Visual Communication In Presentations

🌳 Icons That Might Be Outdated In 2025. With slightly outdated icons that seem to be slowly replaced with more modern, but also more abstract alternatives. A striking observation neatly put together in one place by Sandro M. Sandro suggests that many icons that we've been using for over 10 years are being slowly replaced by new, different icons — not only in terms of style, but also the concepts that they represent. E.g. for filters, liquid funnel is replaced by a slider, and for sharing, network nodes are replaced by forward/reply arrow. I can only wholeheartedly agree with Sandro. Icons represent concepts that communicate a meaning. When concepts become outdated, so do the icons. And when an icon represents a legacy object, it becomes “old” and “dated”, just like the objects themselves. So unsurprisingly icons get replaced. But we don’t need to replace icons just to follow shiny new objects or design trends. As Kevin Standke noted in the comments, every icon has its own meaning, and even if we choose to use a very similar but different icon, we often change the meaning that we carry with it — often entirely subconsciously. Sometimes it works just fine, but sometimes it creates more confusion than older icons would — even if they might be utterly outdated. So choose icons to communicate what you want to say. And then test with your users via Banana testing or reaction cards to make sure they serve their purpose well. Banana testing: https://lnkd.in/e8TpceY8 Concept testing: https://lnkd.in/euE8v2Yq As designers, we tend to rely on decisions we’ve made in the past — often re-applying the same concepts over and over again. Be a difficult person to question previous choices. The more critical we are, the less likely we are to fall into the trap of wrongfully mapping our mental model to reality — communicating wrongly, or badly, or both. Ultimately, what works well for your users should decide what you choose. Not the other way around. So don’t feel like you have to change all icons altogether. Question the choices you make, test your icons and replace them if you must. Useful resources: Icon Design Handbook https://lnkd.in/ePDVd_7c Optical Effects In User Interfaces, by Slava Shestopalov https://lnkd.in/eUW6DRZG A Practical Guide To Designing Icons (+ Figma Templates) https://lnkd.in/d8VRdYrU A Complete Guide To Iconography, by Bonnie Kate Wolf https://lnkd.in/eT9j6zBa Free Video Course on Icon Design, by Matt D. Smith https://introtoicons.com/ How To Choose The Right Icons, by Stéphanie Walter https://lnkd.in/eB36Gzcg Digital Icons That Work, by Kate Kaplan, Kelley Gordon, NN/g https://lnkd.in/dTMrnxiW

Validating visual hierarchy is essential to ensure a design effectively communicates its message and guides users through content in a logical order. By employing methods such as user testing, eye-tracking studies, and contrast checks, designers can assess whether key elements capture attention as intended. Tools like Hotjar for heatmaps, Tobii Pro for eye-tracking, and UsabilityHub for quick visual recall tests help streamline this validation process. Effective visual hierarchy ensures that users can intuitively navigate a design, enhancing both usability and overall user experience.

Sweet visuals When beauty looks good enough to eat In the beauty world, visuals are never just decoration. They are emotional triggers that create desire, attraction, and sometimes even cravings. A single image can make you feel freshness, indulgence, or softness, just like food does. Think about it: a glossy serum drop that looks like honey, or a jelly cream that bounces like a dessert. These visuals don’t simply show a texture; they awaken taste memories. The brain instantly connects beauty with appetite and satisfaction, turning a product image into an emotional experience. The power of cravings When a product looks “edible,” it instantly becomes more desirable. This is why visuals that drip, melt, or shine are so effective. They don’t just showcase efficacy, they make you want to reach out, touch, and try. Cravings are not limited to food; in beauty, visuals can spark the same instinctive response. Emotion through imagery Colors reinforce this attraction. Pastel tones feel sweet and comforting, while bolder colors evoke energy and juiciness. Combined with texture, they set the emotional tone of the product before a consumer even opens the jar. By the time the product is in their hands, desire has already been created. From visual to emotional branding What makes beauty visuals powerful is not only how they look but how they feel. A perfectly captured texture, a well-lit drip, or a playful jelly bounce transforms an ingredient into an emotion. It’s not about showing what the product does, it’s about making consumers imagine the experience before they even try it. In a crowded beauty market, the brands that stand out are those that master the art of visual storytelling. Sweet visuals don’t just illustrate products; they sell indulgence, pleasure, and emotion. They remind us that in beauty, attraction often begins with the eye before it ever reaches the skin. That is the secret of sweet visuals: they don’t just present a formula —they create a craving. Featured Brands: #SweetVisuals #BeautyMarketing #SensoryDesign #PackagingDesign #EmotionalBranding #ConsumerEngagement

