Designers are the creators of great things. They are employed to achieve the unachievable, create the unimaginable and design interiors one would have never thought to be possible. Creativity is the designer’s greatest asset, but it is worth nothing if they cannot present and convey the design idea to the audience.
With a solid concept formed and all of the information required to develop the idea, it’s time to edit and select your best work, put it all together in a professional presentation format, and create a drawing package.
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Good presentation of your designs is critical
The presentation of your designs is one of the most important parts of being a professional interior designer. Good presentation skills are just as necessary as good drawing skills in the industry. This is your opportunity to sell yourself to your client, showcase your abilities as a designer and persuade your client to work with you.
Your design has to be easy to understand and communicated clearly. You need to carefully choose the visual media you present, as this will impact the overall effectiveness and quality of the presentation.
Try to understand your presentation document from the perspective of your client. Be aware that clients may not always understand the work we present and therefore need to be guided through the process using relevant communication techniques.
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Creating a successful presentation
Presentations should always be made specifically for the project you are working on. To do so, the following aspects should be established before planning a presentation.
What is the aim of the presentation?
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Is it to show initial ideas?
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Is it to agree on designs?
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Is it to show a final design?
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What needs to be covered/shown/explained to achieve the aim of the presentation?
Who is the audience?
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Is it a presentation for a client, colleague or possible employer?
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Knowing the target will help to establish their knowledge and understanding of the subject, which can determine the format and content of the presentation.
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It is advisable to create a short bullet point list of what elements need to be covered to fulfil the aim of the presentation and select suitable material. Just because a lot of work has been produced doesn’t imply that it all needs to be shown.
Be concise, structured and choose the best material from work produced. Plan the content in-depth.
A helpful technique can be sketching thumbnail storyboards or slides where you can plan the content with a few headings and work out the order in which these should be presented.
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Expert tips on creating your presentation document
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Start your presentation document with a cover page. Here you can include your client’s details, project details, and highlighting your brand identity. Including your logo and other brand elements (e.g. specific fonts, colour scheme or template layout).
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Include a contents page.
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Use work that aids in communicating your design. Drawings such as mood/concept boards, technical drawings, rendered visuals and even imagery of maquettes all aid with visual communication.
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Ensure your presentation document is professionally presented. Use software such as PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva or Adobe InDesign.
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Keep your brand elements consistent throughout your document.
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Clear communication is vital. Ensure you make use of clear headings throughout so the reader is always informed about what they are viewing.
Image source: Depositphotos.
Do you have other tips for developing a professional presentation? Tell us in the comments!
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