Unlocking the Power of Collaboration: 10 Tips for Working with a PowerPoint Presentation Designer
In the fast-paced world of business communication, a compelling PowerPoint presentation can be the linchpin for successfully conveying your message. However, collaboration with a skilled presentation designer is essential to make a true impact. Here are ten invaluable tips to ensure a seamless and productive working relationship with your PowerPoint presentation designer:
1. Define Clear Objectives:
Before diving into the design process, clearly articulate your presentation goals and objectives. Provide your designer with a comprehensive understanding of your target audience, key messages, and desired outcomes. These objectives set the foundation for a presentation that aligns perfectly with your vision.
2. Open Lines of Communication:
Establish transparent communication channels with your presentation designer. Regular check-ins, feedback sessions, and an open dialogue will ensure that both parties are on the same page throughout the design process. Encourage a collaborative atmosphere where specific concepts can be freely exchangeable.
3. Provide a design brief or visual research:
Create a PDF with screenshots (a collection of screenshots will also suffice) to communicate your preferences effectively, often called a mood board. This document will serve as a visual reference for your designer, showcasing elements from various presentations, websites, publications, and marketing materials that resonate with your vision for the deck. These references can include specific headlines, images, or graphic treatments that you find appealing. If you need to become more familiar with design styles, your designer can undertake the visual research. The primary aim of this step is to establish a shared understanding of potential design aesthetics before the designer initiates the work.
4. Provide concise and explicit directions:
This process aids in gaining a precise understanding of your preferences. Particularly beneficial for presentations, you can include your instructions directly on the slides, eliminating the need for an extra document. After jotting down your notes, please share them with your designer and schedule a phone call to discuss. Avoiding a written document can obscure clarity, especially if your designer is multitasking by taking notes while engaging in a phone conversation.
5. Share Brand Guidelines:
Share any existing brand guidelines with your designer for a cohesive presentation that aligns with your brand identity. The style guide includes color schemes, fonts, and logo usage. Consistency across your materials builds a professional and recognizable image.
6. Provide Quality Content:
Furnish your designer with well-organized and polished content. Clarity in your message facilitates a smoother design process, allowing the designer to focus on enhancing visual elements rather than deciphering unclear information. Send high-resolution logos, links to image libraries, etc.
7. Establish your fonts:
The critical consideration here is whether you plan to share an editable presentation version with colleagues or clients who may have different fonts installed on their devices. In such cases, it's advisable to stick to system fonts, particularly for Mac users. While PC users can embed fonts in later versions of PowerPoint, Mac users may need help with issues if the required fonts are not installed. If someone without your specific fonts opens your presentation, the text may default to a standard system font, potentially affecting layouts. However, custom fonts are an option if you share the file with individuals who have the same fonts or are willing to install them. Additionally, custom fonts can be used if the final presentation is delivered in a PDF format.
8. Submit your written content in a digital format:
You can provide the content as a Word document, a text file, or simply within an email. Preparing the text in advance streamlines the process, allowing easy copying and pasting into the presentation deck.
9. Understand Technical Limitations:
Be aware of the technical constraints of the presentation platform. Here are crucial details that your designer should be mindful of at the start of the project: the operating system used (PC or Mac), the software preference (PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides, etc.), any specific file formats for the final deliverable if different from the native software format, details about the venue (such as room size and lighting conditions), the type of projection or display, the screen size, and whether system fonts or custom fonts will be utilized (this circles back to #7).
10. Establish a Realistic Timeline:
Work with your designer to set a realistic timeline for the project—factor in time for initial drafts, feedback, and revisions. Adequate time allows for a thoughtful and polished final product.