presentation sketch definition

Presentation Drawing

The importance of presentation drawing.

Presentation drawing, also known as a rendering, is a crucial aspect of the design process. It's a means of visually communicating ideas to clients, colleagues, and contractors. Presentation drawings can take many forms, from quick sketches to highly detailed, realistic illustrations. Regardless of the format, the goal of presentation drawing is to convey the essence of a design in a visually compelling way.

The Types of Presentation Drawing

There are several types of presentation drawing, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Here are four of the most common types of presentation drawing:

Sketches are quick, informal drawings that are used to explore ideas and communicate concepts. They are typically done by hand using pencil or pen and paper. Sketches are valuable because they allow designers to express their ideas quickly and without the need for expensive tools or software. That said, sketches are generally less polished than other forms of presentation drawing, so they may not be suitable for more formal presentations.

Concept Drawings

Concept drawings are more detailed than sketches and are intended to convey a more developed idea. They are still relatively informal, but they often incorporate color and shading to give the drawing depth and texture. Concept drawings can be done by hand or using digital tools like Photoshop or SketchUp.

Renderings are highly detailed, realistic illustrations of a design. They are typically created using 3D modeling software and are intended to give clients and colleagues a sense of what a finished project will look like. Renderings are often used in marketing materials and presentations because they are visually impressive and highly detailed.

Construction Documents

Construction documents are highly technical drawings that are used to communicate specific details about a project to contractors and builders. They include things like floor plans, elevations, and sections, and they are typically created using a combination of hand drawing and computer software.

Tips for Effective Presentation Drawing

Regardless of the type of presentation drawing you are creating, there are a few tips that can help ensure that your drawing is effective and communicates your ideas clearly.

Focus on Legibility

One of the most important aspects of presentation drawing is legibility. Your drawing should be easy to read and understand, even when viewed from a distance. Make sure that you use a font size and style that is easy to read, and avoid cluttering your drawing with unnecessary details that can distract from the main ideas you are trying to convey.

Choose the Right Format

Different types of presentation drawing are better suited to different formats. Sketches, for example, are best presented on paper or on a whiteboard. Renderings, on the other hand, are best viewed on a large screen or printed out at a high resolution. Make sure that you choose the right format for your drawing to ensure that it is presented in the most effective way possible.

Use Color Wisely

Color can be a powerful tool in presentation drawing, but it must be used wisely. Too much color can be distracting, while too little color can make your drawing look flat and lifeless. Use color to highlight important details and to create depth and texture in your drawing, but be sure to use it sparingly.

Be Consistent

Consistency is key in presentation drawing. Make sure that your drawing is consistent in terms of scale, proportion, and style. This will ensure that it is easy to read and that your ideas are communicated clearly.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Finally, the best way to improve your presentation drawing skills is to practice. Take the time to practice drawing different types of illustrations, and experiment with different tools and techniques to find what works best for you. The more you practice, the better you will become at conveying your ideas visually.

The Bottom Line

Presentation drawing is an essential aspect of the design process. It allows designers to communicate their ideas in a clear and compelling way and is crucial for getting buy-in from clients, colleagues, and contractors. Whether you're creating quick sketches or detailed renderings, there are a few key principles to keep in mind that can help ensure that your presentation drawing is effective and communicates your ideas clearly.

Share this:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Exploring the most sophisticated spatial concepts from across the globe. Discover innovative building techniques and materials available, worldwide.

30 Presentation Terms & What They Mean

Delivering a captivating presentation is an art that requires more than just confidence and oratory skills. From the design of your slides to the way you carry yourself on stage, every little detail contributes to the overall effectiveness of your presentation. For those who wish to master this art, getting familiar with the associated terminology is a great place to start.

In this article, we’ll explore “30 Presentation Terms & What They Mean,” shedding light on the key terms and concepts in the world of presentations. Whether you’re a professional looking to refine your skills, a student aiming to ace your next presentation, or just someone curious about the subject, this guide is sure to provide you with valuable insights.

Dive in as we explore everything from slide decks and speaker notes to body language and Q&A sessions.

Each term is elaborated in depth, giving you a comprehensive understanding of their meanings and applications. This knowledge will not only make you more comfortable with presentations but will also empower you to deliver them more effectively.

2 Million+ PowerPoint Templates, Themes, Graphics + More

Download thousands of PowerPoint templates, and many other design elements, with a monthly Envato Elements membership. It starts at $16 per month, and gives you unlimited access to a growing library of over 2,000,000 presentation templates, fonts, photos, graphics, and more.

Maximus Template

Minimal PPT Templates

Clean & clear.

Mystify Presentation

Pitch Deck Templates

Startup pitch deck.

Animated PPT Templates

Fully animated.

Modern PPT Templates

New & innovative.

Explore PowerPoint Templates

Table of Contents

• Speaker Notes
• White Space
• Aspect Ratio
• Grid System
• Master Slide
• Infographic
• Data Visualization
• Call-to-Action (CTA)
• Color Palette
• Negative Space
• Storyboarding
• Bullet Points
• Eye Contact
• Body Language
• Q&A Session

1. Slide Deck

A slide deck, in its most basic sense, is a collection of slides that are presented in sequence to support a speech or presentation. The slides typically contain key points, graphics, and other visual aids that make the presentation more engaging and easier to understand.

Beyond merely displaying information, a well-crafted slide deck can tell a story, create an emotional connection, or illustrate complex concepts in a digestible way. Its design elements, including the choice of colors, fonts, and images, play a significant role in how the presentation is received by the audience.

2. Speaker Notes

Speaker notes are a feature in presentation software that allows presenters to add notes or cues to their slides. These notes are only visible to the presenter during the presentation. They can include additional information, reminders, prompts, or even the full script of the speech.

While the audience sees the slide deck, the speaker can use these notes as a guide to ensure they cover all necessary points without memorizing the entire speech. It’s essential to use speaker notes strategically – they should aid the presentation, not become a script that hinders natural delivery.

A template is a pre-designed layout for a slide deck. It typically includes a set design, color scheme, typefaces, and placeholders for content like text, images, and graphs. Templates can significantly reduce the time and effort required to create a professional-looking presentation.

While templates can be incredibly helpful, it’s important to choose one that aligns with the theme, purpose, and audience of the presentation. Customizing the template to match your brand or topic can further enhance its effectiveness.

4. Transition

In the realm of presentations, a transition refers to the visual effect that occurs when you move from one slide to the next. Simple transitions include fade-ins and fade-outs, while more complex ones might involve 3D effects, wipes, or spins.

Transitions can add a touch of professionalism and dynamism to a presentation when used correctly. However, overuse or choosing flashy transitions can be distracting and detract from the content. The key is to use transitions that complement the presentation’s tone and pace without overshadowing the message.

5. Animation

Animation is the process of making objects or text in your slide deck appear to move. This can involve anything from making bullet points appear one by one, to having graphics fly in or out, to creating a simulation of a complex process. Animation can add interest, emphasize points, and guide the audience’s attention throughout the presentation.

While animations can make a presentation more engaging, they must be used judiciously. Excessive or overly complex animations can distract the audience, complicate the message, and look unprofessional. As with transitions, animations should support the content, not detract from it.

6. Multimedia

Multimedia refers to the combination of different types of media — such as text, images, audio, video, and animation — within a single presentation. Incorporating multimedia elements can make a presentation more engaging, cater to different learning styles, and aid in explaining complex ideas.

However, it’s important to ensure that multimedia elements are relevant, high-quality, and appropriately scaled for the presentation. Additionally, depending on the presentation venue, technical considerations such as file sizes, internet speed, and audio quality need to be taken into account when using multimedia.

7. White Space

In the context of presentation design, white space (or negative space) refers to the unmarked portions of a slide, which are free of text, images, or other visual elements. Despite its name, white space doesn’t necessarily have to be white — it’s any area of a slide not filled with content.

White space can give a slide a clean, balanced look and can help draw attention to the most important elements. It can also reduce cognitive load, making it easier for the audience to process information. Good use of white space is often a key difference between professional and amateur designs.

8. Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between a slide’s width and height. It’s typically expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, such as 4:3 or 16:9. The first number represents the width, and the second represents the height.

The choice of aspect ratio can affect how content fits on the screen and how the presentation appears on different displays. For instance, a 16:9 aspect ratio is often used for widescreen displays, while a 4:3 ratio may be more suitable for traditional computer monitors and projectors.

9. Grid System

The grid system is a framework used to align and layout design elements in a slide. It’s comprised of horizontal and vertical lines that divide the slide into equal sections or grids.

The grid system aids in creating visual harmony, balance, and consistency across slides. It can guide the placement of text, images, and other elements, ensuring that they’re evenly spaced and aligned. It’s an important tool for maintaining a professional and organized appearance in a presentation.

10. Readability

Readability refers to how easy it is for an audience to read and understand the text on your slides. It involves factors such as font size, typeface, line length, spacing, and contrast with the background.

Ensuring good readability is crucial in presentations. If your audience can’t easily read and understand your text, they’ll be more likely to disengage. Large fonts, simple language, high-contrast color schemes, and ample white space can enhance readability.

11. Infographic

An infographic is a visual representation of information, data, or knowledge. They’re used in presentations to communicate complex data in a clear, concise, and engaging way. Infographics can include charts, graphs, icons, pictures, and text.

While infographics can effectively communicate complex ideas, they must be designed carefully. Too much information, confusing visuals, or a lack of a clear hierarchy can make an infographic difficult to understand. It’s important to keep the design simple and focus on the key message.

To embed in a presentation context means to incorporate external content, such as a video, a document, or a website, directly into a slide. When an object is embedded, it becomes part of the presentation file and can be viewed or played without leaving the presentation.

Embedding can be a useful tool to incorporate interactive or supplementary content into a presentation. However, it’s important to remember that it can increase the file size of the presentation and may require an internet connection or specific software to function correctly.

13. Palette

A palette, in terms of presentations, refers to the set of colors chosen to be used throughout the slide deck. This can include primary colors for backgrounds and text, as well as secondary colors for accents and highlights.

The right color palette can help convey the mood of a presentation, reinforce branding, and increase visual interest. It’s important to choose colors that work well together and provide enough contrast for readability. Tools like color wheel or color scheme generators can be helpful in choosing a harmonious palette.

14. Vector Graphics

Vector graphics are digital images created using mathematical formulas rather than pixels. This means they can be scaled up or down without losing quality, making them ideal for presentations that may be viewed on different screen sizes.

Vector graphics often have smaller file sizes than their pixel-based counterparts (raster graphics), which can help keep your presentation file manageable. Common types of vector graphics include logos, icons, and illustrations.

15. Mood Board

A mood board is a collection of images, text, colors, and other design elements that serve as visual inspiration for a presentation. It helps establish the aesthetic, mood, or theme of the presentation before the design process begins.

Creating a mood board can be a valuable step in the presentation design process. It can help you visualize how different elements will work together, communicate your design ideas to others, and maintain consistency across your slides.

16. Hierarchy

In design, hierarchy refers to the arrangement of elements in a way that implies importance. In presentations, visual hierarchy helps guide the viewer’s eye to the most important elements first.

Hierarchy can be created through the use of size, color, contrast, alignment, and whitespace. Effective use of hierarchy can make your slides easier to understand and keep your audience focused on the key points.

17. Stock Photos

Stock photos are professionally taken photographs that are bought and sold on a royalty-free basis. They can be used in presentations to add visual interest, convey emotions, or illustrate specific concepts.

While stock photos can enhance a presentation, it’s important to use them judiciously and choose images that align with your presentation’s tone and content. Overuse of generic or irrelevant stock photos can make a presentation feel impersonal or unprofessional.

18. Sans Serif

Sans serif refers to a category of typefaces that do not have small lines or strokes attached to the ends of larger strokes. Sans serif fonts are often used in presentations because they’re typically easier to read on screens than serif fonts, which have these small lines.

Some popular sans serif fonts for presentations include Helvetica, Arial, and Calibri. When choosing a font for your slides, readability should be a primary consideration.

19. Hyperlink

A hyperlink, or link, is a clickable element in a slide that directs the viewer to another slide in the deck, a different document, or a web page. Hyperlinks can be used in presentations to provide additional information or to navigate to specific slides.

While hyperlinks can be useful, they should be used sparingly and appropriately. Links that direct the viewer away from the presentation can be distracting and disrupt the flow of your talk.

PDF stands for Portable Document Format. It’s a file format that preserves the fonts, images, graphics, and layout of any source document, regardless of the computer or software used to create it. Presentations are often saved and shared as PDFs to ensure they look the same on any device.

While a PDF version of your presentation will maintain its appearance, it won’t include interactive elements like animations, transitions, and hyperlinks. Therefore, it’s best used for distributing slide handouts or when the presentation software used to create the deck isn’t available.

