http://www.happykatie.com

The great folks at IABC Houston invited me to speak this week on creating effective presentations and communicating visually. 

This is a topic I'm a crazy fan about as I have sat through many a Powerpoint that has been a) nap inducing b) shoddily constructed with no clear purpose and c) offered little value for my time.  Unacceptable.

I put this presentation together to share some of the guidelines that I use myself when prepping for a presentation and also to help communicators that typically rely on words to get their point across find the resources and inspiration to help them make that visual transition.

I couldn't have done this presentation without the brain power from some of my fellow Schipulites – Eloy, Glen and Jonti you rock my socks off!! 

Here are a few additional links I didn't include in the presentation, but find particularly relevant and full of awesome-ness:

• Keynote – I adore using Keynote, ever since Ed got me hooked a few years back.  It's a presentation deck designing tool (for Macs only, don't hate) similar to Powerpoint – except that it's a gajillion times better.
• Snagit editor – a great tool to have to create visuals on the fly.  Screenshots and simple graphics couldn't be easier thanks to this little guy – worth the $50 completely and totally.
• More augmented reality fun – we did a cool demo during the IABC presentation with the Toyota Augmented Reality player, but here are a couple of others that are pretty swell too:
• • USPS Virtual Box Simulator – want to know if your stuff will fit into a USPS shipping box?  Use this tool to project a holographic image and see for yourself!
  • Star Trek Augmented Reality – Put the Enterprise into warp speed.  Enough said.