Structuring your PresentationSamantha Starmer sstarme@rei.com @samanthastarmer

http://www.flickr.com/photos/saroy/3455464539

meexperience, web stuff: Amazon, Microsoft

REI – Recreational Equipment, Inc. lead design, IA & experience teams

teach at University of Washington

4 key principles

1. start with you

2. learn the environment

3. build the bones

4. leave time to adjust

1. start with you

1. start with you

• what is the ONE thing?• think about the story• what is your style?• are you scared?

what is the ONE thing?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

what is the ONE thing?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

• why are you speaking?• what is your point?• what is the ONE thing you want

your audience to remember?

think about the story

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarpond/3016905349

think about the story

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarpond/3016905349

• beginning, middle and end (make sure there is an end)

• all points to your ONE thing• how would you tell it to your

grandma? to a child?

what is your style?

http://

what is your style?

• formal or informal? • deep details or inspirational? • don’t try to be funny if it isn’t

natural• get feedback. lots of it.

are you scared?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindaugasdanys/3766009204/

are you scared?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

• the more nervous you are, the more structure you need

• unless you are a very skilled improviser

• in which case, you probably wouldn’t be in this class

2. learn the environmenthttp://www.flickr.com/photos/brue/4806532954

2. learn the environment

• scout the space• know your audience• build to your time limit• understand expectations

scout the space

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/4157191493

scout the space

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/4157191493

• ideal is to get on stage in advance, but learn what you can

• note placement of lights, screens, podium

• size and ‘feel’ of room should impact your structure

know your audience

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36714668@N02/4598065240

know your audience

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

• size, level of expertise• what do they want from you?• voluntary or hostage?• bored or interested?• friendly or combative?

build to your time limit

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/3297205226

build to your time limit

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/3297205226

• focus your topic on the time limit• focus your scope & detail on the

time limit• the less time to prepare, the more

structure you need• experience will improve your gut

sense

understand expectations

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristin-and-adam/2778203028

understand expectations

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristin-and-adam/2778203028

• do they expect results? or is the journey more relevant?

• technical or high level?• what kind of assets/deliverables?

3. build the boneshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/ianturton/9555513

3. build the bones

• free your mind• remember the story• just jump in• make it FUN!

free your mind

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PhrenologyPix.jpg

free your mind

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PhrenologyPix.jpg

• don’t constrain too early• use your creative juice makers• let it percolate• be willing to throw out initial ideas • which means you need twice the

planning time you expect

just jump in

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccheviron/3603397114

just jump in

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccheviron/3603397114

• don’t be afraid to scribble• paper prototype, but only if it

works for you• get into the tool as soon as you

have the guts (of the structure, but also the nerve)

remember the story

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarpond/3016905349

remember the story

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarpond/3016905349

• ah, there is a point to all this• keep the narrative (linear or not)

as your north star• throw out anything extraneous

to the story• no matter how cool

make it FUN!

make it FUN!

• you should enjoy building the story

• you should enjoy creating the structure

• you will feel a quiet ping when it starts to come together

4. leave time to adjusthttp://www.flickr.com/photos/clintjcl/4001170877

4. leave time to adjust

• lift your head out of the trees• remember the ONE thing• practice time is critical• minimum formula: 70%, 25%, 5%

lift your head out of the trees

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mountjoy/5194910368

lift your head out of the trees

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mountjoy/5194910368

• check the whole arc regularly• don’t get too hung up on the

exact words or pictures• the whole is greater than the

sum of the parts

remember the ONE thing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

remember the ONE thing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

• when you think you have it, go back to the beginning

• is the ONE thing clear?• is your narrative intact?• does it flow? can you easily

remember your points?

dress rehearsal is critical

http://www.flickr.com/photos/evilpeacock/2194032579

dress rehearsal is critical

http://www.flickr.com/photos/evilpeacock/2194032579

• rehearse more than you want to• rehearse out loud• rehearse in presentation mode• rehearse with a timer• then CUT (if you have built the

structure right, you should have too much vs. too little)

minimum formula

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joao_trindade/4362414729

minimum formula

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joao_trindade/4362414729

• take the time allotted • multiply by 5 for the number of

minimum dress rehearal minutes• multiply by 14 for the minimum number

of building (in tool) minutes• e.g. 20 minutes =

100 minutes rehearsing ~4 ½ hours buildinguntold weeks stressing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/saroy/3455464539

structure is key

1. start with you

• what is the ONE thing?• what is the story• what is your style?• are you scared?

2. learn the environment

• scout the space• know your audience• build to your time limit• understand expectations

3. build the bones

• free your mind• remember the story• just jump in• make it FUN!

4. leave time to adjust

• lift your head out of the trees• remember the ONE thing• dress rehearsal is critical• minimum formula: 70%, 25%, 5%

http://www.flickr.com/photos/baking_in_pearls/3960662314

thank you!!Samantha Starmer sstarme@rei.com @samanthastarmer