21. Raster Graphics

Raster graphics are digital images composed of individual pixels. These pixels, each a single point with its own color, come together to form the full image. Photographs are the most common type of raster graphics.

While raster graphics can provide detailed and vibrant images, they don’t scale well. Enlarging a raster image can lead to pixelation, where the individual pixels become visible and the image appears blurry. For this reason, raster images in presentations should be used at their original size or smaller.

22. Typeface

A typeface, often referred to as a font, is a set of characters with the same design. This includes letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and sometimes symbols. Typefaces can have different styles and weights, such as bold or italic.

The choice of typeface can significantly impact the readability and mood of a presentation. For example, serif typefaces can convey tradition and authority, while sans serif typefaces can appear modern and clean. The key is to choose a typeface that aligns with the purpose and audience of your presentation.

23. Visual Content

Visual content refers to the graphics, images, charts, infographics, animations, and other non-text elements in a presentation. These elements can help capture the audience’s attention, enhance understanding, and make the presentation more memorable.

While visual content can enhance a presentation, it’s important not to overload slides with too many visual elements, as this can confuse or overwhelm the audience. All visual content should be relevant, clear, and support the overall message of the presentation.

24. Call to Action

A call to action (CTA) in a presentation is a prompt that encourages the audience to take a specific action. This could be anything from visiting a website, signing up for a newsletter, participating in a discussion, or implementing a suggested strategy.

A strong CTA aligns with the goals of the presentation and is clear and compelling. It often comes at the end of the presentation, providing the audience with a next step or a way to apply what they’ve learned.

25. Thumbnails

In presentations, thumbnails are small versions of the slides that are used to navigate through the deck during the design process. They provide an overview of the presentation’s flow and can help identify inconsistencies in design.

Thumbnails are typically displayed in the sidebar of presentation software. They allow you to easily move, delete, or duplicate slides, and can provide a visual check for overall consistency and flow.

26. Aspect Ratio

27. interactive elements.

Interactive elements are components in a presentation that the audience can interact with. These could include hyperlinks, embedded quizzes, interactive infographics, or multimedia elements like audio and video.

Interactive elements can make a presentation more engaging and memorable. However, they require careful planning and should always be tested before the presentation to ensure they work as intended.

28. Placeholders

In the context of presentations, placeholders are boxes that are included in a slide layout to hold specific types of content, such as text, images, or charts. They guide the placement of content and can help ensure consistency across slides.

Placeholders can be especially useful when working with templates, as they provide a predefined layout to follow. However, they should be used flexibly – not every placeholder needs to be used, and additional elements can be added if necessary.

29. Master Slide

The master slide is the top slide in a hierarchy of slides that stores information about the theme and slide layouts of a presentation. Changes made to the master slide, such as modifying the background, fonts, or color scheme, are applied to all other slides in the presentation.

Master slides can help ensure consistency across a presentation and save time when making global changes. However, it’s important to note that individual slides can still be modified independently if necessary.

In presentations, a layout refers to the arrangement of elements on a slide. This includes the placement of text, images, shapes, and other elements, as well as the use of space and alignment.

Choosing the right layout can make your slides look organized and professional, guide the viewer’s eye, and enhance your message. Most presentation software offers a variety of pre-defined layouts, but these can usually be modified to better suit your content and design preferences.

• Subscriber Services
• For Authors
• Publications
• Archaeology
• Art & Architecture
• Bilingual dictionaries
• Classical studies
• Encyclopedias
• English Dictionaries and Thesauri
• Language reference
• Linguistics
• Media studies
• Medicine and health
• Names studies
• Performing arts
• Science and technology
• Social sciences
• Society and culture
• Overview Pages
• Subject Reference
• English Dictionaries
• Bilingual Dictionaries

Recently viewed (0)

• Save Search
• Share This Facebook LinkedIn Twitter

Related Content

Related overviews.

Michelangelo (1475—1564)

Lorenzo Monaco (c. 1370—1425)

Leonardo da Vinci (1452—1519)

Giorgio Vasari (1511—1574) Italian painter, architect, and biographer

See all related overviews in Oxford Reference »

More Like This

Show all results sharing this subject:

presentation drawing

Quick reference.

A term coined in the 20th century by the Hungarian art historian Johannes Wilde to describe certain drawings made by Michelangelo, for example those he gave as presents to various aristocratic young men. Presentation drawings were finished, non-utilitarian works of art, as opposed to preparatory drawings for a work in another medium. The earliest known presentation drawings dating from the Italian Renaissance are two drawings of the 1420s by Lorenzo Monaco.

From:   presentation drawing   in  The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms »

Subjects: Art & Architecture

Related content in Oxford Reference

Reference entries.

View all related items in Oxford Reference »

Search for: 'presentation drawing' in Oxford Reference »

• Oxford University Press

PRINTED FROM OXFORD REFERENCE (www.oxfordreference.com). (c) Copyright Oxford University Press, 2023. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single entry from a reference work in OR for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice ).

date: 11 April 2024

• Cookie Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Legal Notice
• Accessibility
• [66.249.64.20|185.126.86.119]
• 185.126.86.119

Character limit 500 /500

The Definitive Guide to Virtual & Live Sketching for Meetings and Events

Why virtual live sketching.

In the wake of COVID-19 and the seismic impact the pandemic has had on live events, everyone has scrambled to convert their in-person meetings, conferences, and events to a virtual context.

Instead of a glitzy ballroom in Vegas, we are now on Zoom.

Instead of a corporate retreat center deep in the Appalachian Mountains, we are now on Microsoft Teams.

Instead of a massive arena in downtown Los Angeles, we are logging onto GoToMeeting.

Instead of a conference room in the snazzy Manhattan corporate office, we are now dialing into Google Meet.

You get the picture.

Although we are all grateful to live in a day and age with a virtual alternative to in-person gatherings, one unfortunate truth remains:

Most virtual events are terrible.

Boring. Blah. Lame. Mundane. Meh. Rote.

Whatever word you choose, most of us have had our fill of virtual events.

The good news is that there are lots of enterprising companies and teams out there striving hard to innovate ways to make virtual events better and introduce compelling solutions to address the pain points of these online gatherings.

One of those innovative solutions is Virtual Live Sketching (aka “ Remote Visual Notes ”).

Although Virtual Live Sketching isn’t entirely new, the scale to which it is being leveraged in the wake of COVID-19 was unheard of until now. Although the tools and mechanisms for delivering this remote visual note-taking service were already in existence, the way companies, teams, and organizations are harnessing it to deliver value to their audiences is taking us into uncharted territory.

Virtual live sketching is a compelling, engaging, and must-have value-add for virtual meetings and events in a post-COVID world, and we’ll share with you just why.

In this Definitive Guide to Virtual Live Sketching for Meetings and Events , you’ll learn about:

• The history of visual communication. From cavemen to memes, we’ll explore how visual learning and communicating with simple pictures is hard-wired into our DNA.
• The power of visual communication. Using actual data and research, we’ll unpack the four main ways that visuals supercharge communication to make it more effective.  
• Live sketching overview . Whether you call it live sketching, visual notetaking, graphic recording, doodling, live scribing, or sketchnotes, we’ll give a quick overview of this particularly exciting form of visual communication and collaboration.
• Contexts for live sketching. There are dozens of ideal contexts for live sketching – we’ll explore the top ten places where you may find this service in action.
• COVID-19 and the dawn of remote visual notes (aka virtual live sketching). In 2020, the world of live sketching changed forever. We’ll show you how.
• Virtual live sketching overview. With the “dawn” of virtual events, many aspects of live sketching have changed. Many have not. We’ll take a moment to walk through how remote visual notes works, the tools used, common platforms for integrating it into virtual events, and our process.
• What makes virtual live sketching awesome. There are four huge pain points when it comes to virtual events and four huge ways that remote visual notes tackle these pain points head-on. The net result: better virtual meetings and events.
• Leveraging the sketch output. When it comes to maximizing the value of the sketch output and deliverables, the possibilities are endless. We’ll take a look at some of the most common ways these compelling takeaways are leveraged.
• What can you do? We’ll conclude with some actionable next steps to begin leveraging virtual live sketching for your next virtual meeting or event.

History of Visual Communication

Before we get into the “here and now” of Virtual Live Sketching and Visual Communication, let’s talk about the history of visual communication. Don’t worry, we’ll promise not to bore you.

The first forms of visual communication popped up between 40,000 and 8,000 BC. Of course, we’re talking about prehistoric cave paintings. Most scholars agree that these paintings were used for ceremonial purposes, to bond a tribe together and celebrate communal efforts, like a great hunt or battle. In brief, they were simple pictures to communicate ideas, align a group, and inspire action.

From there, the next major form of visual communication was Egyptian Hieroglyphics, which emerged around 10,000 BC. These were simple images and icons used to tell stories. Another name for this form of visual communication is “petroglyphs.”

Visual communication took another leap forward around 2,000 BC, when the Chinese developed logograms, which we similar to hieroglyphics yet a bit simpler. Like their Egyptian predecessor, logograms were simple symbols used to represent ideas, objects, people, or religious deities.

Between 2,000 and 700 BC, the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans introduced the idea of the alphabet: for the first time in human history, a simple symbol was used to represent a sound. These alphabets would go on to become the foundation of all modern languages.

Between 400 AD and 1600 AD visual communication became a primary feature in medieval Christendom. Illuminated manuscripts and stained-glass windows leveraged images, illustrations, icons and symbols to communicate the stories of the Bible. The reason for this is simple: most people at that time couldn’t read. In contrast, images were quick to understand, they were enjoyable to look at, they elicited emotion and they inspired people to action.

As technology advanced, so did visual communication. The advent of the printing press, photography, film, the computer and the internet all rapidly advanced the evolution of visual communication.

And so, where is visual communication today?

Emojis, Memes, and Gifs. Oh my.

Just kidding! Of course, emojis, memes, and gifs are all a form of visual communication, but that is not the point of this blog, or the point of this quick history lesson.

The point is simple: visual communication is in our DNA. It’s part of being a human. It makes communicating ideas easier and more effective. It excites, aligns, and inspires people. It leads to action and outcomes.

Visual communication is powerful, and that is why Live Sketching exists.

Power of Visual Communication

Yes, Live Sketching exists for one simple reason: Visual Communication is incredibly powerful. Visual Communication (and by extension, visual learning) is a powerful, effective and actionable way to share ideas, communicate a message, mobilize a team, inspire an audience, and drive real results.

So, how exactly is visual communication so powerful? There are four main reasons, all of which are backed up by science and research:

First of all, Visual Communication makes ideas efficient .

The old adage goes: “a picture is worth a thousand words.” We would argue it is worth far more than that! The research shows that 93% of communication is non-verbal , and that the human brain processes visuals at an unfathomably higher rate than it processes text. Another bit of research states that visuals are processed 60,000x faster than text . That is astounding.

Moreover, visuals are a global language that transcends linguistic barriers and most cultural barriers as well. Fewer people get tripped up on images, especially when compared to the written or spoken word, which can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunications.

In the Back of the Napkin , Dan Roam articulates this effectively:

“Pictures can represent complex concepts and summarize vast sets of information in ways that are easy for us to see and understand…they are useful for clarifying and resolving problems of all sorts.”

If you want to communicate ideas quickly, communicating with visuals is a no-brainer.

Second, Visual Communication makes ideas understandable .

Again, the science here is astounding. Listen this: 83% of human learning occurs visually . That means that the other channels of learning (verbal, auditory and kinesthetic) only comprise a mere 17% percent of human learning!

In fact, a study showed that people following directions with text and illustrations do 323% better than people following directions without illustrations. And sometimes, if you’re building an IKEA bookcase, your directions might not have text at all!

The truth is, visuals help you “see” the meaning behind ideas. They help make complex ideas and subjects understandable and powerful by making them visible.

Moreover, the average person’s attention span is incredibly short…and getting shorter. According to the research , the average human gets distracted in 8 seconds. This is a shorter attention span than a goldfish! Visual Communication also enhances comprehension simply by the fact that is holds peoples’ attention longer.

Thirdly, Visual Communication makes ideas memorable .

Again, the research backs this up. One compelling stat is that people remember 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they read, and 80% of what they see and do.

Another bit of research shows that retention of information three days after a meeting or other event is six times greater when information is presented visually and verbally than when the information is presented only verbally.

For whatever reason, pictures get lodged in our brains much more than spoken or written text. We forget names, but remember faces. Like experiences, we have a hard time forgetting powerful images and the ideas or concepts they embody.

Fourth and finally, visual communication makes ideas shareable and actionable.

It’s pretty simple—pictures are easier (and more fun!) to show to others. The outrageous growth of visuals-based social media platforms over the past few years testifies to this. Pinterest, Snapshot, Tumblr, Instagram and TikTok are all visuals-based social media channels…and they are growing like wildfire. People love to share and consume visual content.

