In the nearly 40 years since PowerPoint was released, there have been countless books, webinars, and workshops on how to use it (and other similar tools) to create eye-catching, effective presentations.

So, why do so many presenters still create slide decks that contain dense, confusing text and images? Every time I hear someone say, “Apologies for the eye chart” when displaying a super-text-heavy slide, I think to myself, why in the world would you make the audience look at a slide that you know is impossible to read?

We create presentations to connect and communicate with an audience—and often, to motivate them to action. To do that effectively, we need to follow a process that results in content that is clear, relevant, and consistent. 

An important part of that process, and something that few presenters do well, is thinking visually to create the greatest impact.

Incorporating visuals into your presentations isn’t merely an aesthetic choice; it’s a strategic decision that can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your message. By using images, infographics, charts, videos, or props, you can engage your audience, improve understanding, and boost retention. 

In this blog, we’ll explore why and how you should leverage visuals to transform your presentations and thereby, improve your communication skills and impact. 

Let’s get started.

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The Science Behind Visual Learning

Humans are inherently visual creatures. Studies show that our brains process images 60,000 times faster than text. This means that incorporating visuals into your presentation not only helps convey your message more effectively, but also aids retention. 

According to the cognitive Dual Coding Theory, combining verbal and visual information enhances learning by creating multiple pathways in the brain. This is particularly important in a presentation setting, where the goal is to communicate ideas clearly and memorably.

Let’s start with the best process for creating your presentation . . .

A 3-Step Process for Crafting Powerful Presentations

When asked to make a presentation, the first thing most people do is go straight to PowerPoint (or other software) to either open a deck they can tweak or start designing from scratch. Sadly, it’s not the best process.

The path to creating your slides should start with a fresh look at who you’ll be presenting to and what you need to accomplish.

In our 90-minute workshop, PowerBlox™: Effective Presentation Design, participants learn a 3-Step process for crafting powerful presentations with strong visual content:

Assess Your Audience

If you want your content to connect with your audience, you need to take an audience-centric approach. If you don’t, you risk delivering content that is either confusing or isn’t relevant to them, which will result in a waste of their time and yours.

So, start by asking yourself, “Who is my audience, what are their needs and expectations, and what are the context and purpose of my communication?”

Plan Your Content

Once you’ve analyzed your audience, use a proven framework to plan your content. One tool we often use in workshops is the PREP model.



This model works well when you’re pitching an idea, asking for a decision, or encouraging your audience to take any action step.

Here’s an example of how the model could be used:



Speaking of AI, try using it as a first draft to think through and fill in your framework (if your company allows it). Be sure to refine it so it matches your authentic voice.

Once you finish, use your completed framework to organize your presentation deck. As you do that, look for areas where you can condense text to focus on your main message and reduce the total number of slides.

Design Your Presentation

Effective presentation design has 3 overarching qualities:



One example of Clarity is using a headline assertion to instantly focus your audience’s attention on your main message:



It’s important that your headline assertion, while concise, isn’t vague. If the headline on this slide was “Cloud choices,” it wouldn’t communicate the precise key message.

Moving on to Relevance, remember that to keep your audience engaged, every slide element should be directly connected to your main message. Again, supporting details can always be supplied to your audience either before or after your presentation.

Consistency is equally important in your presentation design. This includes using a uniform color palette, font, and layout. Consistency creates a cohesive look, making your presentation feel professional, on-brand, and easier to follow. That said, you can build in consistent variety to organize content flow. Recent PowerSpeaking Live! panelist and designer Hala Hachem suggests using color to separate different sections of a presentation to help your audience transition to different content.

Now let’s take a deeper dive into the power of thinking visually to create more high-impact presentations.

Design Your Slides 

First, let’s look at how too many presenters design slides:



What’s wrong with this approach? Simply put, it confuses slides with documents. Slides should highlight a key message and minimal data points. Both of the examples above simply have too much detail for an audience to take in during your presentation. Not to mention the fact that they’ll squint and try to read your slides instead of listening to you. 

If there are content experts in the audience who want a deep dive, devote a dedicated portion of your talk to them. For everyone else, send an appendix after the presentation when they can choose to read it or not.

Next, let’s look at how text and images can work together to communicate a message quickly and clearly—or not.



The before slide has a vague headline and bar chart, background imagery that’s not particularly relevant to the content, and too much bulleted text. In contrast, the after slide has a clear, concise headline assertion, minimal text that focuses on the main message, and global imagery and simple data points that precisely support the recommendation to expand globally.

Here’s another example. If you were an audience member, which slide would you quickly grasp (and remember later)?



