How To Make Presentations More Visual Than Textual

I've been using HTML to help me in making my powerpoint decks recently, and I thought I'd share it. Like many of you, a huge chunk of my work involves translating complex information into clear, compelling slides. The challenge? Creating visuals that actually communicate well without spending forever on design details. My solution turned out to be surprisingly simple: I now build my slide visuals using AI-generated HTML. Here's how it works: I give an AI model (currently using Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro) a detailed prompt describing exactly what I want a slide to look like. It creates an HTML file, I screenshot it, and drop it straight into my presentation. Why this approach works so well: - It's actually collaborative. Instead of wrestling with design software, I'm having a conversation about what will communicate best. The AI understands both the visual and the message. -The results are genuinely better. I'm getting unique, tailored visuals that would have taken me hours to create—and honestly, they often look more polished than what I could make myself. -I'm saving serious time. No more endless tweaking of alignments or hunting for the right icons. More time thinking about the story I'm telling. This isn't the answer for every presentation—especially if you need lots of team collaboration. But it has worked so well for me to create better decks. I've been exploring how AI can thoughtfully enhance public health work, and this is just one example. If you're curious about practical applications in our field, I'd love to connect! Have you ever done something like this? -- Hi! If we have not met before. I'm Juliana, mom of 2 and tech nerd. I'm building tech to reshape the American public health system.

🔍 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗶𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘀! 🎨💡 We’ve all seen the same old pie charts, bar graphs, and line charts. But what if we could present technical information and data in more engaging, creative, and memorable ways? The world of data visualization is evolving, and it's time to break out of the traditional chart mindset! Here are some fresh approaches to presenting technical information through illustrations that will captivate and inform: 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀: Think of it as the storytelling of data! Infographics combine design, icons, and illustrations to visually guide the audience through complex concepts in a clear, compelling way. They’re perfect for summarizing large amounts of information at a glance. 🖼️📊 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Instead of a simple bar graph, why not use illustrated elements that represent the data? For instance, using icons, animated figures, or custom illustrations to show how data plays out in real-world scenarios. This method makes abstract numbers feel more tangible and human. 👩💻🌍 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀: Make the data come to life with interactive illustrations! Whether it’s a clickable infographic or an interactive diagram, these visuals let the audience explore data points at their own pace, creating a more engaging experience. 🖱️✨ 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀: Instead of static charts, use narrative diagrams to guide your audience through the data step by step, much like a journey. This method works great for processes, workflows, or any complex system that needs to be broken down into digestible parts. 🗺️🔄 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀 & 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: What better way to make data exciting than with motion? Animated charts or flowing data visualizations can help bring static information to life, drawing in the audience with movement and interactivity. 🎥⚡ By moving beyond traditional graphs, we’re embracing a new wave of creativity in technical communication. Data doesn’t have to be boring—it can be vibrant, insightful, and even fun! Have you experimented with new ways of presenting data? What methods do you think are the most effective? Let's discuss how we can transform technical information into visual masterpieces! ✨ #DataVisualization #TechCommunication #CreativeDesign #Infographics #Illustration #UXDesign #DataStorytelling #Innovation

People's brains can only do one thing at a time. In live presentations, text-filled slides will lead the audience to stop listening and start reading the slide. Their brains can either read, or they can listen. When you think about what goes on your slides, think about elements that are communicated much better visually. Graphs, charts, pictures are all examples of visuals that communicate information much more efficiently and effectively than can usually be done in words. But, a written version of your talk track is not a great use of slide space - remove that from the slide and speak to it instead. It makes for a cleaner slide and makes the audience dependent on the speaker for the "so what" or the significance of the slide. So for your next presentation, think about slides with fewer words, more visuals, and a verbal presentation that adds further context and explanation to what the audience sees on the slide. 

If you want your next presentation to inform, engage, and stick, this is the framework you need….. One of my best reads (A summary) Fact: AI slide generators won’t save you. Powerful slides aren’t about automation. Slides aren’t filler. They’re the frame that holds your message; visually, cognitively, and emotionally. A single slide can speak more powerfully than 10 spoken minutes when done well. ——————————————— ➊ 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲 ➜ A slide = one thought. No more. No less. 📌 Break complex ideas into digestible visuals. ➋ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 “𝟭 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲” ➜ If it takes longer than a minute to explain a slide… 📌 It’s doing too much. Cut or split it. ➌ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 ➜ “Results” isn’t a heading. 📌 Try: “This method increases accuracy by 37%.” ➍ 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆 ➜ If you won’t speak to it, delete it. 📌 Every extra label is cognitive noise. ➎ 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲 ➜ Add references as you build, not at the end. 📌 A polished slide acknowledges others. ➏ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀 ➜ Visuals aren’t decoration; they’re delivery tools. 📌 Avoid text-only slides. Always. ➐ 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 ➜ 6 elements max. 📌 Use white space, bold selectively, and avoid clutter. ➑ 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 ➜ If they hear nothing, can they still see the takeaway? 📌 Assume your viewer is half-tuned in and still make an impact. ➒ 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 = 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 ➜ Your transitions reveal your thinking. 📌 Practicing reveals which slides don’t flow. ➓ 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 ➜ PDFs > animations. Backup slides > failed videos. 📌 Assume something will break and prepare for it. ——————————————— 📍Your slides are not your script. They’re not your paper. They’re your audience’s window into your idea. Make every second of their attention count. 💬 Which slide mistake are you guilty of and ready to fix? ♻️ Repost to help someone transform their next research talk. 📄 Reference: Naegle, K. M. (2021). Ten simple rules for effective presentation slides. PLOS Computational Biology, 17(12): e1009554. #PresentationTips #SlideDesign #AcademicCommunication

