Communication WorkshopFor Research Engineers

Presentation:Preparing presentation slides

Ian F. C. Smith, EPFLLynne C. Dennis

Slides make your research• understood rapidly

• easy to remember

• standout by the quality of your presentation

Just because you understand your research, doesn’t mean they will.

Help your audience by keeping it simple.

Remember

Presentation slides contain

• images (photos, drawings, figures, diagrams, charts…)

• text

• bullet points for lists

• colors

• white space in between

• consistent design

Figures and diagrams

Simplify to one important conclusion per figure.

Use one figure or diagram per slide.

Label simply.

Captions could include important conclusions.

« introduce, describe, observe, conclude »

Photos

Images must be pertinent.

Photos can be informative, entertaining or… just confusing?

Add labels with arrows, within the image, to increase understanding.

Use consistent treatment throughout the presentation.

Ensure that resolution is adapted to projection needs.

Text recommendations

Select font for relevance.

Use limited variations of the chosen typeface.

Keep same typefaces throughout the presentation.

Do not make words smaller than 24pt.

Consider the spacing and alignment.

Ensure the text contrasts sufficiently with the background.

Civil Engineering project = Calibri

Civil Engineering project = Arial

Civil Engineering project = Arial Narrow

Civil Engineering project = Verdana

Civil Engineering project = Agency FB

Civil Engineering project = Tahoma

Civil Engineering project = Trebuchet

Civil Engineering project = Harrow

Solid

Civil Engineering project = Georgia

Civil Engineering project = Elephant

Civil Engineering project = Vladimir

Script

Civil engineering project = stencil

Civil Engineering project = Times New Roman

Civil Engineering project = Freestyle

Script

Civil Engineering project = Calibri

Civil Engineering project = Arial

Civil Engineering project = Arial Narrow

Civil Engineering project = Verdana

Civil Engineering project = Agency FB

Civil Engineering project = Tahoma

Civil Engineering project = Trebuchet

Civil Engineering project = Harrow

Solid

Civil Engineering project = Georgia

Civil Engineering project = Elephant

Civil Engineering project = Vladimir

Script

Civil engineering project = stencil

Civil Engineering project = Times New Roman

Civil Engineering project = Freestyle

Script

Civil Engineering project = Arial (32pt) normal

Civil Engineering project = Arial (32pt) italic

Civil Engineering project = Arial (32pt) bold

Civil Engineering project = Arial (32pt) underline

Civil Engineering project = Arial (32pt) shadow

Civil Engineering project = Times / normal

+

Civil Engineering project = Times / italic

or

Civil Engineering project = Times / bold

Civil Engineering project = Arial (54pt)

Civil Engineering project = Arial (48pt)

Civil Engineering project = Arial (36pt)

Civil Engineering project = Arial (24pt)

Civil Engineering project = Arial (16pt)

Civil Engineering project = Arial (10pt)

Spacing font size: 24pt, spacing 1,0

Select font for relevance.

Use limited variations of the chosen typeface.

Keep same typefaces throughout the presentation.

Do not make words smaller than 24pt.

Consider the spacing and alignment.

Ensure the text contrasts sufficiently with the background.

Spacing

font size: 24pt, spacing 1,0

font size: 17pt, spacing 3,0

Select font for relevance.

Use limited variations of the chosen typeface.

Keep same typefaces throughout the presentation.

Do not make words smaller than 24pt.

Consider the spacing and alignment.

Ensure the text contrasts sufficiently with the background.

Spacing font size: 24pt, spacing 1,5

Select font for relevance.

Use limited variations of the chosen typeface.

Keep same typefaces throughout the presentation.

Do not make words smaller than 24pt.

Consider the spacing and alignment.

Ensure the text contrasts sufficiently with the background.

Alignment (list like)left

Select font for relevance.

Use limited variations of the chosen typeface.

Keep same typefaces throughout the presentation.

Do not make words smaller than 24pt.

Consider the spacing and alignment.

Ensure the text contrasts sufficiently with the background.

Alignment (menu like) central

Select font for relevance.

Use limited variations of the chosen typeface.

Keep same typefaces throughout the presentation.

Do not make words smaller than 24pt.

Consider the spacing and alignment.

Ensure the text contrasts sufficiently with the background.

Bullet points• help understanding, or hinder it?

• are elements of a list

• should not exceed five in the list

• can be numbered

• are not sentences (capital letters and periods do not apply)

Bullet points?

Help understanding, or hinder it?

Are elements of a list

Should not have more than five things in a list

Can be numbered

Are not sentences (capital letters and periods do not apply)

Are not always necessary

Contrast with background is important

Contrast

Contrast with background is important

Bullet pointsContrast

Contrast with background is important

dark backgrounds require bigger letters…

and they will not photocopy as nicely

Contrast

Value & Contrast

Mood

Connotations

Color

Calming

Optimistic

Nature-friendly

Energetic

Dynamic

Mystic

File sizes and formatsRemember that a presentation may be shared in different formats

• projection• printing• photocopies

Do everything you can to make your presentation file as small as possible.

Images (photos and figures) are reduced for Powerpoint presentations enriched for printing modified to black & white in large-run photocopies

keep it simple

photograph dominates?

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tell a story?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFsTSS7aZ5o

tell a story

tell a story?

tell a story?

use large images?

use large images?

Dont’t be ridiculous, a sunset has nothing to do with it…

shake them up?

shake them up?