Whether it’s to showcase data, highlight important points or simply add interest to your slides, visuals are a crucial component of effective communication.

But how do you ensure that your visuals are impactful and engaging? The answer lies in thinking like a designer. Here are some tips on how to think as a designer when creating visuals for presentations and virtual meetings.

Firstly, start by considering:

• What is the overall purpose of your presentation or meeting?
• What do you want to achieve? 
• Who is your audience? 
• What is the message you want to convey?

By answering these questions, you can determine the tone, style and content of your visuals.

Consider the design aspects that will help your message to be understood if you are clear on your purpose and target audience. Consider the layout, typography, artwork, and color scheme. As a general rule, keep things uncomplicated and clutter-free. To make your writing stand out, use contrast and readable fonts. To add visual interest and increase the recall of your topic, use high-quality visuals and photos.

Consider the context in which your images will be presented as another crucial component of thinking like a designer. Are you physically presenting or virtually? What kind of structure has the meeting? Will you be projecting your presentation or sharing your screen? Your visuals’ size, format, and resolution will be impacted by these variables. For instance, if you’re giving a presentation on a small screen, ensure sure your images are legible and clear even at reduced sizes.

When designing visuals for presentations and virtual meetings, it’s important to consider the flow of information. Your visuals should support the narrative of your presentation or meeting, rather than distract from it. Use your visuals to reinforce your key messages, highlight important points and guide your audience through your presentation. Avoid using visuals that are unrelated or distracting, as they can detract from your message and confuse your audience.

Thinking like a designer also means considering the emotional impact of your visuals. Emotions play a powerful role in communication and can help make your message more memorable. Use visuals that evoke an emotional response, whether it’s through the use of color, imagery or typography. For example, using warm colors like red or orange can convey energy and excitement, while cool colors like blue or green can convey calmness and reliability.

Finally, remember that visuals are just one part of effective communication. Your presentation or meeting should be well-structured, well-rehearsed and engaging. Use your visuals to enhance your message, not replace it. Make sure your visuals are aligned with your overall goals and that they support your key messages.

In conclusion, thinking like a designer when creating visuals for presentations and virtual meetings can help you create impactful and engaging visuals that support your message and resonate with your audience. By considering the purpose, context, flow, emotion and structure of your visuals, you can create visuals that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also effective in communicating your message. So, next time you’re creating visuals for a presentation or virtual meeting, remember to think like a designer and create visuals that stand out and make an impact.