Overview of Presentation Zen

Editor's Notes

• #2: Presentation created by –G ChristopherClarkAssistantDirector, Kaneb Center, University of Notre DameBased on Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and DeliveryBy Garr Reynolds, New Riders Press, 2008Notes:This is not a how-to tech sessionI will give you an overview of what is presented in Garr Reynolds’ bookIt is aimed at infrequent corporate presentersYet most of the advice appliesImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanchow/6004347384/ - edited by GCC
• #3: Associate Professor of Management at Kansai Gaidai University in JapanTeaches Marketing, Global Marketing and Multimedia Presentation DesignDesigner, Part-time musicianFormer Manager of Worldwide User Group Relations at Apple ComputerImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/borisbaesler/4734323338/in/photostream/
• #4: The book was inspired by the principles of Zen practiceNatural, not artificialRestraint / brevity / minimalismSimplicityElegance, understatementClarityImage: http://www.flickr.com/photos/technolote/2180342568/in/photostream/
• #5: The book presents an APPROACH – it does not give you the magic bulletIt presents a philosophyIt talks about a process, not a fixed set of stepsImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/cafemama/69563198/in/photostream/
• #6: Reynolds’ approach has three phases: Prepare, Design, DeliverImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/lipglossjunkie/5431511091/
• #7: Start with threekeyquestionsWhat is the one thing I want people to remember?Why does it matter? Who cares?dakaranani? : so what? How is it relevant?“The elevator test” – make a quick summaryImage - http://www.flickr.com/photos/judy-van-der-velden/6001268899/in/photostream/ - edited by GCC
• #8: In the case of educational presentations, focus on LEARNINGgoalsWhat do you want STUDENTS to remember?Photo of Olana by GCC
• #9: Go analog - No computer. Helps avoid wasting time on computer detailsUse Paper, post-its, whiteboard to brainstormGet off the grid - Quiet, not busySpend SOMEalone timeImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/3048578677/in/photostream/
• #10: Think like a beginner - Try to remember what it was like NOT to knowBe unafraid to take a risk and failDon’t be paralyzed by rulesKeep the big picture in mindImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/kattebelletje/4473563261/
• #11: Logic is not enough – use your creativity – left brainThink Different” slogan – Steve JobsGet inspiration from othersConsider many approachesBOOKS:If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and SpiritBrenda Ueland, Graywolf Press, 2007A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the FutureDaniel Pink, Riverhead Books, 2006Image : http://www.flickr.com/photos/tza/3214197147/in/photostream/
• #12: There are three parts to a presentationSlides the audience seesNotes the presenter seesHandout to be taken awayDon’t put lots of text on slides just so they make a good handout.Slides should be visual. Design handouts separately.Use the handout forThings you don’t have time forAdditional data or bibliographyImage by GCC
• #13: Stories give meaning and context - A memorable messageThere’s nothing like a good metaphorImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/90664717@N00/847490860/
• #14: Brevity is key - Keep your stories shortImage by GCC
• #16: To design is to plan how something will look and workIt involves both art and scienceBOOK - The Non-Designer's Design Book (3rd ed.)Robin Williams, Peachpit Press, 2008Design here does not mean “decorate”Image : http://www.flickr.com/photos/talkradionews/2689998004/
• #17: Simplicity is key in designIt’s not about dumbing down and ignoring complexityIt’s about being clean and directRather than adding information to a screen, think about taking things awayImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelgermain/2830737719/in/photostream/Quote source: It can scarcely be denied that the supreme goal of all theory is to make the irreducible basic elements as simple and as few as possible without having to surrender the adequate representation of a single datum of experience. - On the Method of Theoretical Physics" The Herbert Spencer Lecture, delivered at Oxford (10 June 1933); also published in Philosophy of Science, Vol. 1, No. 2 (April 1934), pp. 163-169., p. 165 [http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein]
• #18: wabi-sabi : humble simplicityZen is about elegance, grace, and subtletyAbout restraint and understatementLess is more
• #19: When making a sound recording engineers strive to minimize the amount of unwanted soundWhen designing a presentation, eliminate information that is not essential to the point you want to makeStrive for quality, rather than quantityImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouverfilmschool/4285840397/in/photostream/
• #20: Fish market story, page 111See http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2006/04/the_fish_story_.htmlImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/praveenmt/2737251872/
• #21: Picture superiority effectImages are better that text – more efficientThey explain, illustrate, and reinforce what you are taking aboutIn a presentation, your voice should be the main source of “text”Look for inspiration inComic strips and political cartoonsDocumentary filmsDigitalstorytellingImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/3035453900/in/photostream/
• #22: Get the highest quality images you can findDon’t be afraid to go full-screenAVOID cheesy clip artYou can buy awesome images at iStockPhoto – not high-pricedAll of the images in this presentation are either mineor from Flickr – and used with a Creative Commons licenseImage - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jadendave/4590318135/in/photostream/ - edited by GCC
• #23: White space – Empty space – Blank spaceNot a bad thingHelps emphasize other elementsSimplifies,groupsPhoto by GCC
• #24: BalanceIt’s not always about symmetryThe Rule of thirdsImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/hamed/160893800/in/photostream/ - grid superimposed by GCC
• #25: Image sources:1 - http://www.docstoc.com/docs/61491442/Compare-and-Contrast-Research-Powerpoint-Presentation2 - http://www.infocus.com/labs/all/visual-communication-%2526-collaboration/worst-ppt-slide-contest-winners3 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelinlibrarian/463085693/in/photostream/4 - http://www.ssw.com.au/ssw/Standards/Rules/RulesToBetterPowerpointPresentations.aspx
• #26: Some people are VERY good at deliverySteve Jobs, for example, was a legendary presenterYou may not have seen his Apple product announcementsBut you have probably heard of his 2005 Stanford commencement speechMany millions of views on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLcImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/zyphbear/446780548/
• #27: MindfulnessBe “there” – “present” – engaged – “in the moment”Sound clip: “I know -- I don't know how we got into this position. I didn't say I'm going to move my shoulder over, move my body. No, the music pushed me over, which is why I call it one-buttock playing…. It can be the other buttock.”Book: The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal LifeRosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander, Penguin, 2002Image and sound - http://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html
• #28: In a seeming contradiction with the previous point. Reynoldsalso talks about the idea of “No mind”Be confident – don’t think aboutInhibitionsDoubtsfearsPrepare: PRACTICE / REHEARSEImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/bombeador/3663335382/in/photostream/
• #29: Contribution - Your goal is to make a contribution to people’s livesIt’s NOT about “winning” or impressing themIt’s about THEM, not youImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/usnavy/5568241751/in/photostream/
• #30: harahachibuEat until you are 80% fullMore is not betterLeave them wanting moreNEVER go over timeImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyohara/2199020075/in/photostream/
• #31: Removing barriers:Get away from the lecternLeave the lights onUse a remote clickerUse a wireless microphoneImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/4679360979/in/photostream/
• #32: Don’t hold backShow your passion for your subjectBe enthusiasticImage : http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/4318504691/in/photostream/