Presentation Styles: Old School vs. New School
It’s an age-old argument. Whether it’s music, fashion or lifestyle, people are constantly debating the pros and cons of old vs. new. Do fundamentals outweigh breakthroughs? Is a fresh approach more effective than maintaining tradition?
These questions are often very difficult to answer. However, they are worth exploring.
At Big Fish, we frequently ponder this issue when it comes to giving and designing presentations. There are many different approaches to presenting, all of which can be very effective when executed properly.
For example, when presenting to a small audience it can be very beneficial to the speaker to go more old school. Talk to your audience as if they are actually people. A tech-show to 5-10 people feels impersonal and can seem like overkill. Forget the fancy motion graphics and charts if you are covering internal information. Flashy doesn’t impress everyone, especially if they are your co-workers.
On the other hand, if you’re presenting to a larger crowd, technology can play to your strengths. Since you can’t fully engage everyone in such a massive group, using a digital setup is great for keeping your audience on their toes and entertained.
What about design?
A simplistic design (old school) is nice in almost every single situation. Our job is to simplify content and break it down so that it is easily digestible for your audience. A blur of color, sound and information loses retention with your audience. Make sure to include all of the information, whether on the slide or in your own words, but don’t overload them.
A new school approach to design is to be loud and attention-grabbing. This approach is effective if the tone of the content is in sync with your design. For example, if you are presenting about next quarter’s projections, you probably shouldn’t use funky fonts and grainy textures. You should keep it elegant and clean, just like the information. However, if you are giving a presentation about a rock band, the flavor of the design should be that of the style – spunky, fun and entertaining.
There are always exceptions to these insights. Don’t be afraid to try something new or out of the ordinary. The only thing you have to remember is your target audience. What would they respond to the best? What are they looking for? Craft your presentation to their perspectives and then WOW them with your mad presentation skills!
Which style do you think is most effective at which times? What is your favorite style?
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i want a new presentation
Send us your info, Mohammad, and we’ll set something up!