Presentation Designers as Problem Solvers and Opportunity Searchers

To the untrained eye, presentation designers fix the façade of a deck. While that assumption is fairly correct, a presentation designer’s job encompasses several other responsibilities than making a piece of work simply look visually appealing. A couple of months ago, the Ethos3 team completed an exercise where each member wrote down how they perceived their role in relation to the company’s greater mission. Nearly every single presentation designer pinpointed solving problems as their primary purpose.

Presentation designers as problem solvers

In addition to producing sophisticated design elements to accommodate a client’s content, presentation designers also take a wider perspective on a project. What other design opportunities exist? In what alternate ways can the presentation design assets be used? The dichotomy of a presentation designer’s role is a value add to the presentation creation process.

Seeking Solutions to Problems

From creating a visual hierarchy on the slides to highlight data in a comprehensible manner, presentation designers are constantly on the hunt for solutions to clients’ design issues. Through numerous conversations with each other, the presentation designer and client are able to find an intersection between delivering vital information and forming a clean, beautiful layout. It’s also important for the presentation designer to collaborate closely with the content specialist. Together, this creative team is unstoppable.

Searching for Greater Opportunities

When a designer establishes a visual motif, a client may suddenly be inspired. The gears in his or her head will start moving at a rapid pace. He or she will begin thinking of the variety of ways the motif could be integrated into online and offline campaigns and materials. Presentation designers don’t just evaluate the look and feel of individual slides. They zoom out on the presentation and the project as a whole – listening to the client’s needs and exceeding expectations. In one instance, our team created a character for a client presentation. They loved it. And guess what they did in response to the designer’s creativity? They used that character for internal marketing materials – ranging from stickers and desk magnets to t-shirts and posters. Presentation designers should always strive to find the meaning behind the visuals and create those lasting connections.

Are you a presentation designer struggling to discover your role in your workplace? Identify as more than a problem solver. Find your identity in the search for bigger and better opportunities. Think of your projects more holistically. And for more design inspiration, check out the links below!

The Surprising Impact of World War II Propaganda Animation Design

Is Your Presentation Messaging Different from Your Competition?

Tips for Shooting Your Own Presentation Photography

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