Comments on: No bullet points http://aralbalkan.com/1286 Aral on Flash, SWX, Flex, ActionScript, and life. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:49:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: شات http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-156198 شات Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:03:39 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-156198 Nice Info Thanks Nice Info

Thanks

]]> By: john c http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-146575 john c Fri, 16 May 2008 11:36:26 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-146575 Your a fool turning your back on bullet points, what happens when you really really need to make sure your audience sees that line of text, your summary, YOUR BULLET POINT! you will be deserted by keynote or powerpoint or what ever your using, your line of text will just look normal, regular and un-important AND you'll have to put a full-stop at the end of your sentence! :) Your a fool turning your back on bullet points, what happens when you really really need to make sure your audience sees that line of text, your summary, YOUR BULLET POINT! you will be deserted by keynote or powerpoint or what ever your using, your line of text will just look normal, regular and un-important
AND
you’ll have to put a full-stop at the end of your sentence!

:)

]]> By: Phillip Kerman http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-136021 Phillip Kerman Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:08:11 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-136021 @Jeremy I watched the Rheingold talk. It had very few slides--and nearly all were either distracting (because they made me think what the connection was... like the movie stills which I didn't recognize)... or just there for a quick laugh--which is totally fine. 99% of the time though, you were watching him. @Jeremy I watched the Rheingold talk. It had very few slides–and nearly all were either distracting (because they made me think what the connection was… like the movie stills which I didn’t recognize)… or just there for a quick laugh–which is totally fine. 99% of the time though, you were watching him.

]]> By: Jeremy http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-134510 Jeremy Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:46:49 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-134510 I can certainly agree that bullet points have a purpose--sometimes even a rational one--in presentations . . . but Aral is the most right when he says that your slides should be your bullet points. PP and Keynote are great document creation tools. That's when bullet points are great. I've been given handouts of presentations that were so comprehensive (bullet points and all) that I didn't really need to attend the presentation itself. At that point, it's no longer a presentation. It's a book-reading. I'd rather just have the book. That's a document. A presentation, however, is the thing that happens somewhere between the speaker and their presentation deck. (If you're going to go with visuals--and I lean heavily in the direction of using them more often than not, but using them WELL.) If you have any doubts about this, go spend 18 minutes watching one of the presentations at TED (http://ted.com/). Or peruse the example decks at Duarte (http://www.duarte.com/). @Phillip Kerman, I have to confess that when you asked me to think of the best presentations I've ever experienced, I thought right away about Hans Rosling's first presentation at TED: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/140 and Howard Rheingold's presentation about collaboration: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/216 . The challenge is, it takes work--and hard work at that--to create powerful, meaningful graphical decks that enhance presentations instead of weighing them down. You should see Nancy Duarte's presentation ecosystem. Actually, you can: http://wiki.vizthink.com/files/NancyDuarte/EcoSystemv1.jpg . For my part, I've long since abandoned bullets in presentation decks, and I always push the folks around me to simplify and beautify in order to create deeper meaning. I can certainly agree that bullet points have a purpose–sometimes even a rational one–in presentations . . . but Aral is the most right when he says that your slides should be your bullet points.

PP and Keynote are great document creation tools. That’s when bullet points are great. I’ve been given handouts of presentations that were so comprehensive (bullet points and all) that I didn’t really need to attend the presentation itself. At that point, it’s no longer a presentation. It’s a book-reading. I’d rather just have the book. That’s a document.

A presentation, however, is the thing that happens somewhere between the speaker and their presentation deck. (If you’re going to go with visuals–and I lean heavily in the direction of using them more often than not, but using them WELL.) If you have any doubts about this, go spend 18 minutes watching one of the presentations at TED (http://ted.com/).

Or peruse the example decks at Duarte (http://www.duarte.com/).

@Phillip Kerman, I have to confess that when you asked me to think of the best presentations I’ve ever experienced, I thought right away about Hans Rosling’s first presentation at TED: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/140 and Howard Rheingold’s presentation about collaboration: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/216 .

The challenge is, it takes work–and hard work at that–to create powerful, meaningful graphical decks that enhance presentations instead of weighing them down. You should see Nancy Duarte’s presentation ecosystem. Actually, you can: http://wiki.vizthink.com/files/NancyDuarte/EcoSystemv1.jpg .

For my part, I’ve long since abandoned bullets in presentation decks, and I always push the folks around me to simplify and beautify in order to create deeper meaning.