Consider that Visual content is more than 40X more likely to get shared on social media than other types of content. Also, articles with an image once every 75-100 words got 2x the number of social shares than articles with fewer images.

To elaborate on this, a recent study showed that:

• Tweets with images received 150% more retweets than tweets lacking images
• Facebook posts with images receive 3X more engagement than those lacking images
• On Instagram, photos showing faces get 38% more likes than photos without faces
• Infographics are liked and shared on social media 3X more than any other type of content

Moreover, considering their ease of use and mainstream availability, anyone with a smartphone, whiteboard, or sketchbook can share their ideas visually. It has never been easier, cheaper, or more convenient to share and process visual content.

Visual communication is incredibly powerful and engaging…and not just on social media and in text messages. The principles of visual communication—and the value of it—applies to professional and business contexts as well.

To quickly summarize, visual communication is incredibly powerful. It helps make communication of ideas more:

• Understandable
• And Shareable and Actionable

Live Sketching helps you and others harness the power of visual communication and apply that power to engage an audience, align a team, and inspire action.

Let’s take a moment now to unpack just what we mean by “Live Sketching.”  

What is Live Sketching?

Live Sketching goes by a lot of names: Graphic recording, visual notetaking, sketchnoting, live scribing, and the list continues. We use a lot of these terms interchangeably, although prefer “live sketching” as it’s the most understandable and approachable.

Whatever you call it, live sketching can be defined as “the real-time capture of content using sketched text and images”. Let’s break that definition down starting with “content.”

Most often the content that is captured in a graphic recording is spoken content, such as from a presentation, panel discussion, group discussion or team brainstorm. Whenever people get together to discuss ideas, those ideas can be captured in a live sketched format. However, sometimes other forms of delivered content can be sketched out, such as written group responses to a prompt or question, group emotions, or experiences as they are happening.

The fact that live sketching is in real-time is also important. Graphic recording is not a planned-out endeavor. It is not the same as a produced infographic or art directed illustration. Although portions of it may be planned out, such as layout, color, and a few key ideas, the vast majority of the sketch is organic and unscripted. It is done in real-time and strives to be an accurate and unbiased reflection of the content at hand.

Sketched text and images is the last part of the definition. This is the “what” of Live Sketching. Ideas are captured in both verbal and visual form. The text is mostly used to anchor the ideas to the page, and should never be overly verbose or lengthy. Just enough text should be captured to establish the core idea. Beyond the actual content of the text, the text can also be depicted in an expressive font or color, making the piece more dynamic and helping reinforce the nature of the ideas. The images can be whatever the live artist needs in order to reinforce the ideas on the page. These can include icons, symbols, human expressions and actions, scenes, and much more. At the end of the day, the text and images combined serve the sole purpose of making the ideas understandable, memorable, shareable and actionable. It is about harnessing the power of visual learning to give the content more life.

The first, and most critical step, when it comes to live sketching is Active Listening . Since the vast majority of graphic recording engagements take place in a context with a speaker or multiple speaking participants, the graphic recorder must be a great listener. If not, he or she will capture inaccurate content or miss critical content, both of which will negatively impact the process and final sketches.

At the Sketch Effect, all of our live artists are trained in active listening. As content is being discussed, they will dial up their listening abilities and hunt for the most critical takeaways, overarching themes, and recurring concepts. Active listening isn’t about capturing each and every word. Rather, it’s about capturing the big rocks. It’s about clearing away the “clutter” of a conversation to unearth the gems.

The second step of Live Sketching is the synthesis . As a live artist is actively listening, he or she will take it one step further and begin to synthesize. In other words, they will distill the ideas down to their purest essence. Again, it isn’t about getting down every idea possible. It’s about getting the most critical ideas. This is synthesis.

The third step of Live Sketching is usually text capture . This is when the live artist writes down words. Think of the words like the “bones” of a graphic recording. The words are the foundation of the sketch and inform what is illustrated around it. Again, the words should not be lengthy sentences or heavy prose. Rather, they should be pithy and to the point, capturing the idea with few but deliberate and powerful words.

Step four is the fun part: the sketching ! In this step, the live artist breathes life into the bones and begins visualizing the ideas. This is when they add drawings, illustrations, color, icons and other imagery, all with the purpose of reinforcing the ideas and making the content more understandable and memorable. The sketches also serve a bonus purpose: they’re awesome! They are attention grabbing and eye-popping, adding a “wow factor” to any meeting or event in which they’re featured.

A key aspect of the drawings is the visual concepts. The concept is the “idea” behind the drawing. Some concepts are straightforward, like representing the idea of “growth” with an upwards and to-the-right arrow. Other concepts are cleverer, such as representing “teamwork” as a group of trapeze artists swinging through the air with interlinked arms. Some concepts can even connect back to pop culture, like depicting the idea of “pivoting” with a drawing of Ross, Rachel and Chandler moving a couch up a narrow stairwell. You get the idea. The illustrations on a graphic recording must have a great concept at their core. Otherwise, they are just nice-looking drawings and nothing more.

In addition to the actual drawings, the live artist will also add plentiful color to his or her sketch. Color can be used to reinforce concepts, establish themes, and categorize, along with establishing visual hierarchy and visual navigation. Color also makes the drawings look better, which is always a plus.

To summarize, we define Live Sketching as “the real-time capture of content using sketched text and images”, the goal of which is to reinforce ideas by making them understandable, memorable, shareable and actionable.

Let’s now unpack a few of the main contexts in which Live Sketching can add so much value.

Contexts for Live Sketching

One of the amazing aspect of live sketching is the wide range of contexts in which it can be leveraged to add value. In brief, anytime people are gathered together (in person or virtually) and are discussing ideas or solving problems, live sketching can make the experience better and more effective. Although there are endless types of engagements such as these that can benefit from a graphic recording artist, here are the most common:

• Company Events – The most straightforward scenario for live sketching is at a company event . This could be an all-hands meeting, a new year kickoff, a board meeting, a team summit, and much more. The content that is captured could be a big presentation by the CEO or other key leaders, an engaging panel discussion, or a keynote from an outside thought leader or industry expert. Whatever the company event, Graphic Recording can help document the content through real-time visualization of the big ideas and main themes.
• Corporate Retreats – Similarly, a corporate retreat or offsite event is another great context for live sketching. These retreats usually cover a LOT of ground, and there’s no better way to document the progress made than through live sketched Graphic Recordings. Retreat attendees can literally see all that they discussed in pictorial form, which is an amazing way to galvanize participants and energize them when they return to the office.
• Conferences – A public or internal conference is an ideal setting for live sketching. Most conferences will invest heavily in amazing speakers, organize thoughtful breakout sessions, and bring amazing experiences to their attendees. What better way to crystalize the ideas and experiences at a conference than with live sketched visuals.
• Brainstorm Sessions – A brainstorm session , where a small group of people meet to brainstorm and work through something big, is a perfect context for a live artist. As ideas are being thrown about, solutions are being teased out, and discoveries are arrived at, the live artist will actively listen and document what unfolds. It is a great way to ensure everyone is on the same page, that they can “see” their discussion, and that they drive forward towards the stated goal of that session, whatever it may be.
• Training Events – Any type of event where people are gathered for training is also a good opportunity to leverage a Graphic Recording artist. The artist will be able to observe the training and capture the key themes and critical ideas that emerge. Trainees will be able to walk away with an amazing visual piece that anchors the most important portions of the training.
• Team Workshops – Similar to training events, any team workshop can be enhanced with live sketching. The live sketch artist will watch the workshop unfold, capturing the most salient moments, key learnings and important takeaways. Workshop participants will see the output of their workshop visualized in the output of the live artist.
• Trade Shows – A trade show is prime opportunity to leverage live sketching. What better way to draw an audience into a booth than with a live artist. At a trade show, the live artist can capture aspects of the product, company or brand, interact with booth participants, or capture the key ideas from a presentation.
• Product Demos – A clever way to add flavor to a product demo is with a live sketch of the demo itself. This is an engaging addition that keep people’s attention.
• Sales Pitches – An interesting addition to a sales pitch is to incorporate live sketching as part of the pitch. This is a surefire way to make an impression and help the pitch resonate.
• Fundraisers, Auctions and Galas – Finally, charity events like fundraisers, auctions or galas are a great opportunity to incorporate live sketching. Typically, these events will feature presentations, stories, testimonials, and more, and capturing this content in the form of live sketched visuals will help the audience connect to the purpose of the event and stay engaged.

These are just a few examples of the many kinds of contexts in which live sketching can be best utilized. At the end of the day, the goal is to make these meetings, conferences, and events better. The purpose is to add value by making the content of these events understandable, memorable, shareable and actionable…and to “wow” people in the process.

COVID-19 and the Dawn of Virtual Graphic Recording/Remote Notes

As one can imagine, the COVID-19 pandemic completely disrupted world of live sketching. In a matter of weeks, every live event was completely cancelled and graphic recorders and live artists all over the world realized the severity of what was happening to their profession. What was bound to be a busy, productive spring began to look hopelessly bleak.

Thankfully, there was innovation to be done and pivots to be made.

The Sketch Effect was at the forefront of this “great pivot”, jumping immediately to retool live sketching and adapt it to a post COVID world. The result: “Remote Notes” …aka Virtual Live Sketching. This brand-new service was about to take the virtual world by storm and add immense value to the “new normal” of online events, webinars, and webcasts.

Ok, we are going to let you in on a little secret: “Remote Notes” was actually not a brand-new service. In fact, The Sketch Effect, and many others in the industry, had been offering a virtual version of live sketching for years, although this was always a peripheral offering. It always played a very second fiddle to the “OG” service of Graphic Recording.

Regardless of it’s pre-COVID history, The Sketch Effect mobilized and within days officially launched this service and began sharing it with the world. Within a matter of weeks we were working afresh with our clients on their virtual events and within months virtual live sketching became our most popular and fastest growing service in company history.

The world was hungry for an engaging, exciting and differentiating way to make virtual events better, and the Sketch Effect team of Virtual “Remote Notes” Live Artists were happy to be of service.

Remote Notes – How it works  

One of the best things about Virtual Live Sketching, or Remote Notes, is how easy it is to integrate into Virtual events, meetings and webinars. To unpack that, let’s begin with the tools most commonly used, beginning with the sketching tools and then discussing the virtual platforms.

Sketching Tools and Software

For our team at the Sketch Effect, our preferred sketching device is none other than an iPad Pro. This tablet is state of the art. For those less familiar with them, one can draw directly onto the screen of the iPad, seamlessly merging the physical act of drawing with the digital world. The actual sketching tool we use is the Apple Pencil, which is simple, straightforward, and quite effective. The Airplay feature is also extremely handy for the Live Artist when it comes to screencasting onto another device. Another great sketching option that our team will use from time to time is a Wacom Cintiq. This is a digital drawing monitor, which is connected to a computer. This tool is also state of the art, although bulkier and far less mobile.

Our preferred sketching software is ProCreate, which is available on iOS and other operating systems. ProCreate is fantastic for live sketching. It is an elegant program, user-friendly, intuitive, and uncomplicated…in a good way. It has tons of shortcuts and features which enhance the sketching process resulting in better, higher quality final deliverables. The ability to work in layers, copy, cut and paste, and adjust text, color and images give our Live Artists endless options that are unavailable with traditional Graphic Recording using marker and paper. ProCreate also has the ability to capture a video time-lapse of the sketching process, which makes for an especially compelling deliverable. On the Wacom Cintiq, Adobe Photoshop is our team’s preferred software, which is considered the gold standard for digital art.

Virtual Event Platforms

Although we are not a virtual event hosting company, we have learned a thing or two about virtual event platforms. The good news is that Virtual Live Sketching can be integrated in almost all virtual event platforms, some in very dynamic ways.

Here is a quick rundown of some of the most commonly used virtual event  and streaming platforms:

• GoToMeeting
• Microsoft Teams
• Google Meet

The truth is, there are dozens and dozens of virtual event platforms for you to choose from. What matters is that you pick the one that meets the needs of your virtual event and meets your budget. There’s a wide range of functionality and production capability from platform to platform, so do your research and choose well.

As we mentioned, whatever platform you choose will likely be able to support Live Sketching, either by featuring the sketch prominently (spotlight), cutting away to the sketch from time to time (rotating spotlight), or by featuring it after the fact.

Our Process

At The Sketch Effect, we’ve worked hard to build out a simple and proven three-step process for all of our virtual engagements. To learn more about that process, click here.  

Remote Notes – Why it’s Awesome

Virtual Live Sketching, or “Remote Notes”, is an easy and straightforward way to increase the overall value of a virtual meeting, webinar, online event, or any virtual gathering where ideas and experiences are shared.

