original color), tones, and shades of one hue. In theory,
it’s the simplest of all the schemes. A monochromatic scheme is commonly used in
minimal designs because one hue should result in a less distracting layout.
On the other hand, this scheme means that you cannot use multiple colors to help with
visualizing information in the User Interface (UI). That is the only price of simplicity.

Analogous Color Scheme

The analogous scheme is based on three colors located next to each other on the color
wheel (e.g., red, red-orange, and red-violet). This scheme can easily be found in nature
– just think of trees in the autumn as the leaves change color.
There is a variant on this scheme, the “high-key” analogous color scheme. It’s achieved
by mixing your analogous shades with white. This version is commonly found in
impressionist art – particularly early impressionist art. The effect achieved is one where
the colors seem to “shimmer” and “blur” into each other – when viewed from a distance,
it can create the illusion that only a single color is in use.
Complementary Schemes
Complementary color schemes use one (or more) pairs of colors that, when combined,
“cancel each other out”. For example, when you combine the two colors, they produce
white or black (or something very similar from the gray-scale). For that reason, this
scheme is also known as the “opposite color” scheme.
When you put two complementary colors next to each other, they show the greatest
contrast. In modern color theory, the pairs are red/cyan, green/magenta, and blue/
yellow.
Split-Complementary (occasionally “Compound Harmony”) Scheme
This is a combination of using the complementary color scheme and the analogous
color scheme. In essence, complementary colors are chosen and then the colors on
either side of them on the color wheel are also used in the design. It’s considered to
soften the impact of a complementary color scheme, which can, in some situations, be
too bold or too harsh on the viewer’s eye.
Triadic
The triadic scheme is based on using three colors at equal distances from each other
on the color wheel. The easiest way to find a triadic scheme is to put an equilateral
triangle on the wheel so that each corner touches one color. The three colors will be
exactly 120° from each other.
These schemes are considered to be vibrant (even when the hues themselves are not)
– they keep the harmony but deliver a high level of visual contrast. You can find triadic
schemes in a lot of art as it’s easier to deliver a pleasing visual result with a triadic
scheme than when using a complementary scheme.
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

CONTINUED SUCCESS IN YOUR CAREERS.