Presentations, technology and some simple ideas

Following on from my last post on how the film JAWS caused me to re-think technology and storytelling, I came across this blog post in "Fast Company" magazine by the authors of Made to Stick, Dan and Chip Heath.

Whilst I'll let you read the article yourselves by following the link, I'll summarise my key points from it below.

1. "A good idea doesn't need visual drapes". That is don't decorate slides with clipart or stock photos just to make the slide look 'better'. 
2. Limit your points. Don't fill your presentation with so many points that the most important points get lost amongst the rest.
3. Use concrete examples that are meaningful to your audience. Don't talk in abstractions. 
4. "Before your audience will value the information you're giving, they've got to want it". Curiosity comes before content. Think like you're watching a mystery film, don't give away the ending at the start, make the audience curious.

So four points:

Don't decorate your slides

Limit your points

Use concrete examples

Make the audience curious