More goes into a good PowerPoint presentation than most people put into it, which is why many people turn to a PowerPoint design consultant for aid. Each presentation has a goal to accomplish, and if the design falls short of this goal, then the effort is wasted. It is therefore important that your consultant have the right qualities. That way, you can be sure that your presentation – and the success thereof – is in good hands.
Design Experience
Probably one of the more obvious abilities a good PowerPoint consultant should possess is design know-how. However, most people don’t necessarily realize how in-depth the design process really is. More than just a vague art, it involves a great deal of technical skill. There is a real science to this art, and it requires experience and training to design a PowerPoint slideshow effectively. A consultant should know how to use various visual design parameters such as balance, tone, and hierarchy in order to create the effect your presentation needs to achieve.
PowerPoint Mechanical Know-How
PowerPoint is its own unique medium. While a slideshow may incorporate elements and practices from a variety of other media, it does so within its own mechanics and structure. By knowing how to manipulate this structure to effectively incorporate visual and written elements, your consultant can create a cohesive, functional slideshow that effectively presents your message. This can involve properly incorporating timed transitions, triggers, animations, and more. It may also mean improving elements such as graphs and charts to make them as clear as possible. Your consultant should be able to combine effective design with the functions of PowerPoint in a seamless and powerful way.
Ability to Integrate Design with Situational Needs
Your presentation does not occur in a void. You have an audience who will see it, a time and place where it will occur, and a purpose to achieve. These all need to be incorporated into the design of your PowerPoint presentation. If they are not, then it may feel just a little out of place, which can be the difference between engaging your audience or losing them.
Consultants need to be aware of the purpose, setting, and audience for your presentation, and they should have the ability to incorporate these into the design and mechanics of the presentation. Maybe you are giving an academic speech to an assembly of scholars, or perhaps you are pitching an idea at a meeting. Maybe you just need an attractive, informative backdrop at a social or promotional event. These all affect the way a PowerPoint will be designed, and your consultant needs to know how to incorporate them effectively.
PowerPoint presentations involve both artistic design and technical expertise, and their design should take into account their purpose, setting, and audience. The right PowerPoint design consultant will know how to combine all these elements in order to influence your audience in the desired manner.