Top ten trends in presentation design in 2018: The era of reading presentations on mobile phones is here!

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb4pyxiMxmfjKRj7t6ynlpgAGT-_mfc1pIBZhRJ1PUDGGz8Iu8ACryBdkwNpP1zMw1KHOn896f C6WmtKijAUqQA832EOIgZu6g7-NOLyix_T6e_whzhkezK7JOXXPpvQLzZuqFaLUKpeL/s 1600/%25E7%25B0%25A1%25E5%25A0%25B1%25E8%25B6%25A8%25E5%258B%25A2.jpg)

[This article](http://duncun0526.pixnet.net/blog/post/143050911-2018%E5%8D%81%E5%A4%A7%E7%B0%A1%E5%A 0%B1%E8%B6%A8%E5%8B%A2) The author Chen Changan (Duncun) has a lot of questions and is always an explorer of knowledge. I love advertising and presentations, and am working hard to send myself to the 4A battlefield, eager to fight with customers and consumers. Thank you for the permission to reprint, hereby thank you.

On January 25, 2018, I went to Songshan Cultural and Creative Park to participate in the first [briefing party] in 2018 (https://www.beforafter.org/). Since it is the first event in 2018, the co-sponsor of the briefing gathering [Teacher Lin] (https://www.ettoday.net/news/20160805/748297.htm) specially compiled the top ten briefing trends in 2018 and shared them with friends who participated in the gathering.

Because the teacher’s sharing was so exciting and deeply touched the author, I made a simple briefing myself the next day and added my own thoughts to write this article. In addition to sharing it with friends who are also passionate about briefings, I also hope it will be helpful to everyone.

1. The full-page picture is still unbeatable: but without texture and logic, it is very unOkay

Full-page pictures have been a very popular element from the past to the present. They are very useful whether they are used to increase eye-catchingness on the cover or to increase understanding of the inner text. Full-page pictures will still not be absent in 2018. Big class teacher specially highlighted the texture and logic of the full-page pictures, let us take a look at them individually!

• Texture: In terms of texture, it is relatively simple. Here are two photo gallery websites with full texture. sitebuliderreport: The pictures here are naturally suitable for presentations, and many pictures have large white spaces for entering text. The picture has a large amount of white space for inputting text, which is very suitable for making presentations. finda.photo: The biggest feature of this website is that you can search for pictures according to “color”, and you can select pictures of the same tone according to the color of the presentation, which has both texture and consistency.

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5lAZrNM2nSpieslBDXkJq8ER6LF70xhAvPDVTMhyphenhyphenN4i3WE6xrVw Tn2fVpW​​B4UM7InJWTwhbLaYlE_F_OdrudvThKxL24ppi3xnve9j1Asz5v4XJCRMLZm1jFwQei-FdWBrI8sa0C-eVI/s1600/1517300211-1297058181_n.jpg)

• Logic: This is about the strategy of using pictures. I recommend that you watch the video of the Presentation Art Baking Workshop: [“Stop looking for pictures for presentations - first think about where your “key points” and “blind spots” are”] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUzoEQJb8xE). The video mentions that when the audience has no idea of ​​the speaker’s key points, pictures are a good tool to help the audience understand. Abstract elements such as location, time span, proportion, size, etc. are often an important basis for the presentation, and they are also the key points that the speaker wants to emphasize. However, the audience may also be confused. In this case, using the right pictures can help the audience understand the key points.

This goes back to the general principle of briefing: the purpose of any element is to help the audience understand. If the image does not achieve this task, it should be replaced or even eliminated. In addition to failing to help the audience understand the key points, irrelevant images may also distract the audience and affect their understanding of subsequent content.

2. Consider the vehicle of the audience: Many people use mobile phones to read presentations.

When talking about briefings, keywords such as Jobs and TED will definitely appear. There are also many books dismantling the briefing skills of these large-scale occasions. However, most people have very few opportunities to appear on the big stage. Most of the time, the purpose of making briefings is for proposals, reports, case closing, etc. It is very likely that we will not have the opportunity to stand on the podium to give briefings, but only provide briefings for the audience to read. In this case, whether it is sent to customers, shared to the community, or uploaded to the cloud for sharing, the tool that the audience is most likely to open and read immediately is their mobile phone. Therefore, I strongly recommend that before sending (sending) the presentation, you might as well use your own smartphone or tablet to check it out to see if it can achieve the original desired effect and purpose.

The author has also learned a harsh lesson. For example, the text layout is too dense, and it is not uncomfortable to read it on a computer or projection. Once you read it on a mobile phone, you will feel that the words are crowded together, and the reading experience is very bad. Of course, the presentation effect is greatly reduced. In the past, I used to carefully design animations to guide the vision, but when I opened it on a tablet, all the animations were completely useless! The whole slide looks awkward, which is the result of not taking into account the characteristics of the vehicle.