The value of virtual live sketching boils down to four main areas. To help articulate these four value propositions, we’ll begin each by discussing the associated pain point:

Virtual Live Sketching Boosts Engagement

  First of all, with virtual events, distraction is a click away. This is a major pain point of any online meeting or event. Think about it: when people are attending a meeting or event via their computer screen, then the entire universe is competing for their attention. Literally. There are millions upon millions of potentially more exciting things on the internet, and each one is just a click away. Your favorite blog is a click away. The news is a click away. Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram is a click away. Your email is a click away.

What we like to say (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) is that Virtual Live Sketching provides a “good distraction”. Virtual Live Sketching actively reinforces the ideas and content that virtual event attendees are learning, making it something valuable to look at in the moment. For those who choose to live-stream the sketching process (main spotlight), or at least feature it intermittently (rotating spotlight), the unfolding visuals are a memorizing thing to watch. There’s something magical about watching an artist create his or her art in real-time, and virtual live sketching brings this magic to a virtual event.

In summary, virtual live sketching makes online events, meetings, or webinars more engaging . To compete with the endless army of online distractions, virtual event organizers need to double down on engagement. Virtual live sketching is a great way to do that.

Virtual Live Sketching Increases Alignment

A second major pain point of virtual events is that it’s incredibly challenging to get alignment . Alignment is already difficult to achieve during a traditional in-person meeting. It’s even harder when there is a screen in the way. Misunderstandings are common. Misattribution is rife. Ideas are lost on certain people. Not everyone is on the same page.

Remote Notes addresses this head-on by literally getting people on the same page…or rather, the same sketch! Virtual Sketching documents the main ideas in real-time, allowing people to watch the content unfold as they hear it. Seeing ideas visualized helps people track with each other. This increases alignment in the moment and crystalizes the big ideas to be revisited and leveraged after the fact. By getting everyone on the same page (in sketch form), better and more effective alignment is achieved and the overall virtual meeting or event will be more successful.

Virtual Live Sketching Adds a Cool Factor

A third major pain point with virtual meetings is the “blah” factor…aka “zoom fatigue” . Unfortunately, most virtual events, meetings, and webinars are uninspiring and boring. In other words, they are just “meh”.

Now, in the very early days of the pandemic, Zoom meetings and other video conferences had a certain novelty to them. For most of us, we had never attended an online event or group video meeting, so the first few of these were fun, different, and novel. Well, it wasn’t long before the novelty wore off and virtual meetings became like most other meetings: boring, uninspiring and “blah”.

Virtual Live Sketching provides a much needed “cool factor”. It adds a level of differentiation that makes a virtual event so much more than “just another Zoom meeting”. Not every event organizer is leveraging virtual sketching (yet), so the odds are high that this would be new to many audiences.

If you want to add something cool, different, and fun…and make your audience say “wow!”, Remote Visual Notes will do the trick.

Virtual Live Sketching Makes Following-Up Easy and Effective

The fourth and final major pain point of virtual meetings has to do with how they conclude and what comes afterwards. We’ve all been there: the virtual event is wrapping up, someone formally closes it out, and one by one the attendees click the little button to “leave”. And then what? Engagement completely stops and people immediately move onto something else.

A traditional in-person meeting or event ends much differently. There’s usually a closing session after which people might hang around and mingle. Sometimes the conversations spill over into the hallway, the golf course, or the hotel bar. If folks have flown in from out of town, they might share a cab to the airport, read over their conference materials while waiting at the gate, and process what they’ve learned on the flight home. They can still taste that amazing catered meal, are humming the songs from the special musical guest, and reciting the inspiring rally cry introduced by the CCEO.

In other words, the opportunities for attendees to relive the event, discuss what they learned, and mentally process the ideas continue well after the event has formally concluded.

This is not the case with virtual events. The second someone leaves a virtual meeting, he or she is 100% gone. Unless the virtual event is absolutely mind-blowing, people move on very quickly. Because of this, effective and immediate follow-up is critical to extend engagement. So, to summarize the pain point here: effective follow-up after a virtual event is incredibly important, yet incredibly hard to do well.

The good news is that Virtual Live Sketching makes following-up easy and effective.

Take a moment to consider the typical follow-up you might receive after virtual event: Perhaps you will be emailed the slide deck, send a link to multiple video recordings of the event sessions, or sent a thick PDF document full of notes. All of these forms of follow-up serve a purpose, but they aren’t the most useful or digestible, especially to a busy professional audience.

Sketch Effect graphic recording images are colorful and captivating, fun to look at, and can be consumed in a matter of minutes. They can be easily inserted into a follow-up email, a blog post, or an event recap. As discussed earlier, optional time-lapse video versions of the sketches are an incredibly compelling form of follow-up, especially when edited up and set to music.

Once a client has the final images or videos in his or her hands, the

How to Leverage the Final Sketches  

There are endless possibilities to leverage final sketch image and time-lapse video deliverables following a virtual event, webinar or video meeting. Here are some of the most common, followed by some of the most unique.

• Included in a recap email. The most straightforward way to leverage Sketch Effect remote virtual notes is to include them as attachments in a follow-up email to event attendees. The file sizes aren’t too large and can be attached easily to an email or embedded in the text. As mentioned earlier, this is a much more digestible and fun form of follow-up when compared to the typical slide deck, PDF, or video recording. Our clients have told us that when they include the graphic recording images in follow-up emails, open rates for those emails go way up.
• Used in a follow-up report . If you are putting together a follow-up report, what better way to recap the big ideas and main themes than by included the sketched visuals produced by The Sketch Effect.
• Used to market and promote future events. If your event is a public event or a ticketed event, and you plan to host future events like it, then the live sketches are a fantastic way to market and promote it. The sketches will grab people’s attention and give those who didn’t attend an idea of what they missed. Use the images to drive awareness and increase registrations.
• Featured in social media. Most social media channels are visuals-based, and sketched images make for great content.
• Used as blog content. Similar to social media, virtual live sketches can be easily used in a blog post or article, either to complement the post or as the point of the post altogether.
• Used as b-roll content in a recap video. If you’re making a recap video or sizzle reel of your virtual event, live sketches (especially in time-lapse video form) make for great b-roll content.
• Printed and shared via snail mail. In a highly virtual age, sometimes it’s so nice to receive something physical in the mail. We have had numerous clients get their Sketch Effect images printed out on nice paper and mailed out to their event attendees. It’s incredibly fun to open a piece of mail that’s full of the creative sketches that came out of the recent virtual event they attended. It’s a great way to bridge the virtual/physical divide.
• Printed and framed and used as gifts. Similarly, the sketches make for great gifts when printed and framed. These gifts can be sent to keynote speakers, hosts, onscreen talent, or anyone who played a key role in your virtual event. If you are bringing in outside speakers to share, surprise
• Printed, framed and hung in an office or team space. If you have empty walls in your office and are looking for something visually appealing yet meaningful to spice things up, a framed graphic recording sketch is a great idea. You can frame several from the same event or series of events and have a sort of “gallery” exhibition!
• Used as a company-wide screen saver. One of our clients came up with this creative idea! They made it so that every employee’s laptop computer, when in screen-saver mode, cycled between the sketches that came out of the last company-wide meeting. This is a very clever way to reinforce the big ideas and important themes from that event.
• [Insert your clever idea here] Do you have a great idea for how to leverage the sketch output from your virtual event? Let us know!

As you can see, there are tons of ways to leverage the remote visual notes output from your virtual event. At the end of the day, the goal with these sketched summaries is to add value to an event or meeting and extend the engagement as long as possible. Even after your virtual event or webinar has concluded, the graphic recording deliverables keep adding value and keep the ideas and experiences top of mind for attendees.

In summary, visual communication is incredibly powerful. It is in our DNA and has been used for thousands upon thousands of years to communicate ideas, engage an audience, and inspire action.

When it comes to virtual meetings and events, Live Sketching with the Sketch Effect is an incredible way to harness the power of visual learning to make meetings and events more effective.

With live sketching, audiences will be more engaged. Teams will be more aligned. Participants will be mesmerized and excited to see the creative visuals unfold. Instead of yawning, people will be wowed. The follow-up will be quick to digest, enjoyable and actionable.

The world has enough lame virtual events.

Virtual Live Sketching with the Sketch Effect will make your next Virtual Event better .

It will make your next Virtual Event your best virtual event.

Learn more about Virtual Graphic Recording

Don’t think graphic recording is the fight fit your ner needs? Consider video animation to enhance your communication efforts.

Let´s Talk!

“Our video has been a big hit and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback. It’s such a great storytelling technique and way of visually engaging our stakeholders. As you can imagine, with a company our size there is a lot of “noise” when it comes to communication – this is a great way to stand out.”

Douglas Bremner

Global Quality & Food Safety

The Coca-Cola Company

Book an In-Person Graphic Recorder Today

Book a virtual graphic recorder today, let's talk.

“Our animated video with the Sketch Effect turned out wonderfully and we were very happy with the entire process. It was great working with the Sketch Effect team – they really understood the assignment and our goals for this communication effort! We launched the video to the entire Staff and have been receiving compliments ever since! As our work in this space continues, I’m sure we will be back in touch for more animation projects with The Sketch Effect.”

De’Johna S. Council

Corporate Legal Chik-fil-A, Inc.

Tell us about your virtual meeting, concerns and your ideas

Summary Board - Standard Package

Summary board - deluxe package, narrated time-lapse, tell us how we can inspire you, let's talk.

👀 Turn any prompt into captivating visuals in seconds with our AI-powered visual tool ✨ Try Piktochart AI!

• Piktochart Visual
• Video Editor
• Infographic Maker
• Banner Maker
• Brochure Maker
• Diagram Maker
• Flowchart Maker
• Flyer Maker
• Graph Maker
• Invitation Maker
• Pitch Deck Creator
• Poster Maker
• Presentation Maker
• Report Maker
• Resume Maker
• Social Media Graphic Maker
• Timeline Maker
• Venn Diagram Maker
• Screen Recorder
• Social Media Video Maker
• Video Cropper
• Video to Text Converter
• Video Views Calculator
• AI Flyer Generator
• AI Infographic
• AI Instagram Post Generator
• AI Newsletter Generator
• AI Report Generator
• AI Timeline Generator
• For Communications
• For Education
• For eLearning
• For Financial Services
• For Healthcare
• For Human Resources
• For Marketing
• For Nonprofits
• Brochure Templates
• Flyer Templates
• Infographic Templates
• Newsletter Templates
• Presentation Templates
• Resume Templates
• Business Infographics
• Business Proposals
• Education Templates
• Health Posters
• HR Templates
• Sales Presentations
• Community Template
• Explore all free templates on Piktochart
• The Business Storyteller Podcast
• User Stories
• Video Tutorials
• Visual Academy
• Need help? Check out our Help Center
• Earn money as a Piktochart Affiliate Partner
• Compare prices and features across Free, Pro, and Enterprise plans.
• For professionals and small teams looking for better brand management.
• For organizations seeking enterprise-grade onboarding, support, and SSO.
• Discounted plan for students, teachers, and education staff.
• Great causes deserve great pricing. Registered nonprofits pay less.

Presentations

Presentation Design: A Step-by-Step Guide

Nailing your presentation structure can have a big impact on your target audiences, whether they are investors, coworkers, partners, or potential customers. It helps get your ideas across and persuade others. 

For a presentation to work, its contents must be paired with great design. In fact, 91% of presenters feel more confident with a well-designed slide deck.

Now, design may not be something that interests you or something you’re good at. But like it or not, the moment you fire up Powerpoint, or Keynote you are a designer. And there is no escape. 

So instead of designing a poor presentation with lousy templates, why not learn the essentials of designing a beautiful presentation?

In this guide, we’ll discuss how to design a captivating presentation, and break down the whole process into small chunks so you can tackle each step easily. 

If you’re eager to put these principles into practice, create a Piktochart account and start creating beautiful presentations in minutes.

What makes a presentation well designed?

A bad presentation can give the impression that you lack preparation, care, and credibility. A well-designed presentation, on the other hand, makes you look professional and trustworthy. Here’s what it means: 

Less text and more visuals

Humans are visual beings. Our comprehension of visual elements is way more than just plain text. And we retain any information much better when it’s paired with imagery. 

If you want your message to connect with your audience, remove the extra text in your slides and replace it with visual content .

There are many ways to add photos , one of which is visualizing your data into timelines , flowcharts, graphs , and other frameworks. For example, this presentation by Trinh Tu uses data visualization really well to convey key stats and details.

However, adding visuals doesn’t mean just throwing some fancy pictures and icons onto your slides. Your icons and photos need to be relevant.

Before you add a visual element, always check if it contributes to the message you are trying to communicate. 

