20 hours ago
8th November '09 - -
In a recent edition of the Straits Times (and credit goes to them), dated on the 4th Nov'09 I came across an article promoting SPRING Singapore.
Continue to source your own newspaper for examples and have a go yourself at trying to re-create them, it makes for great practice. I will have more video-tutorials on infographics coming soon.
*any colour issues due to way file is converted.
[More]
In a recent edition of the Straits Times (and credit goes to them), dated on the 4th Nov'09 I came across an article promoting SPRING Singapore.
Continue to source your own newspaper for examples and have a go yourself at trying to re-create them, it makes for great practice. I will have more video-tutorials on infographics coming soon.
*any colour issues due to way file is converted.
Straits Times Infographic Example
View more presentations from Mark Normand.
8th November '09 - -
There are a lot of good sites such as PresentationLoad and others offering some incredible looking business diagrams and well worth taking a look at.
For a start I’m offering 12 free diagrams that I’ve drawn myself for you to download, share, and/or incorporate into your own presentations.
The next couple of tutorials I will demonstrate how you too can draw some of these diagrams.
Enjoy these first!
[More]
There are a lot of good sites such as PresentationLoad and others offering some incredible looking business diagrams and well worth taking a look at.
For a start I’m offering 12 free diagrams that I’ve drawn myself for you to download, share, and/or incorporate into your own presentations.
The next couple of tutorials I will demonstrate how you too can draw some of these diagrams.
Enjoy these first!
20th September '09 - -
PPTPlex uses Plex technology to give you the power to zoom in and out of slide sections and move directly between slides that are not sequential in your presentation; and is available here (over at the office labs).
There are pro's & con's in using it and I would say that its very much (at this stage) for users doing sit-down presentation-cum-meeting styles, that require linkage with other external data documents such as word, excel, and pdf. For delivery of presentations that have you on your remote, it will depend on the features that your remote has - if its a simple remote, the zooming portion will have you running back to the laptop constantly.
In short:
The Con's
- loses all the animation
- loses all the video
- If remote device is simple, then delivery is clumsy
- low-res pictures will still get distorted
The Pro's
- Nice zooming feature
- Visibly opens external documents (no need to click the hyperlink)
- Groups sections of your slides together (audience get to see a complete overview)
Here is another video (different user) on PPTPlex.
[More]
PPTPlex uses Plex technology to give you the power to zoom in and out of slide sections and move directly between slides that are not sequential in your presentation; and is available here (over at the office labs).
There are pro's & con's in using it and I would say that its very much (at this stage) for users doing sit-down presentation-cum-meeting styles, that require linkage with other external data documents such as word, excel, and pdf. For delivery of presentations that have you on your remote, it will depend on the features that your remote has - if its a simple remote, the zooming portion will have you running back to the laptop constantly.
In short:
The Con's
- loses all the animation
- loses all the video
- If remote device is simple, then delivery is clumsy
- low-res pictures will still get distorted
The Pro's
- Nice zooming feature
- Visibly opens external documents (no need to click the hyperlink)
- Groups sections of your slides together (audience get to see a complete overview)
Here is another video (different user) on PPTPlex.
13th Spetember '09 - -
I've already uploaded a few examples of isometric infographics and really appreciate the ability of the 2007 version to handle 3D a little better than earlier versions. I will continue to post a series of different video tutorials and images later... save the best (and more complex) till later!
In this tutorial, I really just wanted to show the very basic mechanisms to begin construction of an isometric infographic. I have included a video I chanced upon a video for some new business park development in China. The graphics in places are quite striaght forward (aside from some of the animation) and very basic replications of them in powerpoint are possible.
So watch this video first, and then see how you can replicate it in powerpoint (only in 2007 version).
[More]
I've already uploaded a few examples of isometric infographics and really appreciate the ability of the 2007 version to handle 3D a little better than earlier versions. I will continue to post a series of different video tutorials and images later... save the best (and more complex) till later!
In this tutorial, I really just wanted to show the very basic mechanisms to begin construction of an isometric infographic. I have included a video I chanced upon a video for some new business park development in China. The graphics in places are quite striaght forward (aside from some of the animation) and very basic replications of them in powerpoint are possible.
So watch this video first, and then see how you can replicate it in powerpoint (only in 2007 version).
Infographic : Introduction of Chengdu ChengPan Area by yx.shawn from yx.shawn on Vimeo.
Watch this brief tutorial...
13th September '09 - -
In this video tutorial, I would like to highlight some simple 'cosmetic' changes to charts to help clean them up (especially for those copying & pasting from Excel).
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In this video tutorial, I would like to highlight some simple 'cosmetic' changes to charts to help clean them up (especially for those copying & pasting from Excel).
2nd September 2009 - -
Here are a handful of sites to check out when considering the use of stock photography on your next project, taken from a compiled listing from smashingmagazine.