3. The era of flatness has passed: the era of quasi-flatness is coming

In fact, [Flat Design](https://www.stockfeel.com.tw/ui%E8%A8%AD%E8%A8%88%E7%95%8C%E5%A4%A7%E5%8B% A2%E6%BD%AE%E6%B5%81%EF%BC%9A%E6%89%81%E5%B9%B3%E5%8C%96%E8%A8%AD%E8%A8%88/) has been popular for several years. The popularity of flatness started when Apple changed the icons of iOS into flat icons, which also triggered the popularity in the design world. Some brands also followed suit and changed their logos to flat ones. (For the popularity of flat icons, interested friends can read: “[General Trend in UI Design: Flat Design] (https://www.stockfeel.co m.tw/ui%E8%A8%AD%E8%A8%88%E7%95%8C%E5%A4%A7%E5%8B%A2%E6%BD%AE%E6 %B5%81%EF%BC%9A%E6%89%81%E5%B9%B3%E5%8C%96%E8%A8%AD%E8%A8%88/)》).

The author has also liked to use flat icons in the past two years, thinking that it can help understanding and the pictures look good. However, the usage rate has been getting lower and lower in the past few months. In the past, I spent a lot of time looking for suitable icons. Now I am focusing on how to enhance the understanding of the content and how to guide the vision. I think this also echoes what was said above: the purpose of elements is to help the audience understand, and icons that fail to accomplish this task should not be used lightly.

So, what is “quasi-flat”? It’s not clear how to use it, just look at the example:

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgw6Jj22nm9GXOxmzXhwS92UNB39cR0ST0-8t3PIeOC69EIPE3CvDyL I2ZjsGcrM61qihET0vQ9roM4cax35vLrsvLEd5PUbiU7r4q7P3tkp_5k4q8ofuEfvWFSon2VGBid5ahqpcXJ00/s1600/1517300428-1552885490.png)

The left side of the picture above is the familiar flat icon, and the right side is quasi-flat, between three-dimensional and full plane. Some people say that “shadows” can actually cause interference (especially when printed). The author has never used flat materials, but initially it seems that it can make the slides look more lively. But no matter what the material is, good material is good material that can help understanding. Regarding the use of flat classes, the author has also seen strong examples. Friends who are interested can also refer to “What! Can you use PPT to do a jump? 》.

4. Make good use of lines to make the presentation more organized The first time I felt the wonder of lines was when I was taught by Mr. Bill from Artofslide Baking Workshop (recommend another video from Artofslide Baking Workshop: “How to Teach Text-Only Briefings”). Teacher Bill taught me how to use simple lines to clearly present logical relationships. From then on, these lines will definitely appear in my presentations. Recently, I read Mr. Yake’s article “[Lines, details you can’t see in PPT] (https://www.beforafter.org/blog/line-typesetting)”, and I was even more surprised by the many uses of lines. Below, I briefly summarize my views:

I divide the lines into visible and invisible:

• Visible: literally means lines visible to the naked eye. They generally have four functions:

A. Logical classification: As shown in the figure below, simple lines can be classified. Even without numbers, you can clearly understand the functions of the lines. I divided the functions of the lines into four categories.

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9OD0l1TioDSHmxt91j1VqZO27KcWs_RTPVwtVGvbZgl-Pv1zq5sNnbq UdC4qCSV_L66nK7lbuHbxii7LvsOagaLpkETGGpRRgHlgS5dUGrxlz1Qi92r6ssPwauUC1UEuE0vki8ykKBR1/s1600/1517300485-634691928_n.jpg)

Add some variety to make your slides more lively.

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnjdiohyphenhyphen4SsYoMFL7pI63scU3iLxtTE-QHjtiocdozofKGJa8te MC87EFXkJQ6dju0PwnYaSOzjGMIr3YaAyNnLcBsIIarcPROmmofiGIMyuoMwxpU_uqkMybQFQTbkjsNDYn92hzFfyn/s1600/1517300509-1234076148_n.jpg)

B. Guide the vision: According to the reading habits of most people - from top to bottom, from left to right, combined with appropriate lines, the audience’s visual movement can be fully guided.