Well-placed pictures can go a long way in helping the audience connect with your presentation. So use them cautiously and strategically. 

Summarize points instead of writing them all out

According to a survey by David Paradi , the three things that annoy audiences most about presentations are:  

• Speakers reading their slides 
• Slides that include full sentences of text 
• Text that is too small to read 

Notice what’s common to all these annoyances? The text. People have extremely short attention spans, especially when it comes to reading heaps of text. 

So the text in your presentation slides should be just enough to complement the speaker, no more. It should not compete with what’s being said. 

For example, this simple presentation does a great job of summarizing the message of each slide in just a few words and breaking up the text nicely into multiple slides. 

Crowding your slides with all the information you have makes you unnecessary. You don’t want people to be distracted by reading when they’re trying to listen to you. 

Instead, the slides should only be considered as a visual aid. So keep them simple. Focus on the message, not the slides themselves. 

One takeaway per slide

As we discussed, people find it hard to absorb too much information from a single slide. So don’t overwhelm your audience, and remember that less is more. Make sure not to have more than one key point in each presentation slide.  

For example, this presentation about startup weekend has minimalistic slides walking viewers through one message at a time. It also shows that you don’t need a ton of fancy elements to make your presentation visually appealing.

Limit each of your slides to a simple statement, and you’ll easily be able to direct your audience’s focus to the main topic and subtopics. 

Arranging your text this way is one of the best ways to make a powerful impact on your presentation design.  

Clear hierarchy in design

Visual hierarchy is easily one of the most important yet most overlooked design principles. Simply put, it means the color, size, contrast, alignment, and other factors related to each element of your slide should be based on its importance. 

The most important elements should capture the attention of your audience first, followed by the second most important elements, and so on. 

Needless to say, you must know the whole narrative and outline before you start planning the visual hierarchy. It’s all about the message you want each slide and your whole presentation to get across. 

For example, in this presentation about building a good team, see how the header text, the description text, and the button text are different from each other. The header font is the largest and placed at the top, catching immediate attention. 

Then your eyes go to the button text because it captures attention with a red background. And finally, you see the description, the illustration, and other elements. 

So as you design your presentation, consider the narrative and plan the visual hierarchy needed to justify the story. This will ensure that your audience will not miss out on the key points you want to emphasize. 

Design consistency across slides

People are quick to identify inconsistencies in a presentation design, and these inconsistencies prevent them from having a fully engaging experience. So keep your presentation design consistent with a single theme.

Consistency creates a better flow and shows that each slide in your presentation belongs to the same story. To understand this better, see the below slide from this presentation . 

Notice how the slide primarily uses only two colors (white and red) for all the elements. And the image dimensions, fonts, and styling for each team member are exactly the same. 

You’ll notice the same thing in other slides of this presentation too. The same colors, the same font family , and similar backgrounds have been used in the overall design . This is what we mean by consistency. 

If the presentation you’re making is part of a company, the company may already have a style guide that dictates how to keep your presentation consistent with the company’s branding. If not, it’s never too late to create one . 

Call to action

A presentation is not complete without a call to action (CTA). If there is no CTA, your audience will think, “Is that it?” and you’ll leave them wondering what they’re supposed to do next with the information you provided.

The best CTAs are simple and easy. For example, you can ask the audience to contact you, connect on social media, sign up for a product or webinar. 

Also, make sure to highlight the incentive. Your audience should be clear on the main benefits they will get by following through with your call to action. 

The bottom line is: Make it a no-brainer and make it easy for people to take action right away. 

Designing a great presentation

Now that you know the ingredients of appealing presentation design, let’s see how to design a presentation that wows your audience, and also drives your key points home at the same time. Follow the below presentation, ideas, steps, and best practices to create a stunning presentation.

Prepare slide backgrounds and images

Backgrounds and pictures go a long way in setting the right mood and feel for your presentation. And there is no one right way to do this. Your options are limited only by your creativity.

For example, this presentation from Zuora makes masterful use of background images. Almost every slide has a beautiful background photo, along with a color overlay above the background to make the text easy to read. 

Pay attention to the following best practices as you work on your backgrounds and photos:

• Make sure your images have enough contrast with your words. 
• Use simple images that are closely relevant to your messages. You can use multiple free and paid stock photo sites to find photos that resonate with what you want to convey. These include Picography , Unsplash , Freepik , and Gratisography .
• Don’t pick common, generic stock images that people have already seen hundreds of times elsewhere. Also, avoid clipart for the same reasons. 
• Don’t crowd too many pictures into a single slide.
• Ensure that your images are of high quality, with a resolution that allows a comfortable viewing experience. They should come off as clear and crisp on both small and large screens. 

Zero in on your slide layouts

Contrary to what you may believe, great presentation design is not about being very artistic or creating complex layouts. Instead, your focus should be on communicating information in a nice, user-friendly way.

For example, this presentation has many slides that emphasize a great alternative to the conventional approach of putting text over an image. It leverages a split-screen layout for each slide, resulting in clean and elegant quotes paired with stunning visuals. 

Pay attention to the following best practices as you work on slide layouts:

• Make sure you have a reason for aligning elements in a certain way for each slide. If possible, use frames or grids to align your images and text appropriately. 
• When used too often, center alignment makes your design look amateurish. Use it only as a last resort.  
• Don’t keep using the same layout for consecutive slides. It makes your presentation dull and repetitive. Mix up the layouts to keep your audience engaged. 
• Have enough white space around each element. Don’t feel like you have to fill vacant spaces with more objects. Giving each visual room to breathe makes your whole design easier on the eyes, while a cluttered composition is hard to make sense of. 

Pick your colors wisely

Colors influence emotions and contribute to the identity of your brand. They also lift the audience’s overall sense of enthusiasm and move people to action. So you must use colors strategically to pull the audience into your presentation. 

For example, this colorful presentation for Adidas was designed to show how its deck could give a combination of fun and luxurious vibes. 

Notice the colors used in the above slide. There is a lot of white, purple, and blue, with some variations used sparingly around the illustrations. Only three main colors are doing most of the heavy lifting. That’s why the overall design still works even with some extra colors thrown in. 

Pay attention to the following best practices as you work on your presentation colors:

• If your company already has a color palette in place, stick to it. If not, pick a strong color scheme with no more than five colors to serve as a base for your presentation design. Too many colors can make your audience frantic. 
• Use tools such as Adobe Color CC , Kuler , Piknik , and 0to255 to play around with different colors and color schemes and see what works with what. 
• Make sure your color scheme has colors that can contrast and complement each other. Colors that don’t clash will make your presentation look clean and polished. 

Select the right fonts

Typography is another factor that can make or break your presentation. Fonts have a subtle but powerful impact on how the audience views both your presentation and your brand. 

But choosing fonts is a major challenge for those without any form of design education or experience. They mistakenly think that simple and basic fonts are too dull and boring. So they try to look for some fancy fonts to make their presentation exciting, eventually ending up with some hideous or outdated font such as Comic Sans.

Instead, you should consider the readability of the message you want to convey. For example, this presentation by With Company makes great use of modern typography . 

Since many of the slides have lengthy quotes, they are split in ways to make the message easy to digest. In addition, see how all the text is super clean and concise. 

Pay attention to the following best practices as you work on your presentation fonts: 

• Just like with your color scheme, use the same set of fonts and the same font sizes in all the slides of your presentation. For example, if your slide heading is Verdana 40pt, then each slide heading should be Verdana 40pt. In fact, you don’t need more than three fonts that work well together. 
• If you feel like using some animated text that bounces, soars, or glitters, just don’t. Curb the temptation. Hyperactive words and phrases are annoying and distracting. 
• If you already have standard font pairs based on your company’s brand identity, use those. If not, choose fonts that convey the voice and tone you’re aiming for. 
• The best fonts for presentations are simple, professional, modern, and readable. Pick a font such that there is a significant difference between its regular and bold font faces.
• Don’t shy away from using standard fonts. Avoid using some rare font that’s unlikely to be available on all computers and mobile devices.
• Pair fonts that work well with each other. Granted, this can be tricky and hard for an untrained eye to pull off. But there are many collections known to be effective. So you can pick from those. Resources like FontPair and FontJoy make it easy to find great font combinations.
• As discussed before, size the fonts based on visual hierarchy. For example, headlines should be larger than body text. But even the least significant texts should be large enough to read, with appropriate line and letter spacing. 

Wrapping up

We know this may be a lot to take in. It’s not easy to design a mesmerizing presentation. But the final result is worth all the trouble. A great presentation can open doors that you may have never thought to be possible. 

A clean design is much easier to take in. It makes you and your brand look more credible and professional. So use the above steps to push your design skills as far as you can. 

Start improving one thing at a time, and your efforts will add up to a point where you’ll design stunning presentations without thinking. You can also accelerate the process with a tool like Piktochart that comes with hundreds of ready-made templates and intuitive features. So get started today.

About The Author

Hitesh Sahni is an editor, consultant, and founder of http://smemark.com/ , an upscale content marketing studio helping brands accelerate growth with superior and scalable SEO, PPC, and copywriting services.

Other Posts

Mastering the Craft: Presentation Design Strategies From a Pro

How to Make a Presentation (2023 Guide With Tips & Templates)

How to Nail Your Brand Presentation: Examples and Pro Tips

Do you want to be part of these success stories, join more than 11 million who already use piktochart to craft visual stories that stick..

• Agency of record
• Creative strategy
• Design on demand
• Design at scale
• Design for startups
• Communications
• Sales enablement
• Presentations
• Startups & entrepreneurs
• Video & motion graphics
• Design process
• Partnership & pricing

What is presentation design?

Presentation design is the art and science of creating visually appealing and engaging slides to deliver your message effectively. It involves combining text, images, and graphics to convey your ideas, data, and information in a clear and compelling way. Whether you are delivering a sales pitch, giving a lecture, or presenting a report, effective design can make a significant impact on your success.

Presentation design refers to the process of creating slides that convey a message or information. It is a multidisciplinary field that involves graphic design, user experience, psychology, and communication skills. Presentation designers use various tools such as PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides to create visually compelling slides that support the speaker’s message. The goal is to engage the audience, communicate ideas effectively, and make a lasting impression.

Why is presentation design essential?

The effectiveness of a presentation depends not only on the content but also on the design. A well-designed presentation can grab the audience’s attention, convey complex ideas, and persuade them to take action. Here are some reasons why design is essential when it comes to presentations:

I t grabs attention. 

People are visual creatures, and they are more likely to engage with a presentation that is visually appealing and stimulating. Above all, your presentation design should capture attention.

I t helps communicate ideas effectively.

A well-designed presentation can convey ideas, data, and information in a clear and concise way, making it easier for the audience to understand.

I t creates a lasting impression.

A visually compelling presentation can make a lasting impression on the audience, increasing the chances of them remembering the content and taking action.

How to Create Powerful Presentations

Creating a powerful presentation requires a combination of design skills, storytelling, and effective communication. Here are some tips to help you create powerful presentations that get results:

Define Your Message

Before you start your presentation design, define your message and objectives. What do you want your audience to take away from your presentation?

Choose the Right Visuals

Choose visuals that support your message and are visually appealing. Use high-quality images, charts, and graphics that are easy to understand.

Keep It Simple

Avoid cluttering presentation slides with too much information. Keep it simple and use a consistent design that reflects your brand guidelines .

Use Fonts Wisely

Choose fonts that are easy to read and complement your design. Avoid using too many fonts, and use them consistently throughout your presentation.

Trust the presentation design pros

Are you doubting your design skills or tight on bandwidth? It might be time to find a professional presentation designer , like SketchDeck. Even if your design team is at capacity, SketchDeck can turnaround show-stopping presentations as quickly as you need them.

Practice your presentation

Practice your presentation multiple times, and don’t be afraid to get feedback from others. Above all, this will help you refine your message, delivery, and design.

Why invest in presentation design?

Presentation design is a critical component of creating a successful communication strategy. Investing in it helps you grab attention, communicate ideas effectively, and create lasting impressions. By following the tips mentioned above, you can create powerful presentations that get results. Remember to define your message, choose the right visuals, keep it simple, use fonts wisely, and practice your delivery. With the right design and delivery, your presentation will captivate and persuade your audience and achieve your biggest objectives.

Ivy Croteau

• Originally published on April 24, 2023

Redefine what's possible with SketchDeck.

Subscribe to our newsletter, related reading, redefine what’s possible with sketchdeck..

Presentation Definition: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of contents, unraveling the presentation definition.

Presentation – a word frequently used in English, Spanish, Latin, French, and Arabic contexts, but what does it exactly mean? In this article, we delve into the definition of presentation , exploring its various facets and applications in different fields.

The Essence of Presentation: A Definition

What is a presentation.

A presentation is the act of presenting information or ideas to a group of people in a structured and deliberate manner, often with the aid of visual aids like PowerPoint, Keynote, or multimedia tools.

