Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
being “wasted.” The challenge is to think differently about visuals. Learn to see space in
a different way and use it effectively in your own presentations.
Empty space, generally referred to as “white space” whether or not it's white, is just as
valuable as positive design elements, such as images and text. Space is not just
something to be filled in; it is itself a valuable tool for achieving engaging, clear visual
messages. White space can help direct the viewer's eyes to positive elements by
providing a contrasting quiet area that naturally “points” toward positive elements. White
space is necessary for creating designs with balance, harmony, and clear hierarchy.
If you use white space as much as other elements in your visuals, you've taken the first
step toward avoiding visual clutter and confusion. When we encounter cluttered visuals, it
is natural for the eyes to quickly lose interest or tire. For high-quality printed materials,
documents can be far more visually dense since readers can scan, examine, and
explore at their own pace. Yet, even graphics and text in printed material must make
liberal and intentional use of white space, with the readability of surrounding text as the
foremost goal in the designer's mind. For visuals projected onscreen to augment a live
talk, however, the careful, thoughtful use of white space is crucial. All the challenges that
arise in a live-presentation setting—such as poor lighting, various viewing angles, and
so on—can be mitigated with the use of white space in the slide composition.
The Beauty and Function of Space
Why do visual novices fill slides with so much text and so many images? Why do
beginners not utilize white space? Part of the problem is that we must first learn to see
space. This practice seems to be lacking in our education. I often receive e-mail
messages on this topic from students from different parts of the world. They, too, believe
that presentations should be highly visual—that the words should come from the mouth
of the presenter in a natural and engaging way, and not repeated in long lines of text in
slides. Yet, these students claim that instructors discourage them from presenting in any
manner that deviates from the “normal” death-by-PowerPoint approach.
Recently, a college student told me that his professor said he did a great job with his
research and presentation, but his presentation was graded down because some of the
information from the live talk was not repeated in bulleted form on the slides. The student
was upset because he knew his material well, covered all the points, and answered
every question. But because he did not use slides the “typical way,” he received a lower
grade. Still, he told me that he knows he presented in the right way—a way that takes
advantage of how people actually listen and learn. Presenting effectively sometimes
means going against conventional wisdom, the same conventional wisdom that says
seven or so lines of text on slide after slide is an acceptable approach. It takes courage
to be different and allow white space to remain on a slide.