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Yh4UNI-OAzom8df-Jbj9R9JCVkX7F2Ct2pNJbsK1xHGV2K6imnl9WSD U4C5dyuu52MKoeRcMt7A3LWRAuVqahju2aCu9j1XpKrJf3JorttBGTQlowsgHR8A7LlERSu4GduXQxdneQBdF/s1600/1517300622-2251458060_n.jpg)

C. Divide the layout: As shown below, simple lines can divide the layout into three parts.

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeXKeWLEJIX9y-VaMbNe28CE3U_msLfX3Nt5266-NMgW-ScrY_KdacmAtQSzo m3UbPtlcTwpbeYgkomXcV9Z8DsVlHNjgnU24a9rRBuoajO3bHnagIDdVhxRVJjO0UyNhyphenhyphenp5KnKez-24u/s1600/1517300801-752445351_n.jpg)

D. Connect elements: Use lines to connect elements and establish logical relationships.

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbjuKE6IzL-UzlrlDMY1lemhJemw-6NScEpl7SIdHrYMseN2Sym1DhTh Znmv2faupFhdnn5NzjEY_uCYLF6tk88UpyjbLdQhy0owQ-N68kZwV4CnF6_3LV4Kr7_O6ibGc-6qL2cdwEKUo/s1600/1517300876-3707066190_n.jpg)

• Invisible: One of the keys to making a presentation look neat and orderly lies in this “invisible line”. Align text and other documents using guides to make the entire slide look carefully designed.

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhaAyM3-HUb07S46j7017bZL4fjtW-TqlRwUk8jj38yra0XMudeQxeQ x26hiZebQshYDiWzIf38dKm2bBbo6QO1jLo-xlBNN1iCi_aBgbhdP6WgU3UDkFXRE75SjAvWjIBknix821ywFH/s1600/1517301650-35676804_n.jpg)

Making good use of lines can easily establish logical relationships, and can also make various elements more orderly, instead of just placing them randomly based on feeling. Just by these two points, you can clearly feel that your briefing is different from the previous ones, and you will feel more confident when sending it out. Be sure to try it.

5. Originality is king: unique materials are eye-catching

Using lines and simple geometric shapes, you can create your own unique materials. After accumulating, you will have your own original presentation template, which can be applied quickly, save time, and develop your personal style.

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHn9igWQ1F9YGLAuFFAXaHqkpesI-OmdP3FR8p0Odpuu-kHhddj VrXCWSA9n5coatgp5jopbv4fvuaAa04QefypXFXF1XsFdjsMWnBacZCDFQVOXskrWpTSX6LuzUSHr3Z7fjUH_k-57EH/s1600/1517300960-2322680397.png) As shown above, simple lines can create unique numbers. Or like the lower left corner of the picture below, you can also design your own bullet points with simple geometric shapes.

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbyH6IWjNVVWZMimCmbhXrOGL8SVrMOxaA-9qKd14cMj15pdVAD8Dy0t 1ivIxN4j7CnugR2Bc48ybFlQLB1ZmIdN-Drfu90v5znvSZsuGs4c1fxhJP0nS8CIEhSwyZQnFxptfPBWDpxOM/s1600/1517300976-3066960121_n.jpg)

6. Show the results to customers to make them feel more

Sometimes we encounter situations where the audience cannot imagine the content of the brief, especially with business proposals. At this time, if we can show the expected results to the audience, I believe the chance of success will be greatly increased.

Taking the author’s own experience as an example, since I work in a broadcast media agency, one of my tasks is to write scripts for radio advertisements. However, I often encounter situations where clients cannot imagine “How effective will the advertisement sound?”, which leads to questions such as “Is this script really good?”

If your proposal is presented visually, it is even simpler. You can directly pre-make the result as follows:

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuWKg0wtzTp3x-s4BbwlWgWmOXjvz7GQv49yJMBJVs8qCSmXDpkgB06k JXjuVxTKHC-EPUGLF7rKzCY_yT2xuhnGqKSDjLp013hu4TDo4oV9wmiQ-JKiF76SW1hPxc8xloFoxaT_cO5za/s1600/1517301036-3013642348_n.jpg)

How to do it? You can directly generate it by going to this website: smartmockups.com. Select the situation you want, and then upload the visual you plan to present. It will be generated immediately and then downloaded directly. Moreover, its resolution can be directly placed on your presentation. Isn’t it perfect?

7. The speaker’s outfit is part of the presentation: image is an extension of the brand

The class teacher emphasized that after the speaker takes the stage, he no longer represents the speaker himself, but represents the company and brand. At this time, you are part of the company and brand. Connecting its core values ​​with the presentation content, presentation design and speaker will leave a deep impression on the audience.

The simplest way is to choose the color of clothing.

The examples given by the senior class teacher are quite vivid. Just imagine, what will it look like when Coca-Cola’s first-level executives wear blue clothes on stage? Wearing adidas shoes to NIKE events will definitely be embarrassing. The senior class teacher said that the color of clothes is best consistent with the company and brand, so that you can become an extension of the company and brand; if you cannot reach an agreement, then choose the least personalized black, gray and white. Based on this point of view, you can also extend it, such as avoiding obvious logos on clothes and shoes.