Stock.XCHNG
Stock.XCHNG is one of the leading free stock photo sites on the Internet featuring over 400,000 quality images. Photos are available in five different sizes for print or web. Visitors can see the popularity of an image by viewing how many times the photo has been downloaded.
Free Digital Photos
Thousands of images are available for corporate and personal use. Photos are free but the site requires a link back or there is an option to buy a high resolution version.
Free Range Stock
Just sign up for a free membership, log in and download high-quality, high-resolution free stock photos and textures. All images are at least 2400 x 1600 pixels and can be used for personal and commercial use.
Every Stock Photo
Every Stock Photo is a search engine for free photos. These come from many sources and are license-specific. Membership is free and allows users to rate, tag, collect and comment on photos.
Photogen
Photogen is a source for quality, high-resolution free stock images. Photos are available for commercial or personal projects. Users must register for a free account to download images.
ImageBase
ImageBase offers free high resolution photos. In addition to beautiful images, the site also offers free PowerPoint Templates.
Free Stock Photography
Free Stock Photography offers a plethora of completely free Royalty-free stock photography. Browse over one hundred categories from animals to toy and games.
Freepixels
Freepixel offers free stock photography for any use. You can easily search for images as well as make full use of the tag cloud. Over 3,000 images are featured and some are usually found on paid registration sites.
Stock Vault
Stock Vault features over 13,000 free stock photos from over 3,600 photographers. The site’s helpful tutorials, videos and articles can also be a powerful tool for any designer.
[More]
Here are a handful of sites to check out when considering the use of stock photography on your next project, taken from a compiled listing from smashingmagazine.
Stock.XCHNG
Stock.XCHNG is one of the leading free stock photo sites on the Internet featuring over 400,000 quality images. Photos are available in five different sizes for print or web. Visitors can see the popularity of an image by viewing how many times the photo has been downloaded.
Free Digital Photos
Thousands of images are available for corporate and personal use. Photos are free but the site requires a link back or there is an option to buy a high resolution version.
Free Range Stock
Just sign up for a free membership, log in and download high-quality, high-resolution free stock photos and textures. All images are at least 2400 x 1600 pixels and can be used for personal and commercial use.
Every Stock Photo
Every Stock Photo is a search engine for free photos. These come from many sources and are license-specific. Membership is free and allows users to rate, tag, collect and comment on photos.
Photogen
Photogen is a source for quality, high-resolution free stock images. Photos are available for commercial or personal projects. Users must register for a free account to download images.
ImageBase
ImageBase offers free high resolution photos. In addition to beautiful images, the site also offers free PowerPoint Templates.
Free Stock Photography
Free Stock Photography offers a plethora of completely free Royalty-free stock photography. Browse over one hundred categories from animals to toy and games.
Freepixels
Freepixel offers free stock photography for any use. You can easily search for images as well as make full use of the tag cloud. Over 3,000 images are featured and some are usually found on paid registration sites.
Stock Vault
Stock Vault features over 13,000 free stock photos from over 3,600 photographers. The site’s helpful tutorials, videos and articles can also be a powerful tool for any designer.
17th August 2009 - -
Of course the brochures were designed by professionals, but the typical isometric view they used to construct the visuals suits the nature of the 3D settings in PowerPoint perfectly; more so in 2007, then the 2003 version.
Below is a sample of a reconstructed infographic taken from the brochure in the 2003 version; and serves to depict the difference between using the Parallel (isometric) view and the Perspective view. Later examples of the 2007 will appear in other tutorials.
Infographics add a whole new depth to PowerPoint diagrams and whilst not suited to every occasion can be a very powerful visual device to clarify particular messages.
[More]
Of course the brochures were designed by professionals, but the typical isometric view they used to construct the visuals suits the nature of the 3D settings in PowerPoint perfectly; more so in 2007, then the 2003 version.
Below is a sample of a reconstructed infographic taken from the brochure in the 2003 version; and serves to depict the difference between using the Parallel (isometric) view and the Perspective view. Later examples of the 2007 will appear in other tutorials.
Infographics add a whole new depth to PowerPoint diagrams and whilst not suited to every occasion can be a very powerful visual device to clarify particular messages.
17th August 2009 - -
For the longest time, I’ve been developing diagrams and of course looking at many others from various sources; and one thing struck me about all these diagrams and that is was “what is the best way to depict people?” In most cases, it boils down to four types:
Whilst some are more abstract than others, all are achievable in design right in your PowerPoint, and none of them take too long to do. Except for maybe the use of icons (although these too can be designed in PowerPoint); but are a lot easier to downloads from clipart or other such sites offering them.
