Power Verb Presentations – IGNITE!!

I have never been shy about speaking in public. Just this past weekend I got up at a podium in front of about 700 people. I have always felt it is just best to be yourself. I never try to take on another personality, and because I’m comfortable, I can make people laugh and smile and most of all pay attention. This presentation worked well with a skill set I feel like I already have somewhat of a grip on, although there is always room for improvement. The key to this presentation for me was first picking a topic I cared about – global warming. From there I was able to allow little pieces of my personality seep into the presentation so it flowed naturally and doesn’t seem forced. The design choices were simple but impactful, just like the problem itself. There is no big mystery to global warming, so I didn’t want to try and overdesign it in an attempt to catch someone’s eye. The most important thing is to get them listening to me. I didn’t want the design to overpower the message, I wanted them to complement eachother. I chose to work with Futura – the classic geometric typeface that is both clean and simple, yet it’s strict geometric forms speak with substance and structure. I kept the color choices simple as well – red and green. The red to represent the danger and destruction of what lies ahead if we don’t change anything, and then its complement, green, to represent a future of hope and growth and life. I am very pleased with the outcome and feel like the topic and tone of the presentation is well complemented with the simplicity of the slides. They keep the viewer engaged without overwhelming them with information, hopefully encouraging them to make some changes in the future.