8. Real sound makes people feel the same: wherever the eyes see, the sound can go

If you often need to give briefings and speeches on stage, you may have thought about how to make your voice sound more comfortable. On the day of the event, a vocal expression trainer: [Teacher Luo Junhong (Xiaohu)] (http://cmcc.com.tw/Tiger%20Lo) was invited to share tips on oral expression with everyone. Among them, there are two points that impressed me the most:

• Use your true voice: If you raise your pitch to express your spirit, it will be counterproductive.

• Wherever your eyes look, your voice will go: When you only look at the audience in the first row to speak, the audience at the back will easily not be able to hear clearly, so if you focus on the audience in the last row, your voice will be penetrating.

Regarding this point, the author recently read “[Son Masayoshi’s One-time OK In-house Briefing Technique]” (https://goo.gl/DdJttK). It was mentioned that looking at the decision-makers during the briefing will make you appear more confident; and decision-makers usually sit at the back of the conference table, that is, in the last row. This coincides with Teacher Xiaohu’s trick.

9. Before the briefing, end the briefing: When preparing a briefing, the degree of understanding of the audience determines the success or failure of the briefing.

Just like the literal meaning, the better you understand your audience, the better you can cater to them, and even design some small surprises to leave the audience with a wonderful experience.

For example, as mentioned in point 6, when you show the results to the audience, if you can investigate the mobile phone brands and computer models used by the audience (decision-makers) in advance, and insert sample pictures among them, I believe it will make the audience (decision-makers) feel more attentive and think that you are more attentive than ordinary speakers.

Speaking of this, the author also has good experience. Before a proposal briefing, I heard from my partners that the client had been paying attention to a certain radio program for a long time. After learning this news, I immediately corrected the content of the briefing. I first introduced the operation and production methods of the program to the client, and hinted that his brand could also be promoted on the program. As expected, I successfully attracted his attention. After the briefing, I decided to implement it on the spot. This is the magic of mastery.

10. 10% customization is the only way to respect the scene: it will not work if it is the same every time.

What we are talking about here is the degree of mastery of the scene. Please note that this is not about the venue, equipment, and movement lines, but if the atmosphere, current affairs, and even weather, decoration and other elements of the scene can be integrated into the content of the briefing, even if the content of each briefing is the same, it can give the audience a tailor-made feeling.

Well, how do we do that in practice? During the event that day, one of the speakers was Nutritionist: Zhou Youting (Emma). She gave a good demonstration and summarized three tips:

• Borrowing a joke from the previous speaker: The first speaker of the day mentioned the guests on the scene - Teacher Xiaohu and Zhang Wangxing, using them as examples, which made the audience laugh again and again. Then after Emma came on stage, she also continued to use this meme. In addition to continuing the relaxed atmosphere of the scene, it also showed Emma’s dedication to live activities.

• Use local materials: The location of the venue, the weather, the furnishings, and even the decoration can all be good materials, and you can use them as examples.

• Use current events: Using examples of recent events or recent festivals are good materials. The example Emma gave was the upcoming New Year’s Eve, and she explained how to avoid eating too many calories during the New Year’s Eve dinner.

By making good use of the above three tips, you can create a customized feel. Of course, it must be integrated with the content of the briefing to be meaningful. Special reminder, if you want to use on-site guests to give examples and make jokes, be sure to communicate well in advance to avoid failure to achieve the effect and causing embarrassment on the spot.

The above are the top ten briefing design trends in 2018 compiled by the author. Thank you again [Briefing News] (https://www.beforafter.org/) for sharing. Here is a brief summary: In terms of presentation design, we must consider the audience’s vehicle, make good use of lines and create unique materials, which are all key points to make the presentation look more comfortable; and for speakers, presenting results, mastering the audience and 10% customization can make you more outstanding.

I hope the trends summarized above can make everyone more productive on the road to briefing design. In 2018, let us continue to use briefings to extend our communication power and expand our influence! Keep Going!

Top Ten Briefing Trends in 2018 from duncun0526

★ To improve your content power, please don’t miss the online course “[Content Power: The Super Power of Building Brands] (https://goo.gl/9hgqc2)”

★ Content Hacking Lecture Series (CHL4): Create a call to action for your content [Open for registration]

★[This article](http://duncun0526.pixnet.net/blog/post/143050911-2018%E5%8D%81%E5%A4%A7%E7% B0%A1%E5%A0%B1%E8%B6%A8%E5%8B%A2) The author Chen Changan (Duncun) loves advertising and presentations, and is working hard to send himself to the 4A battlefield, eager to fight with customers and consumers. Thank you for the permission to reprint, hereby thank you.

★ Photo Credit: Štefan Štefančík

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Further reading

• Three major trends in business presentation design in 2019: Scenario-based architecture, visual personalization and intelligent interface
• The second meeting of “Lun Liu Lai Briefing”: the starting point of presentation design, starting from understanding the audience
• The presentation hacker has evolved again, and you will immediately become a presentation master

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