Presentations are a ubiquitous part of the professional, educational, and social landscape. The act of presenting, essentially communicating information and ideas to a group of people, has evolved significantly over time. This article explores the definition of a presentation, its various formats, the skills required to make it effective, and the nuances of a great presentation, all while weaving in an eclectic mix of keywords.

Historical Roots: From Latin to Modern Day

The Evolution from ‘Praesentātiō’ to ‘Presentation’

In its essence, a presentation is the act of presenting or displaying information or ideas to an audience. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “the action or process of presenting something to someone.” In Latin, the term stems from ‘praesentātiō’, denoting the action of placing before or showing. This definition has broadened in modern English to encompass various methods of showcasing information, whether it’s a business pitch, an academic lecture, or introducing a new product.

The term has its origins in Latin (‘praesentātiō’), evolving through various languages like French and British English, symbolizing the act of presenting, displaying, or giving something to others.

Types and Formats of Presentations

Diverse Formats for Different Needs

Presentations can vary in formats – from formal PowerPoint presentations to informal Prez (an informal abbreviation of presentation) discussions, each tailored to suit specific requirements.

Enhancing Presentation Skills: A Guide

Mastering the Art of Presentation

Presentations come in various formats, from the traditional speech to more contemporary multimedia showcases. PowerPoint, a widely used tool, allows the integration of text, images, and graphs to create visually appealing slides. Similarly, Apple’s Keynote offers tools for creating impactful multimedia presentations. The inclusion of visual aids, like graphs and charts, enhances comprehension and retention. For those interested in learning Spanish, Arabic, or French, incorporating these languages in presentations can broaden audience reach.

Effective presentation skills involve a blend of clear communication, eye contact , engaging visual aids , and a confident delivery. These skills are crucial in both business and educational settings.

Presentation in the Digital Age: Multimedia and Keynote

Embracing Technology for Impactful Presentations

In the era of digital communication, tools like multimedia presentations and Apple’s Keynote software have become indispensable for creating dynamic and interactive presentations.

The Art of Visual Aids: Graphs and More

Using Graphs and Visuals Effectively

Effective presentations often include graphs and other visual aids to convey complex information in an easily digestible format, enhancing the audience’s understanding.

Presentation in Different Languages

A Multilingual Perspective

The concept of presentation transcends languages, from English to Arabic , each offering unique nuances in the art of presenting.

Presentation in Literature and Culture

Presentation Copy and Beyond

The term also appears in literary contexts, such as a “presentation copy” of a book, and in cultural scenarios like a “breech presentation” in childbirth, where the baby is positioned to exit the birth canal feet first.

Effective Presentation: Tips and Techniques

Crafting an Impactful Presentation

An effective presentation is more than just delivering facts; it involves engaging storytelling, structured key points , and the ability to connect with the audience.

To deliver an effective presentation, certain skills are paramount. English, being a global lingua franca, is often the preferred language for presentations. However, the ability to present in multiple languages, like Spanish or French, can be a significant advantage.

Eye contact is a crucial skill, establishing a connection with the audience and making the presentation more engaging. Additionally, the ability to read the room and adjust the presentation accordingly is vital.

Incorporating Quizzes and Group Activities

Interactive elements like quizzes can transform a presentation from a monologue into a dynamic group activity. They encourage participation and can be especially effective in educational settings. Quizzes can also be used in business presentations to gauge audience understanding or to introduce a new product.

Presentation in Educational Contexts

Learning Through Presentations

In educational settings, presentations are used as a tool for teaching and assessment, often involving quizzes and interactive sessions to enhance learning.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Exploring Synonyms and the Thesaurus

The thesaurus offers a range of synonyms for ‘presentation,’ such as exhibition, demonstration, and display, each with slightly different connotations.

The Thesaurus and Vocabulary Expansion

Utilizing a thesaurus can enrich presentation language, offering synonyms and example sentences to clarify points. The ‘word of the day’ concept, often found in English learning resources, can be an interesting addition to presentations, especially in multilingual contexts.

Historical and Specialized Types of Presentations

The term ‘presentation’ also has specialized meanings. In historical contexts, a ‘presentation copy’ refers to a book or manuscript gifted by the author. In obstetrics, ‘breech presentation’ denotes a situation where the baby is positioned to exit the birth canal feet or buttocks first. Understanding these specialized definitions enriches the overall grasp of the term.

Presentation in Business: Introducing a New Product

The Role of Presentation in Business

In business contexts, presentations are crucial for scenarios like introducing a new product , persuading investors, or communicating with stakeholders.

Word of the Day: Presentation

Expanding Vocabulary with ‘Presentation’

In language learning, ‘presentation’ can be a word of the day , helping learners understand its usage through example sentences and pronunciation (notated as /ˌprez.ənˈteɪ.ʃən/ in English).

Key Points and Summarization

An effective presentation distills complex information into key points, making it easier for the audience to remember the most important takeaways. Summarization skills are critical in achieving this clarity.

Cultural Influences and Adaptations

The concept of presentations varies across cultures. In Arabic-speaking countries, the style of presentation might differ significantly from that in English-speaking contexts. The benefice of understanding cultural nuances cannot be overstated, as it can significantly impact the effectiveness of a presentation.

The Role of Technology

Technology, particularly multimedia, plays a pivotal role in modern presentations. From PowerPoint slides to advanced software like Keynote, the use of technology has revolutionized the way information is presented. The integration of videos, sound, and interactive elements makes presentations more engaging and memorable.

Eye Contact and Body Language

In delivering a presentation, non-verbal cues like eye contact and body language are as important as the spoken content. Maintaining eye contact with the audience establishes a connection and keeps them engaged. Similarly, confident body language can convey authority and enthusiasm.

The Art of Storytelling

A great presentation often resembles storytelling. It’s not just about relaying facts; it’s about weaving a narrative that resonates with the audience. This involves understanding the audience’s needs and interests and tailoring the content accordingly.

Innovation and New Products

Presentations are often the first introduction of a new product to the market. The effectiveness of these presentations can make or break the product’s success. Highlighting the unique features and benefits in a clear, compelling manner is crucial.

The Power of Presentation

Presentations are a powerful tool for communication and education. Whether in a formal business setting or an informal educational environment, mastering the art of presentation can lead to more effective and impactful communication.

1. Oxford English Dictionary

2. Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

3. Apple Keynote User Guide

4. Presentation Techniques in Educational Literature

Speechify Studio

Pricing: Free to try

Speechify Studio is a comprehensive creative AI suite for individuals and teams. Create stunning AI videos from text prompts, add voice overs, create AI avatars, dub videos into multiple languages, slides, and more! All projects can be used for personal or commercial content.

Top Features : Templates, text to video, real-time editing, resizing, transcription, video marketing tools.

Speechify is clearly the best option for your generated avatar videos. With seamless integration with all the products, Speechify Studio is perfect for teams of all sizes.

## Frequently Asked Questions About Presentations

### What is in a presentation?

A presentation typically includes a combination of spoken words and visual aids such as PowerPoint slides, graphs, or multimedia elements. It’s an organized way to convey information or ideas to a group of people.

### What is meant by giving a presentation?

Giving a presentation refers to the act of presenting information or ideas to an audience. This act, known in various languages including English, Spanish, and French as ‘presentation’ (or ‘praesentātiō’ in Latin), involves communication skills, visual aids, and sometimes interactive elements like quizzes.

### What makes a good presentation?

A good presentation effectively communicates key points, engages the audience through eye contact and clear speech (often practiced as a ‘word of the day’ in English classes), uses visual aids like graphs, and is well-structured. Effective presentation skills are crucial for this.

### What are the types of presentation?

There are various types of presentations, including formal business presentations (often using PowerPoint or Keynote), educational lectures, sales pitches for a new product, and informal talks. Each type uses different formats and approaches.

### What are the 4 parts of a presentation?

The four main parts of a presentation are the introduction, the main body, the conclusion, and the Q&A session. Each part plays a vital role in delivering an effective presentation.

### What are the three things that a good presentation should do?

A good presentation should inform, engage, and persuade or inspire the audience. It’s about more than just delivering facts; it’s an act of communication that can change perspectives or encourage action.

### How is a presentation linked with multimedia?

Presentations often use multimedia elements like videos, audio clips, and animated graphs to enhance the viewer’s understanding and engagement. Multimedia tools like PowerPoint and Keynote are widely used in creating dynamic presentations.

### How long should a presentation be?

The length of a presentation can vary, but it’s typically between 15 to 30 minutes. The duration depends on the context and the amount of information to be covered. It’s important to keep presentations concise to maintain the audience’s attention.

These answers incorporate various aspects of presentations, including their definition, formats, and the skills required, in multiple languages and contexts, as seen in resources like Oxford dictionaries and thesaurus.

• Previous The 10 best read aloud books for kids
• Next Avatar Slideshow: Engaging Visuals in the Digital Age

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.

Recent Blogs

Is Text to Speech HSA Eligible?

Can You Use an HSA for Speech Therapy?

Surprising HSA-Eligible Items

Ultimate guide to ElevenLabs

Voice changer for Discord

How to download YouTube audio

Speechify 3.0 is the Best Text to Speech App Yet.

Voice API: Everything You Need to Know

Best text to speech generator apps

The best AI tools other than ChatGPT

Top voice over marketplaces reviewed

Speechify Studio vs. Descript

Everything to Know About Google Cloud Text to Speech API

Source of Joe Biden deepfake revealed after election interference

How to listen to scientific papers

How to add music to CapCut

What is CapCut?

VEED vs. InVideo

Speechify Studio vs. Kapwing

Voices.com vs. Voice123

Voices.com vs. Fiverr Voice Over

Fiverr voice overs vs. Speechify Voice Over Studio

Voices.com vs. Speechify Voice Over Studio

Voice123 vs. Speechify Voice Over Studio

Voice123 vs. Fiverr voice overs

HeyGen vs. Synthesia

Hour One vs. Synthesia

HeyGen vs. Hour One

Speechify makes Google’s Favorite Chrome Extensions of 2023 list

How to Add a Voice Over to Vimeo Video: A Comprehensive Guide

Speechify text to speech helps you save time

Popular blogs.

The Best Celebrity Voice Generators in 2024

YouTube Text to Speech: Elevating Your Video Content with Speechify

The 7 best alternatives to Synthesia.io

Everything you need to know about text to speech on TikTok

The 10 best text-to-speech apps for android.

How to convert a PDF to speech

The top girl voice changers.

How to use Siri text to speech

Obama text to speech.

Robot Voice Generators: The Futuristic Frontier of Audio Creation

Pdf read aloud: free & paid options.

Only available on iPhone and iPad

To access our catalog of 100,000+ audiobooks, you need to use an iOS device.

Coming to Android soon...

Join the waitlist

Enter your email and we will notify you as soon as Speechify Audiobooks is available for you.

You’ve been added to the waitlist. We will notify you as soon as Speechify Audiobooks is available for you.

Presentation Design and the Art of Visual Storytelling

Discover a practical approach to designing results-oriented presentations and learn the importance of crafting a compelling narrative.

By Micah Bowers

Micah helps businesses craft meaningful engagement through branding, illustration, and design.

Presentations Must Tell a Story

We’ve all been there, dutifully enduring a dull presentation at work or an event. The slides are packed with text, and the presenter feels obligated to read every single word. There are enough charts, graphs, and equations to fill a trigonometry book, and each screen is awash in the brightest colors imaginable.

As the presentation drags on, the lists get longer. “We do this, this, this, this, this, and oh yeah, this!” Unfortunately, everyone in the audience just wants it to be over.

This is a major opportunity missed for a business, and we designers may be part of the problem. No, it’s not our fault if a presenter is unprepared or uninspiring, but if we approach our clients’ presentations as nothing more than fancy lists, we’ve failed.

See, presentations are stories , not lists, and stories have a structure. They build towards an impact moment and unleash a wave of momentum that changes people’s perceptions and preconceived notions. Good stories aren’t boring and neither are good presentations.

But before we go any further, it’s important to ask why presentations exist in the first place. What’s their purpose? Why are they useful?

Presentations exist to…

Presentations impart new and sometimes life-changing knowledge to an audience.

Most presentations provide a practical method for using the knowledge that is shared.

If executed correctly, presentations are able to captivate an audience’s imagination and lead them to consider the worth of what they’re learning.

Well-crafted presentations have the power to arouse feelings that can influence an audience’s behavior.

Presentations ready people to move, to act on their feelings and internal analysis.

Ultimately, presentations make an appeal to an audience’s logic, emotions, or both in an attempt to convince the audience to act on the opportunity shared by the presenter.

With this kind of power, designers can’t afford to view presentations as “just another deck.” We shouldn’t use the same formulaic templates or fail to educate our clients about the importance of high-quality image assets.

