Simple tips and tricks from the Head of Graphic Design to quickly elevate your presentation to a professional level.
INSIGHT BY ALINA
Even if you are not an expert in design, you have probably noticed that graphic design trends are evolving faster each year. While trends once developed over decades, they now transform multiple times a year. However, no matter how fleeting new trends may be, the fundamental principles of design remain unchanged, serving as a beacon in the creative chaos.
In this insight, Alina Mykhailova-Zinchenko, Head of Graphic Design at Kyiv Consulting, a subsidiary of BDO in Germany, shares 3 key elements of a powerful presentation - even without graphic design expertise.
RULE 1
How to start a presentation? A successful presentation begins with clear organisation. I understand the temptation to include all key aspects on a single slide, but today, our attention is already overwhelmed with information, and our brains need support. Without a logically structured flow, even the most creative ideas can get lost. Here are a few tips to help you avoid this:
01
Identify the essence of each slide and ensure it remains visible, even from a distance. Support the core message with graphs, images, icons, or bullet points. Use a smaller font for supplementary details and a larger font for key points to create a clear visual hierarchy.
02
Headings of a presentation should be informative and to the point, conveying the core message without unnecessary words or repetition.
03
Different types of information (core message, additional notes) should be visually grouped according to their meaning, with sufficient white space between elements to improve readability and comprehension.
RULE 2
All elements in a presentation should have consistent formatting to maintain visual harmony and clarity. The urge to highlight key details is completely understandable, but using multiple styles or colours can create visual clutter, making important information harder to distinguish. To enhance presentation readability and design consistency, follow these simple rules:
01
Use a consistent style for each type of element, such as headings, subheadings, and body text across all slides. Ideally, these elements should maintain the same position on each slide and not "jump" during scrolling.
02
Choose a single method to emphasise key information, such as using bold text in your corporate primary colour for important words. This approach enhances clarity and avoids confusion.
03
Avoid using the same formatting for highlighted text within the body as for headings and subheadings.
RULE 3
A brand is not just a random mixture of a logo and images. The style of a company is not chosen randomly, it conveys its history, values, and mission. All the essential information is compiled in the company's brand book, often referred to by the mysterious term CVI (Corporate Visual Identity rules). These documents serve as your best ally. When preparing materials, make sure you:
01
Use current templates with embedded corporate elements, corporate fonts, colours, and images that reflect the brand's values.
02
Ensure the appearance of all documents aligns with the overall brand narrative to enhance recognition and trust among your audience.
03
For years, we have been using custom checklists based on corporate guidelines to ensure detailed measurement of brand consistency.
In conclusion, by focusing on these 3 key elements of an effective presentation — logical structure, consistency, and brand alignment — you can significantly improve the quality of your materials independently. To breathe life into your presentations, collect the best examples from practice, maintain a library of references, and keep close to everything that inspires you.
And if you feel that you lack time or resources, don’t worry — Kyiv Design Agency is always ready to assist. With us, you can be confident that your presentation will be handled with understanding and professionalism.
Let’s take a step together towards making the world a better and more organised place!
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