Mediocre to Memorable Effectively designing slides for science

www.smarttalksuccess.com/stitcher

featured in:

www.lisabmarshall.com/stitcher

Do you know what happens

to your attention during a presentation?

The speaker is being introduced

Time

Interest

Low

HighHigh

You’re just settling in…

Time

Interest

Low

HighHigh

“Oh, the presentation started!”

Time

Interest

Low

HighHigh

“Oh, that reminds me …”

…the mind vacations begin

bad delivery+

unclear organization+

poorly designed slides

Time

Interest

Low

HighHigh

Sleep

…and the speaker drones onand on, and on,and on, and on, and on,and on,

and on, and on,and on,

and on…

Time

Interest

Low

HighHigh

Coma

Time

Interest

Low

HighHigh

Coma

…until two magic words

Time

Interest

Low

HighHigh

“in conclusion…”

Unfortunately this isn’t far

from the truth!

Top 5 Annoyances

(Pardi, 2013)

Top 5 presentation annoyances

72% Reading slides aloud

(Pardi, 2013)

The Redundancy Principle:Redundant material interferes with learning

(Hoffman, 2006)

• Help our consumers make informed dietary choices through trusted sources via kelloggsnutrition.com

• Website for healthcare professionals with latest research/resources for patients

• Topics ranging from breakfast and fiber to digestive health and weight management

Spreading the Word on Nutrition

• Help our consumers make informed dietary choices through trusted sources via kelloggsnutrition.com

• Website for healthcare professionals with latest research/resources for patients

• Topics ranging from breakfast and fiber to digestive health and weight management

Spreading the Word on Nutrition

Don’t create presentation

slides as notes or the report

Spreading the Word on Nutrition

We want to help our consumers make informed dietary choices, and we know health care professionals are among the most trusted sources of nutrition information. That is why we launchedkelloggsnutrition.com, a website for health care professionals, in 2012 and expanded it to more regions globally in 2013. The website

serves as a resource for health careprofessionals who are looking to stay current on the latest research or who are seeking resources to share with patients and clients.The site provides updated summaries of research on topics ranging from breakfast and fiber to digestive health and weight management

Spreading the Word on Nutrition

51% Text too small to read

(Pardi, 2013)

48% Full sentences

(Pardi, 2013)

26% Poor color choices

(Pardi, 2013)

High contrast is best

for text and background

Consider psychology

Red/green blindness

is very common…

[Change red dots to red X’s]

31% Overly complex diagrams

F OH E

L LO WT

MinimumEssential

Data

Let’s look at

process

Skeletal Defects in PcG Mutants

Suzuki, et al. (2002) Development 129(18):4171-83

wildtype Mutant 1 Mutant 2 Mutant 3

Skeletal Defects in PcG Mutants

Suzuki, et al. (2002) Development 129(18):4171-83

wildtype Mutant 1 Mutant 2 Mutant 3

Consider the science

Prune and condense

Skeletal Defects in PcG Mutants

Suzuki, et al. (2002) Development 129(18):4171-83

wildtype Mutant 1 Mutant 2 Mutant 3

(Suzuki, et al. 2002)

Wildtype Mutant

Skeletal defects found in PcG mutants

(Suzuki, et al. 2002)

Wildtype Mutant

Skeletal defects found in PcG mutants

Additions needed for clarity

• Does the title make the main point?

• Where do I want the eyes to go?

Is silencing PcG important in mammals?

(Suzuki, et al. 2002)

Wildtype Mutant

Skeletal defects found in PcG mutants

main point per slide

1

ORANGE ALERT means immediate truce

Use “billboard” design

“Headline” titles and takeaways

Guide eyes to important stuff

Mix of image and text

High contrast color

Sans-serif font

Assertion-evidence structure

Assertion in the form of a sentence headline title

(Alley et. al, 2007)

Visual

Evidence

Assertion-evidence structure

Reaching trusted advisors via KelloggsNutrition.com

Most people start with

visual evidence,

then add a title…

Results (1/4)

Unfortunately this type

of title is common, right?

Photo of mouse with helmet

…and this type is

even more common

Photo of mouse with helmet

But…descriptive titles don’t

communicate the meaning!