]]> By: Keith Peters http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-133716 Keith Peters Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:13:32 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-133716 "No bullet points" or "bullet points are evil" just sets up another system of rules to follow that isn't necessarily going to help you make a better presentation. Bullet points aren't going to ruin a good presentation, and lack of them isn't going to make a bad presentation good. It's far more about the material and the speaker's ability to communicate. I've seen speakers have a page full of bullet points and sit there and read them line for line. Horrible. I tend to use bullet points of one or two words to give structure to what I'm talking about. - do this - then do this - finish with this And I explain verbally each point in detail. If you are presenting a technical subject, I see this kind of thing is very helpful to give understanding of key points or sequences. Helps users to take notes. On the other hand, another speaker might be able to do a better job without them. “No bullet points” or “bullet points are evil” just sets up another system of rules to follow that isn’t necessarily going to help you make a better presentation. Bullet points aren’t going to ruin a good presentation, and lack of them isn’t going to make a bad presentation good. It’s far more about the material and the speaker’s ability to communicate. I’ve seen speakers have a page full of bullet points and sit there and read them line for line. Horrible. I tend to use bullet points of one or two words to give structure to what I’m talking about.

- do this
- then do this
- finish with this

And I explain verbally each point in detail. If you are presenting a technical subject, I see this kind of thing is very helpful to give understanding of key points or sequences. Helps users to take notes. On the other hand, another speaker might be able to do a better job without them.

]]> By: Gareth http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-132812 Gareth Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:55:58 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-132812 Adding this to my Q1 review presentation. Adding this to my Q1 review presentation.

]]> By: Michiel van der Ros http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-132738 Michiel van der Ros Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:33:38 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-132738 I think the amount of text on each slide is a bigger problem than the use of bullet points. There was this one guy presenting at FITC with literally one slide for each sentence he said. No bullet points. One fancy transition every 2 seconds. The most annoying slides I've ever seen. I think the amount of text on each slide is a bigger problem than the use of bullet points.

There was this one guy presenting at FITC with literally one slide for each sentence he said. No bullet points. One fancy transition every 2 seconds. The most annoying slides I’ve ever seen.

]]> By: Phillip Kerman http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-132657 Phillip Kerman Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:55:33 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-132657 I totally agree that it just depends on the situation. However, I think my main point remains that, most times, having a stack of slides for your presentation does little more than divert attention away from the presenter and to the screen. Most presenters use this as a way to get the eyes off themselves or as some form of notecards. I suppose people could walk into the middle of the presentation and see what was going on (with slides) or they could get a copy to review later... but I still think it's a messed up format (say, powerpoint). If you need to show a specific image or screen shot--fine. But digging up photos that closely support your point--but not quite exactly your point--is a mistake. Summing up your message in a few words is questionable too because the idea is that you're SAYING those things already. Gee... I wonder why the presidential candidates aren't using slides in their speeches--even their prepared speeches? I am just trying to make a point... I don't totally follow my rules here and I don't expect people would. I just think you should consider the not-so-extreme approach of NO SLIDES. I totally agree that it just depends on the situation. However, I think my main point remains that, most times, having a stack of slides for your presentation does little more than divert attention away from the presenter and to the screen. Most presenters use this as a way to get the eyes off themselves or as some form of notecards. I suppose people could walk into the middle of the presentation and see what was going on (with slides) or they could get a copy to review later… but I still think it’s a messed up format (say, powerpoint).

If you need to show a specific image or screen shot–fine. But digging up photos that closely support your point–but not quite exactly your point–is a mistake. Summing up your message in a few words is questionable too because the idea is that you’re SAYING those things already. Gee… I wonder why the presidential candidates aren’t using slides in their speeches–even their prepared speeches?

I am just trying to make a point… I don’t totally follow my rules here and I don’t expect people would. I just think you should consider the not-so-extreme approach of NO SLIDES.

]]> By: David Arno http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-132534 David Arno Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:35:21 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-132534 I think you have it spot on Jack: adjust the presentation style depending on your skills, your audience and your topic. If you are presenting a pitch to a bunch of suits, follow the "10, 20, 30 rule" (10 slides, 20 minutes max and font size >= 30pt) If you are presenting coding ideas to developers, show them a couple of slides, an IDE with large font size, write a little code and talk lots. If you are presenting to designers, ditch the bullet points completely, show them some pretty pictures, talk slowly and maybe do a dance. :P I think you have it spot on Jack: adjust the presentation style depending on your skills, your audience and your topic.

If you are presenting a pitch to a bunch of suits, follow the “10, 20, 30 rule” (10 slides, 20 minutes max and font size >= 30pt)

If you are presenting coding ideas to developers, show them a couple of slides, an IDE with large font size, write a little code and talk lots.

If you are presenting to designers, ditch the bullet points completely, show them some pretty pictures, talk slowly and maybe do a dance. :P

]]> By: Jaems http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-132400 Jaems Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:00:27 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1286#comment-132400 I just stumbled on your blog, love it! I have to say I abuse bulletpoints way too much. I need to learn to express myself and drive the point home without them. They become quite cliche while still being useful. -J I just stumbled on your blog, love it!

I have to say I abuse bulletpoints way too much. I need to learn to express myself and drive the point home without them. They become quite cliche while still being useful.

-J

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