Data-heavy presentation?
Turn Data-heavy Slides into Powerful Stories with the Right Visuals
In today’s data-rich world, leveraging data in your presentations can be incredibly powerful. It helps communicate key messages, tell compelling stories, and drive action.
But there’s a challenge. Data-heavy slides can quickly become overwhelming and hard to interpret. The solution - Data Visualisation!
By presenting data visually, you can:
• Make complex information easier to digest
• Highlight trends and patterns
• Ensure your key message stands out
• Guide your audience toward solutions and actions
However, choosing the right data visualisation is crucial. Here’s my top tips:
# Consider your audience
What do they need to know? What do they need to achieve your key outcome? What information are they expecting to see? What level of detail are they interested in? Think about the language your audience is familiar with. Avoid technical jargon if your audience won't understand it or it’s not important to them, and ensure the information is tailored to their needs.
# Tell a compelling story
A consistent overarching storyline will keep your audience engaged and ensure they understand your key message and call to action. Start by writing a single sentence that summarises your key message. Structure your data like a narrative—set the scene, build tension, highlight key insights, and conclude with clear recommendations and actions. (I cover this in more depth in my recent post).
# Keep it simple
Remove unnecessary visual clutter and focus only on what truly matters. Labels, axis titles, and legends should enhance clarity—not create confusion. Tip: Start with a blank chart are only add in the important elements.
# Use colour strategically
Use visual contrast with a pop of colour to direct attention to key insights. Keep colours consistent, be aware of what different colours mean and retain readability.
Here are my top visuals for presentations:
Need help transforming data into compelling visuals? Get in touch and let’s chat.