11 Steps to Presentations - Page 3 of 4

Step 5 - Attempt
Step 6 - Architecture
Step 7 - Navigation

Step 5 - Attempt

An 'attempt' is to place all your content in the presentation in a linear way - we'll talk about interactivity later. Once all your stuff is laid out, you'll be able to obtain a 'rough-cut' of your presentation. You can try out builds and transitions and ascertain which looks or works the best. Set out manual or automatic timings - edit the contents if they don't seem proper or lack flow. Now's the time to scrap out the 'un-required' and input new content. Again, and again...!

Here's an update (added August 2003*): Another alternative is Microsoft's Tablet PC platform - it's probably the best thing for any type of storyboarding - the platform's inherent 'ink' features can even allow Microsoft Word to function as an excellent storyboard. And that's really ideal, since you can create instant presentations from Word outlines!

Step 6 - Architecture

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Decide where you need new slides, or if the presentation needs a thorough reorganization. Maybe, you need to delete parts of the presentation.

If a single slide looks too cluttered, delve into the possibilities of splitting the content into two or more slides.

Check the readability of your text - try playing with the size, strength, colours and shadows - view from close quarters and from various distances. Also, maintain uniform text styles and sizes across slides. Avoid using more than two font styles in the whole slide show - this of course, does not include dingbat fonts!

Step 7 - Navigation

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Interactivity is expected nowadays - it is specially attractive considering the fact that you can combine it with a linear presentation.

A navigation structure is rarely required for a linear presentation - since all presentation programs have shortcut keys to proceed to the next or previous slides, or to start the entire presentation from the beginning. On the Windows platform, most of these options are available by a right-click of the mouse during a showing. However, adding interactivity takes so little effort that there seems little justification in avoiding it. In real terms, this means that clicking an object or text onscreen will activate a link to another part of the presentation or elsewhere.

I always incorporate a few hidden links for my clients - the logos on each page always hyperlink to the start of the presentation - this usually is slide no 5 or 6 in my case, since I use the earlier slides as a 'multimedia build' to begin the showing.

If you require a whole-lot-more of interactivity, then you are using the 'wrong' software - you need to understand the limitations of presentation software and take a good look at multimedia software like Director, ToolBook, Dazzler, Illuminatus, etc.

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