Intention

help enhance the experience of an audience during a speech in a manner that is not too conspicuous and does not detract from the speaker and his or her speech (Gunn 2017, loc. 330)

I distinguish between speaker aids (an outline or notes for the speaker), and complementary media (a visual or audio complement for the audience). A deck can serve one or both.

Function

A deck can:

• assist with thinking
• encourage retention
• excite multiple senses
• engage the body and create interest
• simplify complexity (Gunn 2017, loc. 330)

Varieties: props, pictures, data, statistics, multimedia

Usable images

Use licensed or public domain images, especially in professional contexts.

• ic: Openverse (Creative Commons)
• iw: Wikimedia Commons
• if: flickr
• ip: Pixabay
• iu: Unsplash

💗🐶

Graphics

Fontawesome

Straw poll

Tips

A deck should:

• be an aid and complement, not a crutch
• be clear and simple
• be LARGE and easy to read
• be well-timed
• have alternative versions

Cautions

• beware that some people are sight or color impaired
• don’t turn around to face the screen
• prepare for failure:
  • keep a deck backup and in the cloud
  • have handouts or alternative versions
  • prepare to describe (Gunn 2017, loc. 340)

e.g., Christian Rudder

16 Styles, Trends, and Trendsetters

including:

• Takahashi Method: text only
• Godin Method: images only

(Osborne 2009)

Lessig method

100+ slides of a single word, phrase, image

Pecha Kucha

• Pecha Kucha: 20 slides, 20 seconds each
• Ignite: 20 slides, 15 seconds each

Tufte??

• What was his argument?
• What case/examples did he use?

Tufte uses Gerstner’s “let’s just talk” at IBM, a critique of the Challenger disaster briefing, and Peter Norvig’s PP version of the Gettysburg Address to claim decks “dilute thought”

Slideware helps speakers to outline their talks, to retrieve and show diverse visual materials, and to communicate slides in talks, printed reports, and internet.

And also to replace serious analysis with chartjunk, over-produced layouts, cheerleader logotypes and branding, and corny clip art. That is, PowerPointPhluff. (Tufte 2003, p. 3)

Wrap up

• What topic are you thinking about for the appreciation talk?
• Will you use a prop or media complement?
• Did you notice this deck’s flair? Was it distracting?

• Which of the media features are you likely to use in the future?
• Which are you most likely to avoid?