Instead, we need to see presentation design as an opportunity to craft a compelling narrative that earns big wins for our clients.

Need more convincing? Let’s take a quick look at how a few big brands merge storytelling with world-class presentation design.

Salesforce – Write the Narrative First

The overarching emphasis of any presentation is its narrative. Before any flashy visuals are added, the presentation designer works hand-in-hand with the client to establish the narrative and asks big questions like:

• Who are we presenting to?
• Why are we presenting to them?
• How do we want them to respond?

The marketing team at Salesforce, the world’s leading customer relationship management platform, answers these questions by first writing presentations as rough essays with a beginning, middle, and end. As the essay is fleshed out, themes emerge and section titles are added.

From here, the presentation is broken into slides that present the most impactful topics and information the audience needs to know. Only a few select words and phrases will make it onto the screen, but the essay draft will be rich with insights for the presenter to further refine and share in their oral narrative.

Writing the narrative first prevents the chaos of slide shuffling that occurs when a presentation’s stories aren’t clearly mapped out. With no clear narrative in place, slides don’t transition smoothly, and the presentation’s momentum dissipates.

Deloitte – Establish Credibility

Within the first few moments of meeting someone new, we quickly assess whether or not we feel they’re trustworthy.

Presenters are typically afforded an initial level of trust by virtue of being deemed capable of talking in front of a large group of people. But if that trust isn’t solidified within the first minute of a presentation, it can vanish in an instant.

Deloitte is a global financial consultant for 80 percent of all Fortune 500 companies. Naturally, they understand the need to quickly establish credibility. The slide used in the example above is number five in a thirty-slide deck. Right from the outset, Deloitte establishes their authority on the topic, in essence saying, “We’ve been at this awhile.”

Including a slide like this in a client’s deck can be a real confidence booster because it allows them to quickly secure expert status. Establishing credibility also helps an audience relax and engage with what they’re learning.

iControl – Define the Problem Visually

It’s not always possible to express a complex problem or solution with a single visual, but when it happens, it can be a powerful experience for an audience.

iControl is a Swedish startup that built an iPad app designed to replace paper and create better documentation at construction sites. They aren’t a big brand, but their investor pitch deck powerfully identifies a huge audience problem with a single slide—too much paper wasted, too many documents to track. An image like this so clearly identifies the problem that it simultaneously intensifies the need for a solution.

Defining the problem visually is an awesome strategy, but use it with care because an image that’s confusing or overly specific to an industry can leave audience members feeling like outsiders.

Arrange a Compelling Narrative

“Storytelling” is everywhere these days. Social media platforms have cleverly packaged the promise that our every post, image, and interaction is part of an ongoing story, but most of what we call “stories” are loosely related moments strung together by the happenstance of time and technology.

So what’s the distinction between narrative and story? How do they relate, and how do they differ? And most importantly, how do they tie into a compelling presentation?

A story is bound by time. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It details events and orders them in a way that creates meaning. In a presentation, stories speak to specific accomplishments and inspire action—“We did this, and it was amazing!”

A narrative is not bound by time. It relates separate moments and events to a central theme but doesn’t seek resolution. In a presentation, the narrative encompasses the past, present, and future—“Where we’ve come from. Where we are. Where we’re headed.”

How does this information impact the presentation designer? Here’s a simple and practical example.

You have a client who makes amazing paper clips that always bend back to their intended shape no matter how much they’re twisted. They ask you to design a presentation that highlights the paper clips and their company vision to “forever change the world of office products.” How do you begin?

Start with the Narrative

The narrative is the overarching emphasis of a presentation.

In this example, you would shape the presentation around your client’s company vision of forever changing the world of office products.

Advance the Narrative with Stories

Use succinct stories that highlight challenges, improvements, big wins, and daily life.

Perhaps the paper clip company’s research and development team faced several setbacks before a eureka moment made mass production cheaper than traditional paper clips.

Use stories like this as brush strokes on a canvas, each one contributing towards a more complete picture of the narrative.

Support Stories with Visuals

This is where the simple, yet stunning slides you design come into play.

In this case, you could show a simple graph that compares the production cost of traditional paper clips to your client’s innovative paper clips. And, to make sure you’re reinforcing the narrative, you could add a short title to the slide: “Game. Changed.”

Conflict Is the Engine of Memorable Presentations

In his bestselling book Story , Hollywood screenwriting guru Robert McKee writes, “Nothing moves forward in a story except through conflict.” This advice is extremely valuable for the presentation designer.

An overly optimistic presentation packed with positive information simply crashes over an audience and sweeps away their enthusiasm. Each rosy insight is less impactful than the one prior. Before long, all the audience hears is, “Good, better, best. We’re just like all the rest.”

An effective presentation designer looks for ways to create internal conflict within an audience. This means they feel the weightiness of a problem and actively hope for the relief of a solution. The yin and yang of problem and solution is the presentation designer’s true north, the guiding principle of every piece of information included in a deck.

One tried and true way to ensure a healthy positive/negative balance, without overly dramatizing a presentation is withholding information.

For instance, in our example of the paperclip company, this could mean devoting an extra slide or two to the research and development process. These slides would hint at the soon-to-be-revealed production costs and build anticipation without providing actual numbers.

Then, when the cost comparison chart is finally shared, the audience is genuinely eager for the information it holds, and the payoff is far more rewarding and memorable.

Unlock the Power of Clear, Consistent, and Compelling Content

Content doesn’t exist apart from the narrative; it enhances it. Once the narrative is in tip-top shape, it’s time to make the content shine, but before we dive into slide design, let’s take a quick detour.

Imagine we’re reviewing an investor pitch deck and we take an elevator into the sky to observe the presentation from an aerial view. From this lofty position, the deck’s content should have a cohesive appearance that ties in with the brand, organization, or topic being presented.

If you’ve ever been hired to work on a company’s pitch deck design , you understand how challenging this can be.

Many times, clients already have some sort of skeleton deck in place before they hire a presentation designer. Sometimes, these decks are packed with a dizzying assortment of charts, graphs, fonts, and colors. Here, you have two unique responsibilities.

First, you must help your client understand how the disunity of their content detracts from the narrative. Then, you must provide a way forward and present them with a practical vision for remaking things in a cohesive style.

Be warned that you may have to sell this idea, especially if your client thinks that their visual content is presentation ready and only in need of some “design magic” to make it look good.

If this happens, remember to be gracious, and acknowledge the role that their expertise played in generating such valuable information. Then, bring the conversation back to results. “This is a compelling topic. I want your audience to be in awe as you present, but for that to happen, I need to recreate the visuals.”

This is a tough chore, but as designers, we’re hired to improve the way our clients communicate—not fill their heads with false affirmations of poor content.

Essential Slide Design Principles

Slide design is an important part of presentation design, and effective slides are rooted in visual simplicity. But the strange thing about simplicity is that it stems from a thorough grasp of complexity. If we know something well, we can explain it to someone who does not in just a few words or images.

In this section, we’ll look at hierarchy, typography, image selection, and color schemes, but know that these design elements are rooted in a proper understanding of a presentation’s narrative and content. If we start the design process with slides, we seriously risk equipping our clients with presentations that are unfocused and unimpactful.

Create Emphasis with Slide Hierarchy

Design hierarchy relates to the placement of visual elements in a way that creates emphasis. For the presentation designer, this means asking, “What two or three things do I want the audience to see on this slide?

Do’s and Don’ts

• Do create visual contrast through scale, color, and alignment.
• Don’t try to visually highlight more than three ideas per slide.

Whenever a really important idea comes up, be brave and only use a few words in bold type to communicate it. This kind of simplicity signals to an audience that it’s time to intensify their focus and really listen to what the presenter has to say.

Overcome Ambiguity with Thoughtful Typography

Most presentations are built on words, so it’s important to know which words to include and how to style them. This starts by choosing the right font, then knowing how big to make the words and where to include them.

• Do ask if your client has any designated fonts listed in their brand style guide.
• Don’t use more than two fonts in your presentation, and avoid text blocks and lengthy paragraphs like the plague.

Try not to use anything smaller in size than a 36 point font. Some designers believe it’s ok to use sizes as small as 24 point, but this often leads to packing slides with more text. Remember, slides are a speaking prompt, not promotional literature.

Communicate Authority Through Graphic Simplicity

Every chart, graph, icon, illustration, or photograph used in a presentation should be easy to see and understand. Images that are difficult to interpret or poor in quality can erode the trust of an audience.

• Do look for ways to use symbols, icons, or illustrations as they have a way of communicating ideas more quickly than photography.
• Don’t use more than one photograph per slide, and don’t use stock photography that conflicts with your client’s brand (e.g., too funny, serious, or ethereal).

During the consultation phase of a presentation design project, ask your potential client to see existing charts or graphs they’re hoping to include. If anything is confusing, pixelated, or inconsistent, tell them you’ll need to remake their graphics. Be prepared to show high-quality examples from well-known companies to sell your point.

Add Energy and Meaning with Bold Color Schemes

Color plays an important role in nearly every design discipline, and presentation design is no different. The colors used for a presentation affect the tone of the topic being shared and influence the mood of the audience.

• Do keep color schemes simple. Two or three colors should make up the majority of slides.
• Don’t use complementary colors for text and background (e.g., blue background with orange text). This has a way of making words vibrate with nauseating intensity.

Identify a few high-contrast accent colors to make strategic cameos for added impact.

The Mission of Every Presentation Designer

It can’t be overstated; presentations are huge opportunities for designers to positively impact their clients’ businesses. Innovation and advancements in culture and technology are occurring so rapidly that it’s become absolutely vital to be able to tell a good story. No one has time for poorly communicated ideas.

Here’s the simple truth: A bad presentation designer dresses up junk content with no thought for narrative and dumps a pile of slides into their client’s lap. Maybe the presentation looks pretty, but it doesn’t inspire, doesn’t activate, and certainly doesn’t sell.

To be effective, results-driven presentation designers means that we must empower our clients with an efficient tool. We carefully consider each slide, word, and visual for maximum impact, and we remember that presentations are intended for a human audience. Whether it’s a room of investors or a conference hall packed with consumers, it’s our job to provide our clients with opportunities to change minds and win business.

Understanding the basics

What is presentation design.

Presentation designers craft an array of ideas, stories, words, and images into a set of slides that are arranged to tell a story and persuade an audience.

Why is storytelling so important?

Where numbers, lists, and facts merely inform, storytelling has the power to make an audience care about and act on information that is being presented.

What are the basic elements of a slide?

The basic elements of a slide are its dimensions, text, images, layout, and color.

• SlideDesign
• VisualStorytelling
• PresentationDesign

Micah Bowers

Vancouver, WA, United States

Member since January 3, 2016

About the author

World-class articles, delivered weekly.

Subscription implies consent to our privacy policy

Toptal Designers

• Adobe Creative Suite Experts
• Agile Designers
• AI Designers
• Art Direction Experts
• Augmented Reality Designers
• Axure Experts
• Brand Designers
• Creative Directors
• Dashboard Designers
• Digital Product Designers
• E-commerce Website Designers
• Full-Stack Designers
• Information Architecture Experts
• Interactive Designers
• Mobile App Designers
• Mockup Designers
• Presentation Designers
• Prototype Designers
• SaaS Designers
• Sketch Experts
• Squarespace Designers
• User Flow Designers
• User Research Designers
• Virtual Reality Designers
• Visual Designers
• Wireframing Experts
• View More Freelance Designers

Join the Toptal ® community.

Presentation

• Written By Gregg Rosenzweig
• Updated: November 8, 2023

We’re here to help you choose the most appropriate content types to fulfill your content strategy. In this series, we’re breaking down the most popular content types to their most basic fundamentals — simple definitions, clarity on formats, and plenty of examples — so you can start with a solid foundation.

What is a Presentation?

A communication device that relays a topic to an audience in the form of a slide show, demonstration, lecture, or speech, where words and pictures complement each other.

Why should you think of presentations as content?

The beauty of content creation is that almost anything can become a compelling piece of content . Just depends on the creativity used to convert it and the story that brings it to life.

The long and short of it

Although the length of a presentation in terms of time can depend on the overall approach (Are you talking a lot? Are you referring to the screen in detail or not?), consider the number of informational content slides when tallying the overall presentation length. For instance, don’t include title slides in your tally when conveying length to a content creator.

A general guide to presentation length:

• Short Form (5 content slides)
• Standard Form (10 content slides)
• Long Form (20+ content slides)

Popular use cases for presentations…

Let’s consider TED Talks for a minute: one of the best examples (bar none) of how words, pictures, and a narrative can make people care about something they otherwise might not.

These “talks” pre-date podcasts and blend a compelling use of language and imagery in presentation format to spread ideas in unique ways.