Never give up!

Instead, use the title

to make your point…

Helmets save lives???

…or your audience

may make the

wrong conclusion!

Express the “so what?”

(not the what)

Success =creativity + determination!

Start with a blank slate

What do you want the

audience to remember?

Let’s look at

an example

Assertion-evidence structure

Assertion-evidence structureStart with the “so what”

Next, choose the best

possible visual evidence

Let’s look at more examples

What leads to motor neuron degeneration in SMARD1?

3 weeks 4 weeks

Fading Nissl staining suggests arrest of protein translation

Question, evidence,

assertion

How do we detect cross-talk between PTMs?

A question before evidence

can aid understanding

Re-infestation certain in three years

Takeaway indicates meaning

B A S I C

A a A A

How to makeChoose theRIG

HTfont

The quick brown fox...Verdana

The quick brown fox…ArialThe quick brown fox…Tahoma

The quick brown fox...Trebuchet

The quick brown fox…Times New Roman

The quick brown fox...Century GothicThe quick brown fox…Calibri

The quick brown fox…Comic Sans

The quick brown fox…Georgia

What is the BEST font for science?

The quick brown fox...Verdana

The quick brown fox…ArialThe quick brown fox…Tahoma

The quick brown fox...Trebuchet

The quick brown fox…Times New Roman

The quick brown fox...Century GothicThe quick brown fox…Calibri

The quick brown fox…Comic Sans

The quick brown fox…Georgia

What is the best font for science?What is the BEST font for science?

74

TEXT

Play with

75

PLAYEMPHASIS

with text for

76

with text for Play EMPHASISEMPHASISEMPHASIS

with text for

Use METAPHORICAL images

79

DON’T USE ALL CAPITALS

[It makes it difficult to read!]

80

Don’t mix font types

What leads to motor neuron degeneration in SMARD1?

3 weeks 4 weeks

Fading Nissl staining suggests arrest of protein translation

Use sentence case

82

Use initial caps on bullets

83

• Use standard bullets

Hot Oats/Porridge/NutriGrain Beverage

Nutrigrain Beverage: With 9.5 grams of protein and 4.2 grams of fiber in 250 mililiters.

Hot Oats:2 Savory versions of Heart to Heart Oats made with 100 whole grain oats.

Don’t repeatPorridge:2 All-Bran Instant Porridge offer 1/3 of daily fiber requirements and is 2nd hot cereal.

MinimumEssentialGraphs

(Principae, 2009)

Example of bad graphfrom Jean-Luc Dumount, Principae

(Principae, 2009)

Principae pruning process

• Data lines better contrasted• Non-data lines grey • Position labels near data• Relevant ticks marks only

(Principae, 2009)

Minimum essential graphby Jean-Luc Dumount, Principae

Let’s look at examples

Platelet activation in WB with KKO agonist

Control PF4 ADP 10ul TRAP 6 Convulxin PF4 + KKO

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000P sel MFIAnnexin MFI

Control PF4 ADP 10ul TRAP 6 Convulxin PF4 + KKO0

20

40

60

80

100

120P sel % +

Ann % +

Before

What is the relative strength KKO in presence of PF4compared to other established platelet agonists?

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

Control PF4 ADP 10ul TRAP 6 Convulxin PF4 + KKO0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Mean fluorescence Percent Positivity

PF4/KKO second to Convulxin

P SelP Sel %

Bar graph

Taste Chocolate Flavor Cinnamon Flavor Hardness0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

8

31

17

6

74

56

60 80

1813

23

15

Too MuchJARNot Enough

Minimumessential

graphs require“builds”(sometimes)

Meet the PcG Complexes

PRC 2~600 kDa

RPD3

N55E(z)

Su(z)12

EscPcl

PRC 1~ 2MDa

PcPsc

Sce

zesteScm

Ph

Initiation Maintenance

Meet the PcG Complexes

PRC 2~600 kDa

RPD3

N55E(z)

Su(z)12

EscPcl

PRC 1~ 2MDa

PcPsc

Sce

zesteScm

Ph

Initiation Maintenance

Points speaker made:

