Comments on: Three traps when using images in your presentation

By: Olivia Mitchell

Olivia Mitchell — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 04:36:39 +0000

Hi Francisco

Yes – there’s a real danger of people going straight from incomprehensible bullet-points to incomprehensible pictures.
Olivia

By: Francisco Galan

Francisco Galan — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:14:01 +0000

People need to be careful not to switch from an infinite supply of bullet point slides (the “old boring way”) to present data using always pictures. Selecting the right picture and the right text to support your ideas takes time and requires effort from the person building the slides, so it can create the right effect on the audience. A slide with the wrong picture, the wrong resolution, or the wrong proportion is as bad as a long boring bullet slide.

By: Olivia Mitchell

Olivia Mitchell — Sun, 30 May 2010 01:44:57 +0000

Thank you for all your comments. I’ve had several experiences this past week watching presentations where images have confused rather than clarified. This is most common when using images as metaphors. Lesson – if the metaphor is not crystal clear (test this on a few people before your presentation) take a few seconds to explain it. On the other hand, beware of laboring a simple metaphor!

Olivia

By: Fred E. Miller

Fred E. Miller — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:51:15 +0000

Anke and Steve:

Your point about people ‘seeing’ and interpreting images differently is well taken.

Everything must be in sync, and easily understood.

KISS – Always. Keep It Simple!

Thanks!

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 28 May 2010 02:22:11 +0000

Fred, you are so right when you say that the presenter should provide the context
That is what we are there for. We are the context.

But what is happening right now is that many presenters rely on their audience to simply “get” it through the images they provide.

This post simply means to show that sometimes things can wrong when you least expect it, and that there is no such thing as “a clear message”, as every word, every image carries connotations that we, as presenters, may not always be aware of. That is one of the beauties of images and words. They certainly lead a life of their own.

Some images are easier than others. Some need more time to sink in. Some simpy won’t work. Some deserve more respect than a quick “Look”, and a “Next slide”.

These are the things we need to consider, I feel, as we are moving from text ridden to image slide and beyond.

By: Here and there « teachandtrain.de

Here and there « teachandtrain.de — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:30:14 +0000

[...] at speakingaboutpresenting.com my guest post on image traps is out. Olivia did a fantastic job of editing and cutting me short. Thank you once again for the [...]

By: Anke Tröder

Anke Tröder — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:05:47 +0000

Fred, you are so right when you say that the presenter should provide the context
That is what we are there for. We are the context.

But what is happening right now is that many presenters rely on their audience to simply “get” it through the images they provide.

Some images are easier than others. Some need more time to sink in. Some simpy won’t work. Some deserve more respect than a quick “Look”, and a “Next slide”.

These are the things we need to consider, I feel, as we are moving from text ridden to image slide and beyond.

By: Fred E. Miller

Fred E. Miller — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:43:47 +0000

Good Points here, but . . .

YOU supply the text rather than have it on the slide.

Pick images that clearly have a message most will understand.

A well picked image + You supplying text = They Get IT!

By: Olivia Mitchell

Olivia Mitchell — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:53:52 +0000

One of the dangers of analogies – whether they are verbal or visual – is using one where the issue is so simple to understand that the analogy becomes patronising. These types of visual analogies (handshake, globe, loudspeaker etc) also become cliches.
Olivia

By: Anke Tröder

Anke Tröder — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:46:03 +0000

Simon, thank you for your kind comment.

You are absolutely right, images are analogies, narratives, they tell stories, and yes, they are powerful. Choosing the best/the right image is simply one more skill for presenters to think about. I think it is an important skill: You give the image the meaning you need to, the context, the frame.

Of course there are also situations when you will do just the opposite: When you use an image to surprise and puzzle your audience, or lead it astray on purpose. But that is a different story, respectively a different post