Comments on: Cliché of the Week: The PowerPoint Starburst

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:25:56 +0000

If it is really important for the audience to understand, why not use a black slide to focus on the presenter and thus making it more intimate, instead of dazzling everyone with bright colors or sending people into an epileptic fit with blinking animations.

By: Mark Heaps

Mark Heaps — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:11:30 +0000

In response to Rikk’s comment about dealing with clients who want you to give them exactly what they ask for. I generally try to use this as an opportunity and not see it as a negative. If the client wants a starburst, and they are fairly insistent upon it, then I try to work within the realms of that. How many types of starbursts are there, do they have to look so clip-art styled? I don’t think it’s possible to invent something new for every client, every time, especially if they are that specific but maybe a new treatment, a variation on that idea, can help you keep your sense of design with the ability to please, and even coach your client. Take advantage of those moments and build baby steps to introduce your client to further thinking. Re-invention can often be more fun then we appreciate.

By: Stephanie Urmeneta

Stephanie Urmeneta — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:15:47 +0000

I like a lot of white space… Less = more.

By: Doug Neff

Doug Neff — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:24:53 +0000

That’s a great point, Rikk. Like most design firms, I suppose, we grapple with this question all the time. I’m sure we’ll do a post on it in the future, too.

Of course we run into situations where a valuable client tells us they want a starburst. That’s the nature of the business.

We try to remember that it’s also our job to help our clients make good choices. Telling them “no” probably isn’t the best way to go about it. Giving three alternatives and explaining the advantages over using the starburst… that might go down a little easier.

But it really starts with you. What kind of designer/firm do you want to be? Are you willing to work for anyone, regardless of what they ask you to do? And are you a slide jockey for your client, or are you a professional, paid to help them give great presentations?

No easy answer, I’m afraid (especially in today’s economy) but the answer will come from asking those types of questions.

By: Rikk Flohr

Rikk Flohr — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:30:40 +0000

The following is a direct (read Copied) quote from a client email on October 3rd… (Sounds like an Onstar® commerical) “Please note that we would like to include a “Starburst” at the top indicating that ”
Do you give them what they want or what they need when they fired the last firm for not giving them what they wanted-regardless of what they needed?

By: Joey Asher

Joey Asher — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:03:35 +0000

Nice Post.
Here’s a question. What would Spiderman’s PowerPoints look like?;)
Joey Asher, President of Speechworks,
http://speechworks.net/wordpress/

By: Ed Taekema

Ed Taekema — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:02:49 +0000

I use a very small dot … usually red given the color schemes I have to abide by … and then have it either appear next to the item that needs highlighting, or if the visual is complex, fly in to position. I keep the red dot small .. just a bit larger than my laser pointer would be … That laser pointer never works well for me anyway…

By: Milind

Milind — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:23:42 +0000

For text – font size and color usually works for me.

For Image – Typically appropriate background color.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:45:51 +0000

Using a high contrast color for the text is enough for me! =)

By: David Barnes

David Barnes — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:16:57 +0000

I wish more presentations used these ‘flashes’. At least it shows that the designer has identified some kind of key point.

Bursts beat bullets.