Today we start with a very typical slide from either a science or engineering sector (see the slide on the left). There is quite a bit of room for improvement here. Note the fragment header, the list of bulleted items, and the small picture.

The use of fragments for both the header and bullets does not lend itself well to comprehension OR to any sort of rich archiving for later retrieval. As a tool for communication, there isn’t much here to hang your hat on.

The revised version, on the right, shows the power of the image to frame the discussion.

Highlighting the visual evidence allows a sentence header to then shine. The header can do some pretty heavy lifting in a very efficient way. During a presentation, audience members can look at the picture but then refocus on the presenter and the information being said.

As well, for archival purposes, the presenter can use full notes to completely document the main points for anyone accessing the slide deck later for information.

Want to know more?  The book is here.

Image and content information generously provided by Argonne National Laboratory.  https://flic.kr/p/9T4Jbb