• Each protein complex is made up of multiple distinct subunits

• All subunits are required • Silencing requires both complexes (this was the main point)

Meet the PcG Complexes

PRC 2~600 kDa

RPD3

N55E(z)

Su(z)12

EscPcl

PRC 1~ 2MDa

PcPsc

Sce

zesteScm

Ph

Initiation MaintenanceTitle does not convey

the main point

Meet the PcG Complexes

PRC 2~600 kDa

RPD3

N55E(z)

Su(z)12

EscPcl

PRC 1~ 2MDa

PcPsc

Sce

zesteScm

Ph

Initiation MaintenanceSome details not required

to make the main point

Meet the PcG Complexes

PRC 2~600 kDa

RPD3

N55E(z)

Su(z)12

EscPcl

PRC 1~ 2MDa

PcPsc

Sce

zesteScm

Ph

Initiation MaintenanceColor suggests a connection

where there isn’t one

Let’s look at the “re-do”

PcG complexes PRC1 and PRC2

Multiple distinct sub-units

PRC2PRC1

PcG complexes PRC1 and PRC2

All sub-units are required – team effort

PRC2PRC1

Both PcG complexes PRC1 and PRC 2 are required for silencing

PRC2PRC1

Metabolic dysfunction induced by post-prandial hypoglycemia facilitates obesity

30 60 90 12055

95

135

175

Glu

cose

Use builds when

stepping through data

Metabolic dysfunction induced by post-prandial hypoglycemia facilitates obesity

30 60 90 12055

95

135

175

Glu

cose

Most cases are hyperinsulinemic

30 60 90 1200%

50%

100%

Ins

/ Glu

55

95

135

175

Glu

cose

Resolution of post-prandial hypoglycemia improves obesity outcomes over 18 mos

55

95

135

175

Glu

cose

30 60 90 1200%

50%

100%

Ins

/Glu

Aversive Olfactory learning

Session 1

Experimental Design

Olfactory Screening

Set Shock

Baseline

Anxiety STICSA

Specific anosmia

State–Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety(Ree et al., 2000)

Aversive Olfactory learning

Session 1

Experimental Design

Olfactory Screening

Set Shock

Baseline

Anxiety STICSA

Specific anosmia

State–Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety(Ree et al., 2000)

Process steps should be

horizontal if possible

State-Trait inventory for cognitive and somatic anxiety

Session1 Olfactory

ScreeningSet ShockBaseline

Anxiety STICSA

Specific anosmia

(Ree et al., 2000)

Visual analogous scale used to collect perceptual ratings

Session1 Olfactory

ScreeningSet ShockBaseline

Anxiety STICSA

Specific anosmia

Use expanded callouts to

highlight important details

Visual analogous scale used to collect perceptual ratings

Session1 Olfactory

ScreeningSet ShockBaseline

Anxiety STICSA

Specific anosmia

Don’t include verbal transitions

M O R ES L I D E

The title slide

All titles require

manual, natural breaks

Title for the audience

Multi-scale dispersal patterns of Triatoma infestans

Corentin M. Barbu, Karthik Sethuraman, Jen Manne, Javier E. Quintanila Calderon, Michael Z. Levy

University of Pennsylvania – Universidad Peruana Cayetano-Heredia

How we added enzymatic function to de novo proteins

1.Review analysis of the structure

2.How we created the active site by trimming side chain residues

3.How we stabilized our design by reengineering the turn

The “preview map” slide

(for longer talks)

Outline

1.Background: structure

2.Methods: active site

3.Results: our design

Not a generic outline

How we added enzymatic function to de novo proteins

1.Review analysis of the structure

2.How we created the active site by trimming side chain residues

3.How we stabilized our design by reengineering the turn

Notice the “headline” title

How we added enzymatic function to de novo proteins

1.Review analysis of the structure

2.How we created the active site by trimming side chain residues

3.How we stabilized our design by reengineering the turn

Sections are numbered

How we added enzymatic function to de novo proteins

1.Review analysis of the structure

2.How we created the active site by trimming side chain residues

3.How we stabilized our design by reengineering the turn

Key words are highlighted

How we added enzymatic function to de novo proteins

1.Review analysis of the structure

2.How we created the active site by trimming side chain residues

3.How we stabilized our design by reengineering the turn

Results (2), Characteristics

CCEB

Variable CC (N=199)

