Thursday, August 24, 2006
Template-Free PowerPoint
PowerPoint templates can be jolly useful -- but some of the most awful presentations are template-driven instead of content-driven. If you are a free PowerPoint template junkie, start with your content first, and you will develop a more creative, inspiring, and persuasive presentation.
What do I mean by "free PowerPoint templates" junkies? I know that a lot of people like to go to their favorite search engine and type in the term "free PowerPoint templates" -- and then go on a download spree. These folks like to tell themselves that they are "collecting design ideas for their next presentation". But the recent spate of PowerPoint viruses make this practice potentially treacherous this month....and maybe even longer.
Beyond safety considerations, August/September 2006 is an excellent time to free yourself from haphazardly downloading PowerPoint templates and presentations from the internet. If you are in the habit of downloading free templates before you craft your presentation, face facts:
Quite likely, you are likely avoiding the hard but necessary work of writing your narrative or developing your content.
Start with written words. Try kicking the habit with this creative exercise -- write your presentation narrative first. If an image presents itself as you write, congratulations! You are thinking visually while working with words. You can jot a description of the image down in the margins, along with a potential headline. But if you want to kick the "begin with the template habit" -- continue to work with your words only...
Out loud. In front of a mirror. After you have a first draft of a narrative, rehearse it out loud, in front of a mirror or video camera, sans PowerPoint. Rehearsal without using PowerPoint as a prop can make you acutely aware of any awkward phrasing or postures. And as you give the speech out loud, you are more likely find the areas that need a re-write.
At this point, you may be shocked to find that you have a great stand-alone speech, and PowerPoint will not even be necessary! You might find yourself thinking that PowerPoint might be the wrong medium entirely....a video, puppet show, audio podcast, or stand-up act might be even better.
Why not use the PowerPoint virus/trojans this summer to break any "design-first" tendencies you might have? Try the "narrative-first" as a creative exercise, and you will find yourself crafting appealing and persuasive presentations.
You may never even use PowerPoint templates ever again!
(Disclaimer: Yes, I have PowerPoint templates and presentations available for free download at this very site. And they're all virus-free. But please -- be careful out there! Download responsibly...and develop your presentations thoughtfully!) ¶ 8/24/2006 10:06:00 AM
PowerPoint templates can be jolly useful -- but some of the most awful presentations are template-driven instead of content-driven. If you are a free PowerPoint template junkie, start with your content first, and you will develop a more creative, inspiring, and persuasive presentation.
What do I mean by "free PowerPoint templates" junkies? I know that a lot of people like to go to their favorite search engine and type in the term "free PowerPoint templates" -- and then go on a download spree. These folks like to tell themselves that they are "collecting design ideas for their next presentation". But the recent spate of PowerPoint viruses make this practice potentially treacherous this month....and maybe even longer.
Beyond safety considerations, August/September 2006 is an excellent time to free yourself from haphazardly downloading PowerPoint templates and presentations from the internet. If you are in the habit of downloading free templates before you craft your presentation, face facts:
you are procrastinating.
Quite likely, you are likely avoiding the hard but necessary work of writing your narrative or developing your content.
How to kick the habit. Use this summer's spate of viruses as an excuse to kick the start-with-the-template habit NOW, cold turkey. And you don't need a twelve-step program, either. If you're a template junkie, turn your usual creative process on its head. Learn these six simple words:
Content first. Rehearse next. Design last.
Start with written words. Try kicking the habit with this creative exercise -- write your presentation narrative first. If an image presents itself as you write, congratulations! You are thinking visually while working with words. You can jot a description of the image down in the margins, along with a potential headline. But if you want to kick the "begin with the template habit" -- continue to work with your words only...
Out loud. In front of a mirror. After you have a first draft of a narrative, rehearse it out loud, in front of a mirror or video camera, sans PowerPoint. Rehearsal without using PowerPoint as a prop can make you acutely aware of any awkward phrasing or postures. And as you give the speech out loud, you are more likely find the areas that need a re-write.
At this point, you may be shocked to find that you have a great stand-alone speech, and PowerPoint will not even be necessary! You might find yourself thinking that PowerPoint might be the wrong medium entirely....a video, puppet show, audio podcast, or stand-up act might be even better.
Why not use the PowerPoint virus/trojans this summer to break any "design-first" tendencies you might have? Try the "narrative-first" as a creative exercise, and you will find yourself crafting appealing and persuasive presentations.
You may never even use PowerPoint templates ever again!
(Disclaimer: Yes, I have PowerPoint templates and presentations available for free download at this very site. And they're all virus-free. But please -- be careful out there! Download responsibly...and develop your presentations thoughtfully!) ¶ 8/24/2006 10:06:00 AM
