When Visuals Are Just Pointless
I’ve had to sit though some presentations recently where when it came to visuals, the presenters took cramming information in the audience’s face to a whole new level. One one projector, we had the slide deck and on the other, a demo. Pretty innocuous there, outside the typical excess text and map shock-laden diagrams. What the presenter did next was simply amazing. He pulled the paper away from his easel to reveal three 14″ x 11″ printouts of PowerPoint slides like the one to the right.
What was amazing wasn’t merely that they did this at all (that would have been bad enough). What took the cake is that he repeated this performance. He knew we couldn’t read it. He said so himself. However, he still presented it to his audience as a guide to help explain the slides on projector 1 and the tasks performed on projector 2.
In a previous article, I wrote about a couple large visuals that I created that could not be read, even by myself. However, it was not meant to be read. I was after visual impact, demonstrating a large scope of effort. What he had on his easel was intended to be a reference for the audience, but in turn ended up merely a pointless distraction.
When using visuals, it goes without saying: make sure they serve a purpose. Do you need it to gain the audience’s attention? Do you need it to help tell your story? Do you need it to help make a point? If it doesn’t fulfill its intended purpose or if it really has no purpose, then leave it out. Time is limited. Your audience knows when you’re wasting their time. If they think you’re wasting their time, they’ll tune you out.
Comments
Comment from Richard I. Garber
Time November 28, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Mike:
Another almost pointless visual is the legal disclaimer slide put after the title slide by corporate. As a random example, have a look at the following investor presentation for a new opioid drug.
http://www.qrxpharma.com/download/file/QRxPharm...
Their disclaimer contains almost 300 words, or SIX times as many as would result from the 7 words by 7 lines rule of thumb for producing legible graphics.
The last sentence alleges that “you represent and confirm by attending and/or retaining this presentation, that you accept the above conditions.” Well, I sure don’t, since I can’t possibly read your darn disclaimer! Were they perhaps sampling the drug when they
prepared that disclaimer slide?
Richard
Comment from Richard I. Garber
Time November 28, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Mike:
Another almost pointless visual is the legal disclaimer slide put after the title slide by corporate. As a random example, have a look at the following investor presentation for a new opioid drug.
http://www.qrxpharma.com/download/file/QRxPharm...
Their disclaimer contains almost 300 words, or SIX times as many as would result from the 7 words by 7 lines rule of thumb for producing legible graphics.
The last sentence alleges that “you represent and confirm by attending and/or retaining this presentation, that you accept the above conditions.” Well, I sure don’t, since I can’t possibly read your darn disclaimer! Were they perhaps sampling the drug when they
prepared that disclaimer slide?
Richard
Comment from Richard I. Garber
Time November 28, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Mike:rnrnAnother almost pointless visual is the legal disclaimer slide put after the title slide by corporate. As a random example, have a look at the following investor presentation for a new opioid drug. rnhttp://www.qrxpharma.com/download/file/QRxPharma_Investor_Presentation_26_August_2009_Final.pdfrnrnTheir disclaimer contains almost 300 words, or SIX times as many as would result from the 7 words by 7 lines rule of thumb for producing legible graphics. rnrnThe last sentence alleges that u201cyou represent and confirm by attending and/or retaining this presentation, that you accept the above conditions.u201d Well, I sure donu2019t, since I canu2019t possibly read your darn disclaimer! Were they perhaps sampling the drug when theyrn prepared that disclaimer slide? rnrnRichardrn
Comment from Richard I. Garber
Time November 28, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Mike:rnrnAnother almost pointless visual is the legal disclaimer slide put after the title slide by corporate. As a random example, have a look at the following investor presentation for a new opioid drug. rnhttp://www.qrxpharma.com/download/file/QRxPharma_Investor_Presentation_26_August_2009_Final.pdfrnrnTheir disclaimer contains almost 300 words, or SIX times as many as would result from the 7 words by 7 lines rule of thumb for producing legible graphics. rnrnThe last sentence alleges that u201cyou represent and confirm by attending and/or retaining this presentation, that you accept the above conditions.u201d Well, I sure donu2019t, since I canu2019t possibly read your darn disclaimer! Were they perhaps sampling the drug when theyrn prepared that disclaimer slide? rnrnRichardrn
Comment from WVMikeP
Time November 28, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Wow! That's truly insane!
Mike Pulsifer
mike@mike-pulsifer.org
http://mike-pulsifer.org
Comment from WVMikeP
Time November 29, 2009 at 12:13 am
Wow! That’s truly insane!rnrnMike Pulsiferrnmike@mike-pulsifer.orgrnhttp://mike-pulsifer.org