How can you use images and graphs to make your presentation more engaging?

I use images to support the story that I am telling. If I am talking about taking a trip, in the country, on winding back road, I will include images of the road and the surroundings. If I am talking about developing a self-care routine, I may include images of activities that one may utilize such as getting a massage, riding a bike, eating a healthy meal, or getting sleep. The point is that the listener can put oneself into the story and think, "I can do that" or "I want to go there."

I also think it's important to keep your audience in mind. If you are presenting to an audience of bird watchers, for example, the images and graphics you choose to engage your audience are going to be different than if you were presenting to a group of podiatrists. You can support your message and purpose while simultaneously targeting a specific audience.

I love using pictures with no words most of the time (unless they are necessary) In this way the audience can be focused on the speaker instead of trying to read the slides. A simple image that covers the full background goes a long way

I use images to support the narrative rather than being the focus. I want the audience to pay attention to me and what I am saying rather than trying to read a slide or be distracted by an image. For data, I prefer to show the one or two most important stats as a large number rather than showing a graph or chart with a lot of data on it. At the end of the day, the audience is interested in the story, use the data as back-up or reference.

Some of this is common sense; KISS (keep it simple, stupid) is a cliché for a reason. It’s hugely important to actually understand the data being presented, and that the data is displayed clearly and obviously. Graphs and images need to be looked at once and understood immediately if used in a presentation. Keep complex or multi-factor displays to a bare minimum, unless your audience are already content area educated.

Graphs and images are to be used to aid in explanation not further confuse. An image or graph that’s too busy will have the opposite effect.

When building a presentation, keep it easy to read, understand, and visualize. Don’t focus too much on the cosmetic details, but instead on transmitting your message to your audience. Sure, you can experiment with unusual designs, and spice it up with some cosmetic upgrades, but it should not be your main focus while assembling your presentation.

Much like what others offer as a solution, I like to make sure there is a relatable story that engages the audience. I have found people will forgo what you are saying and read ahead or they will glaze over and disengage. Telling stories is how we communicated, educated, and inspired others through centuries of existence. We just find new ways to do it and we find new ways to engage.

I use images that will remind me of the next thing I need to say. But I never put text on the screen. Don't make people read what you are saying. That's boring. Plus, you want people to pay attention to you, not the screen. The screen should support your talk, not be the focus.

Using graphics wisely helps you to move the story along. It also helps the speaker to transition from one topic to another smoothly. It is a visual cue to let the audience know that we are moving on. It can also be an excellent way to emphasize key points of the talk or to summarize the critical aspects of the lesson. The graphics should be logical and well organized. It should create a mental picture so that they audience can connect the spoken words with a visual image to help them remember what was said. It should reinforce your message and avoid distracting the listener from your message.

In my signature speech I talk a lot about healing methods - some most people have never heard of. So I show a photo of me using the method, or show the results of the method on me so people can see first hand what that therapy looks like. Just because you can google and get a definition, doesn't mean you are getting the REAL scope of what something is and what it does. I have found this to be a powerful tool in engaging my audience.

The old saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" holds true for presentations. If you can tell the story by engaging the audience with your words and a compelling image that supports the story, then great. Avoid images for images sake, you don't want to distract the audience from your core narrative.

I agree. It’s important to stay focused and concise. I tend to follow the 10/20/30 rule by Guy Kawasaki. Though it’s related to pitch decks for start ups, it can be helpful when giving a brief presentation. 10 slides, for 20 minutes with font sizes no less 30 pts. The images would be included as part of the ten slides I utilize. In today’s culture memes or short video clips can help as an opener to either break the ice or draw listeners/viewers in. Know your audience, this is important on how you build your show. I disagree with sharing what is on the screen. You may need to share for accessibility or context.

Based on my experience as a journalist and storyteller, I have observed that incorporating images enhances the depth and contextual understanding of a narrative. Images possess the unique ability to infuse a story with a sense of soul, particularly when they depict individuals engaged in various actions or expressions. Moreover, images have the capacity to elucidate aspects that might elude adequate description through words alone. Presently, as I concentrate on the realm of fashion, I find that images play a pivotal role in conveying specific messages. Fashion represents a universal aspect of our shared humanity, and the integration of visual storytelling proves significantly more impactful in delivering the intended narrative.

It is very correct to say images and graphical representation help in increasing the clarity of purpose and readability of the intent desire of the writer to the reader. Graphical images last longer in the memory than not having in a content writing, if properly and efficiently used because visual information are easy to comprehend and absorb.

I was given the title of "Artistic Patient Advocate" by the folks at TED. I show a lot of artwork by patient/artists in my various talks and I use their work to explain the lived experience of the artist and how that shows the humanity of the patient. I also think that when speaking at medical conventions this art is a breath of fresh air from all the charts and graphs explaining hormone levels and recuperation times.

Pictures say a thousand words. An effective graphic can convey a lasting image more effectively than words. When I do my keynotes, I like high quality images (from Adobe), sometimes overlaid with a number — representing a statistics that I want my audience to look, ponder, and remember. Key is to use the images to aid your storytelling. You want people to remember what you say, not be overwhelmed by reading lines of text.

Do not stop at images and graphs, adding in content like animations and gifs help get a point across that a flat image may not drive home. Do not shy away from generative AI content as well. In the past I have successfully integrated AI content on both the video and photo side to support the talks message.

Understanding who your audience is and the subject are key to determining what type of imagery you will use. Presenting to a group of data analysts is going to be different than presenting to a group of travel enthusiasts. The basics, however, are generally the same. Support your story with visuals that enhance the experience for the audience without distracting them from you or your storytelling. The speaker should always be the main course, the images are the side dishes.