TED Talks have been viewed a billion-plus times worldwide (and counting) and are worth considering when it comes to how you might use video-presentation content to connect with your customers in creative, cool, new ways.

Business types:

Any company that has a pitch deck, executive summary , sales presentation, or any kind of internal document that can be repurposed into external-facing content pieces — without pain.

Presentation Examples – Short Form

Presentation Examples – Standard Form

Presentation Examples – Long Form

Understanding Content Quality in Examples

Our team has rated content type examples in three degrees of quality ( Good, Better, Best ) to help you better gauge resources needed for your content plan. In general, the degrees of content quality correspond to our three content levels ( General, Qualified, Expert ) based on the criteria below. Please consider there are multiple variables that could determine the cost, completion time, or content level for any content piece with a perceived degree of quality.

Impress your clients, co-workers, and leadership team with exceptional content for your next presentation, product demonstration, and more. If you need help getting your message across in a succinct, attention-grabbing, and persuasive way, talk to one of our content specialists today.

Stay in the know.

We will keep you up-to-date with all the content marketing news and resources. You will be a content expert in no time. Sign up for our free newsletter.

Elevate Your Content Game

Transform your marketing with a consistent stream of high-quality content for your brand.

You May Also Like...

Unleashing the Power of AI: A Definitive Guide to AI-Driven Content Audits

Content Refresh

Content Personalization

• Content Production
• Build Your SEO
• Amplify Your Content
• For Agencies

Why ClearVoice

• Talent Network
• How It Works
• Freelance For Us
• Statement on AI
• Talk to a Specialist

Get Insights In Your Inbox

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• Intellectual Property Claims
• Data Collection Preferences

• Collaboration
• Prototyping
• Developer Handoff
• Color Variables
• Smart Layout
• All Features
• Guides & Courses
• Documentation
• Free for Education
• Community Forum
• Service Status
• Extra Surprises 🎁
• Layout overlay
• Get started for free

Most popular tags

6 tips for creating your presentations in sketch.

Everything from ready-made templates to auto-linking Artboards

You know we’ve got you with product design, but did you know you can also use Sketch to design presentations? You can even play your presentations right in Sketch or share them using a prototype link. Plus, you get to use your existing components to make sure it’s on brand.

Let’s take a look at some tips to get you started 👇

1. Kickstart your presentation with a template

Don’t let the blank page scare you! We’ve got some fancy presentation templates to get you started. You can swap out whatever you need — from Text Styles to Color Variables — to make them feel uniquely yours.

Of course, you can also create your own bespoke templates and components. Simply set up a few Artboards and check the Template box in the Inspector. This way, you’ll be able to repurpose them instead of building each slide from scratch. You can access your Artboard templates via the Components window ( C ) and the Artboard menu ( A ).

You can also create reusable components using Symbols — which are handy for repeating elements like headers.

2. Use auto linking to build your presentation

A quick and simple way to create a sequence of slides is by selecting each slide and choosing Prototype > Auto Link to Right Artboard from the menu. This will automatically link every Artboard to the one to its right.

You can also link to slides to the left or below your selected Artboard, if you prefer. For example, if you want to build your presentation from right to left instead, you can adjust the direction of the auto links through the Artboard Export setting in Settings > Layers .

3. Share your presentation with a link

4. bring in feedback with comments.

Comments are a great tool for gathering feedback. You can use them to add more context and information for reviewers. For example, you might use comments to highlight key points, leave additional details, or offer clarifications on complex topics.

At the same time, stakeholders can use comments to share their feedback without directly editing your design. The best part? Commenting works both on the web and Mac app, regardless of the user. All you have to do is press N , and you’re ready to comment! Just be mindful that they’ll need a link to the document itself, as our prototype player doesn’t support comments.

5. Highlight your best iterations

After feedback comes revisions and iterations, but don’t worry! With version controls, you can make sure your presentation is always putting its best foot forward. Just star the version you’d like people to see by choosing File > Save and Star in the Mac app or by hovering over the version and clicking on the star icon in the web app. You can even add a small description if you’d like to give it some extra context.

At the same time, you’ll still be able to browse through your version history, helping you keep track of your presentation’s evolution. This way, you can access previous versions of your project whenever you need to.

6. Think outside the Artboard

Your Canvas is infinite, so make sure you’re getting the most out of it. In fact, the space around your Artboards can become prime real estate for collaboration — or even to help you fight off stage fright. You can add some out-of-Artboard elements to include notes or instructions for yourself or your team. And why not grab some sticky notes from our Kanban Board template while you’re at it? But don’t worry. Nothing you add outside your Artboards will be visible when you play the presentation.

And there you have it. We hope these tips have given you the inspiration you need to start working on your next presentation. You’ve got this!

You may also like

A beginner’s guide to icon design in sketch.

Learn how to create your own icons without needing to be an amazing illustrator

How to create depth in Sketch

Learn how to use shadows, gradients and blurs to breathe life into your designs

How to organize and maintain design systems in Sketch

Start thinking about design systems in a whole new way

Try Sketch for free

Whether you’re new to Sketch, or back to see what’s new, we’ll have you set up and ready to do your best work in minutes.

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Chapter 41 Presentation Drawings

Related Papers

Md Suzanul Islam Suzan

hrishikesh hkp

khalid mirza

Eric Mallari

Dr. SASIKALA DEVI. N N

HAYRETTİN GÜMÜŞDAĞ

The aim of the study is to evaluate moods and stress levels of sports managers in their workplaces. For this reason, a questionnaire has been conducted on total 50 sports managers, including 11 directors, 4 assistant managers, 9 chiefs and 26 coordinators who work for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sports Inc. As the means of assessment, the method of survey developed by Quinn and Shepard has been used in the study (Quinn and Shepard, 1974). During the process of social change, some failures have appeared owing to the reflection of stress to occupational life. The study has started from the hypothesis of removing the stress sources, by determining them first, which adversely affect the professional performance of sports managers and disturb them during their efforts to reach their goals. In this regard, the average of the sports managers' Worry, Stress, Joy, Demands and Mood has been studied through the questionnaire conducted. These parameters included in the questionnaire ...

Harga Paving Block Termurah

Transit Metal Chem

Mohsen Ramadan

Revista de Ciências Agroveterinárias

Eduardo Bottega

David Frohlich

RELATED PAPERS

WUT Journal of Transportation Engineering

Patrycja Jerzyło

Ricyde. Revista Internacional De Ciencias Del Deporte

Juan David Fernandez Villada , Elkin Eduardo Roldan Aguilar

The Yale Review

Jean McGarry

mohamad shieb

Sebastián Ruiz

Perspectivas em Ciência da Informação

Sindiany Santos

Quaderni dell'Osservatorio elettorale QOE - IJES 

Fortunato Musella

fatima araujo

Journal of Avian Biology

Marcos Henrique Benjamim lima

Geophysical Research Letters

Yves du Penhoat

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Alpha Ousmane Bah

The Effect of Political Patronage Relationships on Parliamentary Elections in North Cyprus from 1983 to 1993

Ortunc Ozbayli

Ana Quelle Regaldie

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity

Nurul Astuti

Pascale Dengis

Juan Ramón Álvarez

Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education

Güler Demir

Technological Innovation for Sustainability

João Sapalo Quintas

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

Architecture

What Are Presentation Drawings In Architecture

Making a building look amazing is not something that should be taken lightly. And for that reason, architects have to make use of something called presentation drawings. This form of drawing has been used for centuries, and it still holds a very important place in the profession today. But what exactly are presentation drawings, and why are they so important?

Presentation drawings are the drawings that architects make to show the client their ideas for a building. Usually this includes the exterior design of the building, as well as details such as the materials used, the layout of the interior space, and sometimes even the furniture that will be used inside. Presentation drawings are usually produced in a very high level of detail, with fine lines and textures that capture the architect’s vision of the final product.

These drawings are important because they serve as a way for the architect to demonstrate to the client what they have in mind. They allow the client to get a feel for the building and to get a better understanding of the design process. For architects, presentation drawings are also an opportunity to showcase their creative abilities and to show off their skills. The more effective the drawings are, the more likely it is that the client will be impressed.

When making presentation drawings, it is essential that the architect pays close attention to detail. Every little nuance must be captured accurately, from the way the light hits the building to the way the windows are situated. It is also important that the drawings are easy to understand and non-technical, as they will be presented to a client who may not have a lot of knowledge in the field.

At the same time, presentation drawings should also be aesthetically pleasing. By using colors and styles that are pleasing to the eye, the architect can help boost the credibility of their project and make it more attractive to potential customers. It is also important to make sure that the drawings accurately reflect the architect’s vision for the project, as it will give potential customers a better understanding of what the project is all about.

Documentation

Presentation drawings are also important for documentation purposes. Architects must keep records of their projects so that they can refer back to them if needed. The drawings serve as a record of what was done and make it easier to review the project in the future. In addition, the drawings can also be used to prove that certain regulations were followed and to determine if certain elements of the design were successful.

Presentation drawings also provide evidence that the architect has done their job properly. They demonstrate the level of detail and care that went into the project and show that the architect took all the necessary steps to ensure that the project was done right. In addition, they can be used in court to prove that the architect was responsible for any mistakes or issues that may have occurred during the construction process.

Lastly, presentation drawings can be great for marketing the project. By displaying the drawings to potential customers, the architect can show potential customers what the building will look like, and this can be a great way to attract interest in the project. Having high-quality presentation drawings can be a great way to drum up business for an architect, as potential customers are more likely to be interested in projects with exceptional visuals.

Time and Money Saving

Presentation drawings can be a great way to save time and money on projects. By providing clients with detailed and accurate drawings, architects can avoid costly mistakes in the construction process and ensure that the project is completed on time and on budget. By providing clients with a realistic representation of what their project will ultimately look like, architects can help to ensure that the project goes as smoothly as possible.

Presentation drawings can also help architects to identify potential problems with the project before they occur. By analyzing the presentation drawings, architects can spot potential problems with the project and address them before they become costly issues. This can help to save time and money during the construction process, as any issues can be dealt with more quickly and efficiently.

Technological Advancement

In recent years, the technology available for making presentation drawings has advanced considerably. With the advent of computer-aided design software, architects can now produce highly detailed and sophisticated presentation drawings in a fraction of the time. This makes it much easier for architects to create complex and visually appealing drawings without having to spend hours manually drawing them.

In addition, the use of 3D printing has revolutionized the presentation drawing process. By using 3D printers, architects can quickly and accurately produce presentations that are as close to the actual project as possible. This can be especially helpful when creating drawings of complex structures that would otherwise be difficult to accurately depict.

Presentation Drawing Generators

In addition to the advances in technology, there are also many tools available to help architects create presentation drawings. In particular, presentation drawing generators are a great way to quickly and easily create drawings that are higher in quality than traditional drawing methods. These generators can help cut out a lot of the time and effort associated with producing high-quality presentation drawings.

These generators also make it easier for an architect to make modifications to the presentation, which can be very useful if the client has special requests or changes that need to be made to the project. In addition, some generators can even help to create an entire presentation from scratch, which can make the process much faster and easier for the architect.

Impact on the Overall Project

Presentation drawings are one of the most important tools available to an architect, and they can have a huge impact on the success of a project. From allowing the client to get a better understanding of the project to helping to identify potential problems in the construction process, presentation drawings can make a huge difference in the overall outcome of the project.

For this reason, it is important for architects to take their time and effort in creating presentation drawings that accurately reflect their vision. Not only will this ensure that the drawings are effective and appealing, but it will also help the project be completed to the highest standard possible.

Anita Johnson

Anita Johnson is an award-winning author and editor with over 15 years of experience in the fields of architecture, design, and urbanism. She has contributed articles and reviews to a variety of print and online publications on topics related to culture, art, architecture, and design from the late 19th century to the present day. Johnson's deep interest in these topics has informed both her writing and curatorial practice as she seeks to connect readers to the built environment around them.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Definition of sketch

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of sketch  (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

intransitive verb

• delineation

Examples of sketch in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sketch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Dutch schets , from Italian schizzo , literally, splash, from schizzare to splash, of imitative origin

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

1694, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing sketch

• thumbnail sketch

Articles Related to sketch

'Cartoon': Not Just For Kids

Early cartoons were not created with children in mind.

Dictionary Entries Near sketch

Cite this entry.

“Sketch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sketch. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of sketch.

Kids Definition of sketch  (Entry 2 of 2)

More from Merriam-Webster on sketch

Nglish: Translation of sketch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sketch for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sketch

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, every letter is silent, sometimes: a-z list of examples, more commonly mispronounced words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - apr. 5, 12 bird names that sound like compliments, 10 scrabble words without any vowels, 12 more bird names that sound like insults (and sometimes are), 8 uncommon words related to love, games & quizzes.