Another Dreaded PPT Template

There seems to be a growing trend of associations providing Powerpoint templates for their conference speakers...and I absolutely hate it.  Really, what is the purpose here?  Isn't it kind of boring for each session to have the exact same slide graphics and color scheme?  I understand the benefit of having the same look/message displayed at the beginning and end of the presentation, and I'm happy to add those slides.  However, I do not see the benefit of mandated template slides for the actual presentations.

Those obligatory sidebar images really compete with the content.  Take a look at these two slides and tell me which you think looks better and would be more effective.  Enough said?

   

("Unexpected" slide belongs to Garr Reynolds, from his Presentation Zen blog.  The template is that being used for ASAE & The Center's upcoming Great Ideas Conference.  Sorry ASAE, I'm a huge fan and supporter of the event, just not the slide template.)

Now, what do I do with template slides?  I use the first and last slides as provided...and use the same color scheme, but my own simple slide design in between.  Instead of requiring template slides - which, BTW, implies speakers should use slides -  associations should guide their speakers in how to deliver more effective presentations, with or without visuals.

Comments

[Lisa Junker]

I especially like your point about how templates imply that speakers should use PowerPoint. I think that more of us should get away from using PowerPoint--it's such a crutch. Some of the best presentations I've seen have either involved no slides or involved creative use of slides that had nothing to do with a typical bulleted PowerPoint slide ... one presenter I saw had slides that were only a single word each, in white on a black background. He coordinated the slides perfectly with his presentation so that they underlined his major points and really captured audience attention.

And don't get me started on using slides as handouts!

[Matt Baehr]

Great post. We have a group of members to our association called Presentations Professionals. Their main job is to design templates and help people present better. Please - use our member directory to find one if you need help with your slides, etc.

www.infocomm.org

[Lindy]

You're right on. Ppt is such a dangerous tool. Your suggestion about giving resources to strengthen presentation skills is an important key to better conference experiences.

[Jeff Cobb]

Amen, Mickie. In this vein, I also like Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/20 rule of PowerPoint:

http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2005/12/the_102030_rule.html

[Dave S.]

Mickie, I couldn't agree with you more! As an educator (I guess I am a lot of things, but I consider myself that first and foremost) I always believed that the focus should be on the content. Sure it's ok to use images to support or add a visual connection to what is being presented but beyond that it's a pretty silly practice. To an extent I do agree with Lisa, but I also appreciate the fact that there are visual learners out there who really get a lot out of the slides themselves.

What if instead of jettisoning the slide decks we just taught people how to make good presentations and use Powerpoint effectively. I think that could fix the problem of mis/overused slides.

I read Cliff Atkinson's book Beyond Bullet Points and like what he suggests: that the presentation is a story and the presenter in effect a storyteller. Lets build presentations that engage and inform our audiences and leave all of the graphical wizardry for collateral materials.

[Jamie Notter]

I'm with you, Mickie: first and last slide only (used that template for Chicago). Although I thought I was nice by adding their purple color as an accent on the rest of the slides (but not their graphics).