Seeing a pattern here? Clear, minimal text that’s focused on what’s most important, combined with a simple image that illustrates it, is the most effective strategy in slide design.

Speaking of text, communications consultant and PowerSpeaking Live! panelist Rebecca Morgan made a point worth underscoring:  Introduce only 1 idea per slide. This is a much more powerful way to ensure your audience remembers your key points.

In addition, if you absolutely must use more text, use the 5x5x5 rule:





This model reflects our emphasis on clarity, relevance, and consistency. 

Clarity (5 words per line): Limits word count per line, ensuring points are easy to read and understand at a glance.

Relevance (5 lines per slide): Reduces information on each slide, helping the audience focus on what truly matters.

Consistency (5 slides per topic): Keeps content organized, with a steady pace and structure, making the presentation easy to follow.

Finally, let’s explore the different types of visuals you can use in a presentation.

Visuals:  A World of Impact

I’m going to start with a type of visual aid that hardly anyone uses in a presentation or talk:  props. Sometimes, they’re the fastest, most powerful way to communicate a complex concept or high-stakes message.

I’ll never forget an executive who walked into a conference room to address a team about a huge challenge the company was facing. He stood for a moment, then pulled wads of bills from his pockets and threw them on the floor. Then he said, “We’re throwing away money by not addressing this problem. Throwing money away.”

How’s that for a brief, arresting, memorable visual?

And since few people use them, they’re powerful because they introduce the element of surprise—or what we call pattern disruption. Disrupt the pattern with a compelling visual and you spark people’s attention.

Need to make clear to a group of managers that your team doesn’t have the resources to tackle a new project? How about holding up an empty metal toolbox? Want to congratulate and recognize your team for racing against the clock to complete a critical deadline? How about waving a checkered race-car flag as you start your talk?

You get the picture.  So, get creative. Be memorable.

Here are more types of visuals you can employ in slide design, plus notes on how they’re best used.

Charts and Graphs

Data-driven presentations benefit greatly from charts and graphs. Whether you're displaying sales trends, survey results, or demographic data, visual representations can make your findings clearer. Use bar graphs, pie charts, or line graphs as needed, but ensure they are easy to read and interpret. Always highlight the most significant data points to guide your audience’s focus.

Here are some of their best uses:



Diagrams and Flowcharts

For processes or systems, diagrams and flowcharts can simplify complex ideas. These visuals help audiences understand relationships and sequences, making it easier to follow along with your narrative. Ensure that any diagrams are clear and labeled appropriately to avoid confusion.

Images and Photographs

High-quality images can evoke emotions and create a connection with your audience. A powerful photograph can illustrate a point more effectively than words alone. Choose images that reinforce your message or evoke the feelings you want to convey. For example, if you’re discussing the impact of climate change, a striking image of a melting glacier can serve as a powerful visual cue.

I love the radical idea Michael Baldwin, award-winning advertising and branding professional, and PowerSpeaking Live! panelist offered recently. He urged everyone to think of themselves as photojournalists, cell phones in hand, watching for scenes worthy of a photograph in our everyday lives. As he suggests in this video clip, the payoff can be a library of unique images that are all yours, with no stock photo fees or permissions needed!

Infographics

Infographics are a fantastic way to present complex information in a digestible format. They combine graphics and text to illustrate trends, comparisons, and data in a visually appealing way. When designing infographics, focus on clarity and simplicity. Make sure that the key points stand out, and avoid overcrowding the visual with too much information.

Videos and Animations

Incorporating short video clips or animations can add dynamic elements to your presentation. A well-placed video can demonstrate a concept or illustrate a case study effectively. Just be cautious about the length; keeping videos short ensures you maintain the audience's attention and stay on schedule. 

Final Thoughts . . .

I hope you’ve found these insights and strategies useful. Ultimately, the goal of any presentation or talk is, or should be, to offer something of value to your audience in a compelling and memorable way.

Remember to keep your visual content simple, clear, relevant, and consistent to ensure your presentation resonates with your audience. The power of visuals is undeniable, so harness it to elevate your next presentation to new heights.

Want to Learn More?

If you’d like to learn more about elevating your presentations and talks with powerful visual content, check out our 90-minute workshop, PowerBlox™: Effective Presentation Design. Participants learn to storyboard their content, practice designing slides so they’re compelling and memorable, and more! This targeted workshop can serve as standalone skill-building, or better yet, as an invaluable add-on to one of our comprehensive flagship programs, like PowerSpeaking^®, HighTechSpeaking^®, and Speaking Up: Presenting to Decision Makers^®.  Clients tell us that combining a program with one of our focused PowerBlox™ workshops helps leaders and teams refine their message even further!