ABSTRACT
The impact of presentation graphics is usually diminished by repetition. An alternative take on the minimalist approach is to use a graphic to set up a question at the beginning of a talk and one at the end to reinforce the take-home message, with unsupported talking in between. Images provide a great opportunity to emphasise or reinforce a key message. They only work if used sparingly. One per key message is a good guide – if one has too many images and they are losing their impact, then the answer is to cram fewer key messages in there. Most presentation graphics seek to encompass not just the key messages, but also the evidence to support them. Very often this leads to clutter and overload. More detailed content can be provided in the talk itself. If a permanent record is required, then a hand-out may be provided.