Any T (N=118)

P-value

Age 58 (47-70)

60 (51-72)

0.23

Gender 67 (33.7%)

32 (27.1%)

0.22

BMI: <25, 25-30, >30

59 (29.8%) 54 (27.3%) 85 (42.9%)

37 (31.9%)45 (38.8%)34 (29.3%)

0.03

CYP2C9, any *2 or *3

29 (14.9%)

42 (35.6%)

<0.001

APOE, any E4 67 (34.2%)

35 (29.7%)

0.40

Vitamin K intake 44 (20-112)

35 (20-85)

0.49

Table slide

Results (2), Characteristics

CCEB

Variable CC (N=199)

Any T (N=118)

P-value

Age 58 (47-70)

60 (51-72)

0.23

Gender 67 (33.7%)

32 (27.1%)

0.22

BMI: <25, 25-30, >30

59 (29.8%) 54 (27.3%) 85 (42.9%)

37 (31.9%)45 (38.8%)34 (29.3%)

0.03

CYP2C9, any *2 or *3

29 (14.9%)

42 (35.6%)

<0.001

APOE, any E4 67 (34.2%)

35 (29.7%)

0.40

Vitamin K intake 44 (20-112)

35 (20-85)

0.49

Clarify and clearly annotate Which ?

Which?

What are these?

Results (2), Characteristics

CCEB

Variable CC (N=199)

Any T (N=118)

P-value

Age 58 (47-70)

60 (51-72)

0.23

Gender 67 (33.7%)

32 (27.1%)

0.22

BMI: <25, 25-30, >30

59 (29.8%) 54 (27.3%) 85 (42.9%)

37 (31.9%)45 (38.8%)34 (29.3%)

0.03

CYP2C9, any *2 or *3

29 (14.9%)

42 (35.6%)

<0.001

APOE, any E4 67 (34.2%)

35 (29.7%)

0.40

Vitamin K intake 44 (20-112)

35 (20-85)

0.49

Which data and

what precision is meaningful?

N values? Percentage of group?Precision of percentage?P-values?

Results (2), Characteristics

CCEB

Variable CC (N=199)

Any T (N=118)

P-value

Ag 58 (47-70)

60 (51-72)

0.23

Gender 67 (33.7%)

32 (27.1%)

0.22

BMI: <25, 25-30, >30

59 (29.8%) 54 (27.3%) 85 (42.9%)

37 (31.9%)45 (38.8%)34 (29.3%)

0.03

CYP2C9, any *2 or *3

29 (14.9%)

42 (35.6%)

<0.001

APOE, any E4 67 (34.2%)

35 (29.7%)

0.40

Vitamin K intake 44 (20-112)

35 (20-85)

0.49

Which results are relevant and

in what order will you present?

[Highlight and reorder if necessary]

Results (2), Characteristics

CCEB

Variable CC (N=199)

Any T (N=118)

P-value

Age 58 (47-70)

60 (51-72)

0.23

Gender 67 (33.7%)

32 (27.1%)

0.22

BMI: <25, 25-30, >30

59 (29.8%) 54 (27.3%) 85 (42.9%)

37 (31.9%)45 (38.8%)34 (29.3%)

0.03

CYP2C9, any *2 or *3

29 (14.9%)

42 (35.6%)

<0.001

APOE, any E4 67 (34.2%)

35 (29.7%)

0.40

Vitamin K intake 44 (20-112)

35 (20-85)

0.49

Before (again)

T-allele carriers have increased risk of CYP2C9 *2 or *3 & decreased risk of elevated BMI

T allele carriers (N=118)

Non T-allele carriers (N=199)

p value

Avg. Age (years) 60 58

% Male 27% 34%% CYP2C9 *2 or *3 36% 15% <0.001

% BMI >30 29% 43% 0.03

% APOE4 30% 34%

Avg. Vit.K intake 35 44

MinimumEssential

Data

BillboardDesign

…from Mediocre

F OH E

L LO WT

…to memorable