8 out of 10 analysts struggle with delivering impactful data visualizations. Here are five tips that I learned through my experience that can improve your visuals immensely: 1. Know Your Stakeholder's Requirements: Before diving into charts and graphs, understand who you're speaking to. Tailor your visuals to match their expertise and interest levels. A clear understanding of your audience ensures your message hits the right notes. For executives, I try sticking to a high-level overview by providing summary charts like a KPI dashboard. On the other hand, for front-line employees, I prefer detailed charts depicting day-to-day operational metrics. 2. Avoid Chart Junk: Embrace the beauty of simplicity. Avoid clutter and unnecessary embellishments. A clean, uncluttered visualization ensures that your message shines through without distractions. I focus on removing excessive gridlines, and unnecessary decorations while conveying the information with clarity. Instead of overwhelming your audience with unnecessary embellishments, opt for a clean, straightforward line chart displaying monthly trends. 3. Choose The Right Color Palette: Colors evoke emotions and convey messages. I prefer using a consistent color scheme across all my dashboards that align with my brand or the narrative. Using a consistent color scheme not only aligns with your brand but also aids in quick comprehension. For instance, use distinct colors for important data points, like revenue spikes or project milestones. 4. Highlight Key Elements: Guide your audience's attention by emphasizing critical data points. Whether it's through color, annotations, or positioning, make sure your audience doesn't miss the most important insights. Imagine presenting a market analysis with a scatter plot showing customer satisfaction and market share. By using bold colors to highlight a specific product or region, coupled with annotations explaining notable data points, you can guide your audience's focus. 5. Tell A Story With Your Data: Transform your numbers into narratives. Weave a compelling story that guides your audience through insights. A good data visualization isn't just a display; it's a journey that simplifies complexity. Recently I faced a scenario where I was presenting productivity metrics. Instead of just displaying a bar chart with numbers, I crafted a visual story. I started with the challenge faced, used line charts to show performance fluctuations, and concluded with a bar chart illustrating the positive impact of a recent strategy. This narrative approach helped my audience connect emotionally with the data, making it more memorable and actionable. Finally, remember that the goal of data visualization is to communicate complex information in a way that is easily understandable and memorable. It's both an art and a science, so keep experimenting and evolving. What are your go-to tips for crafting effective data visualizations? Share your insights in the comments below!

Beyond Bullet Points: Crafting Captivating Presentation Slides In today's fast-paced business world, attention spans are shorter than ever. Compelling presentations are no longer a luxury, they're a necessity. But how do you move beyond the dreaded bullet points and create slides that resonate with your audience? Here are some key strategies: 1. Tell a Story, Not Just Data: Facts are important, but weaving them into a narrative creates impact. Use concise yet evocative language, powerful visuals, and even humor to connect with your listeners emotionally. 2. Design Matters: Ditch the monotonous templates! Opt for clean, visually appealing layouts with high-quality visuals. Consistent color palettes and fonts enhance professionalism and brand recognition. Remember, white space is your friend. 3. Less is More: Information overload is the enemy. Limit text per slide, opting for impactful headlines and key takeaways. Trust your audience to engage and ask questions for details. 4. Data Visualization Done Right: Charts and graphs should be clear, concise, and tell a story. Avoid complex visuals that distract from the message. Consider interactive elements to spark audience participation. 5. Practice Makes Perfect: Rehearse your delivery, ensuring smooth transitions and confident body language. Anticipate questions and tailor your responses accordingly. Bonus Tip: Embrace technology! Explore interactive elements, live data feeds, and multimedia integration to keep your audience engaged. By following these tips, you can craft presentations that inform, inspire, and most importantly, leave a lasting impression. Remember, it's not just about the slides, it's about the story you tell. Now go out there and captivate your audience! #PresentationTips #WSJBusiness #EngageYourAudience

As you are preparing to make a presentation, remember: 1 - Don't start with Powerpoint slides. Always start with the STORY. 📖 2 - Opt for images over words on the screen. Unless you want the audience to tune you out and focus on reading. 👂 3 - If you use words on the screen, only use a FEW and make them big enough that people can actually read them. 👀 Why have hundreds of tiny words on a slide that no one can read from a distance? That distracts - not engages - your audience. 4 - Know how you will start, what 1-3 KEY points you want to make, and how you will end. What's the story arc? 🌈 5 - Who's your audience? Be aware and be intentional about what you want them to KNOW, FEEL and DO. 👈