[More]
For the longest time, I’ve been developing diagrams and of course looking at many others from various sources; and one thing struck me about all these diagrams and that is was “what is the best way to depict people?” In most cases, it boils down to four types:
· Silhouettes
· Pictogram
· Cones
· Icons
· Pictogram
· Cones
· Icons
Whilst some are more abstract than others, all are achievable in design right in your PowerPoint, and none of them take too long to do. Except for maybe the use of icons (although these too can be designed in PowerPoint); but are a lot easier to downloads from clipart or other such sites offering them.
The typical diagram types tend to use specific images, and whilst this is not an absolute rule, does tend to aid in sorting out what images are best used for certain diagram types, such as:
· Network Diagrams mainly use Icons
· Concept diagrams/ Infographics use a mix of Silhouettes and Pictograms
· Statistics (e.g. manpower diagrams) use Pictograms
· Organisation charts use silhouettes
· Concept diagrams/ Infographics use a mix of Silhouettes and Pictograms
· Statistics (e.g. manpower diagrams) use Pictograms
· Organisation charts use silhouettes
It will also depend on the realism and/or abstractness of the diagram you are creating.
Below is a depiction of the four major categories of people and some sample diagrams from various sources using them.
17th August 2009 - -
The competition is open from 3rd August to 3rd September.
What I would like to see a difference in is the way that many of these presentations are put together, e.g. gets some facts, find a picture (not of their design or doing) and sticking a text box on top. I wouldn’t really warrant these too much merit and would like to see more design from the use of PowerPoint itself. Drawing your own infographic and diagram merits more than simply copying it from someone else’s (even if the source is quoted).
For those in my former classes, you might want to ut Singapore on the map and entered in to the competition – plenty of facts and figures (as well as history) about Singapore to make for an interesting presentation. Who knows, if Singapore Tourism Board see it, they might give you a free holiday for promoting Singapore?! How about it STB?
Visit SlideShare for more details and see past winners.
[More]
The competition is open from 3rd August to 3rd September.
SlideShare World's Best Presentation Contest 2009
Whilst former winners have produced some quite decent presentations, I find that the inclusion of professional design houses introduces some unfair competition. Also it would be nice if they limited the topic.View more documents from Amit Ranjan.
What I would like to see a difference in is the way that many of these presentations are put together, e.g. gets some facts, find a picture (not of their design or doing) and sticking a text box on top. I wouldn’t really warrant these too much merit and would like to see more design from the use of PowerPoint itself. Drawing your own infographic and diagram merits more than simply copying it from someone else’s (even if the source is quoted).
For those in my former classes, you might want to ut Singapore on the map and entered in to the competition – plenty of facts and figures (as well as history) about Singapore to make for an interesting presentation. Who knows, if Singapore Tourism Board see it, they might give you a free holiday for promoting Singapore?! How about it STB?
Visit SlideShare for more details and see past winners.
17th August 2009 - -
He goes on the say… Too often I hear people talk about PowerPoint presentations like there is only one flavor of PowerPoint. If you read popular presentation design books like Presentation Zen or Slide:ology, you’d swear that most people are tasked with keynote presentations like Seth Godin and Steve Jobs are. A more visual approach with less text is definitely a good strategy for keynote presentations. However, let’s be realistic that only about 0.012% of presenters are delivering keynote presentations on a regular basis.
Read the rest of the article here.
[More]
He goes on the say… Too often I hear people talk about PowerPoint presentations like there is only one flavor of PowerPoint. If you read popular presentation design books like Presentation Zen or Slide:ology, you’d swear that most people are tasked with keynote presentations like Seth Godin and Steve Jobs are. A more visual approach with less text is definitely a good strategy for keynote presentations. However, let’s be realistic that only about 0.012% of presenters are delivering keynote presentations on a regular basis.
Read the rest of the article here.
16th August 2009 - -
As part of the new series of tutorials, I will be putting up some new video tutorials to show how modern looking infographics can be drawn using the different versions of PowerPoint. Whilst 2007 has far more capability in terms of its 3D tools - 2003 versions can still do some pretty interesting stuff if your willing to get to grips with the 3d toolbar.
As a start, please find this free download of a 2003 version infographic.
[More]
As part of the new series of tutorials, I will be putting up some new video tutorials to show how modern looking infographics can be drawn using the different versions of PowerPoint. Whilst 2007 has far more capability in terms of its 3D tools - 2003 versions can still do some pretty interesting stuff if your willing to get to grips with the 3d toolbar.
As a start, please find this free download of a 2003 version infographic.
16th August 2009 - -
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Hi Guys, as you may have noticed I have updated the blog site; and whilst it is still a work-in-progress, I'm sure your going to find a lot of great new materials and resources to get your hands on.
So stay with me, post your comments, ask your questions and I'll be happy to respnd and share them with the rest of the guys.
Thanks for your continued interest.
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