In #datastorytelling, you often want a specific point to stand out or “POP” in each data scene in your data stories. I’ve developed a 💥POP💥 method that you can apply to these situations: 💥 P: Prioritize – Establish which data point is most important. 💥 O: Overstate – Use visual emphasis like color and size as a contrast.   💥 P: Point – Guide the audience to the focal point of your chart. The accompanying illustration shows the progressive steps I’ve taken to make Product A’s Q3 $6M sales bump stand out. Step 1️⃣: Add headline. One of the first things the audience will attempt to do is read the title. A descriptive chart title like “Products by quarterly sales” is too general and offers no focal point. I replaced it with an explanatory headline emphasizing the increase in Product A sales in Q3. The audience is now directed to find this data point in the chart. Step 2️⃣: Adjust color/thickness I want the audience to focus on Product A, not Product B or Product C. The other products are still useful for context but are not the main emphasis. I kept Product A’s original bold color but thickened its line. I lightened the colors of the two other products to reduce their prominence. Step 3️⃣: Add label/marker I added a marker highlighting the $6M and bolded the label font. You’ll notice I added a marker and label for the proceeding quarter. I wanted to make it easy for the audience to note the dramatic shift between the two quarters. Step 4️⃣: Add annotation You don’t always need to add annotations to every key data point, but it can be a great way to draw more attention to particular points. It also allows you to provide more context to help explain the ‘why’ or ‘so what’ behind different results. Step 5️⃣: Add graphical cue (arrow) I added a graphical cue (arrow) to emphasize the massive increase in sales between the two quarters. You can use other objects, such as reference lines, circles, or boxes, to draw attention to key features of the chart. In terms of the POP method, these steps align in the following way: 💥 Prioritize – Step 1 💥 Overstate – Step 2-3 💥 Point – Step 4-5 Because data stories are explanatory rather than exploratory, you need to be more directive with your visuals. If you don’t design your data scenes to guide the audience through your key points, they may not follow your conclusions and become confused. Using the POP method, you ensure that your key points stand out and resonate with your audience, making your data stories more than just informative but memorable, engaging, and persuasive. So next time you craft a data story, ensure your data scenes POP—and watch your insights take center stage! What other techniques do you use to make your key data points POP? 🔽 🔽 🔽 🔽 🔽 Craving more of my data storytelling, analytics, and data culture content? Sign up for my newsletter today: https://lnkd.in/gRNMYJQ7

One of the biggest challenges in data visualization is deciding 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 chart to use for your data. Here’s a breakdown to guide you through choosing the perfect chart to fit your data’s story: 🟦 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 If you’re comparing different categories, consider these options: - Embedded Charts – Ideal for comparing across 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, giving you a comprehensive view of your data. - Bar Charts – Best for fewer categories where you want a clear, side-by-side comparison. - Spider Charts – Great for showing multivariate data across a few categories; perfect for visualizing strengths and weaknesses in radar-style. 📈 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 When tracking changes or trends over time, pick these charts based on your data structure: - Line Charts – Effective for showing trends across 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 over time. Line charts give a sense of continuity. - Vertical Bar Charts – Useful for tracking data over fewer categories, especially when visualizing individual data points within a time frame.    🟩 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 To reveal correlations or relationships between variables: - Scatterplot – Best for displaying the relationship between 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴. Perfect for exploring potential patterns and correlations. - Bubble Chart – A go-to choice for three or more variables, giving you an extra dimension for analysis. 🟨 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 Understanding data distribution is essential for statistical analysis. Use these to visualize distribution effectively: - Histogram – Best for a 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 with a few data points, ideal for showing the frequency distribution within a dataset. - Line Histogram – Works well when there are many data points to assess distribution over a range. - Scatterplot – Can also illustrate distribution across two variables, especially for seeing clusters or outliers. 🟪 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 Show parts of a whole and breakdowns with these: - Tree Map – Ideal for illustrating hierarchical structures or showing the composition of categories as part of a total. - Waterfall Chart – Perfect for showing how individual elements contribute to a cumulative total, with additions and subtractions clearly represented. - Pie Chart – Suitable when you need to show a single share of the total; use sparingly for clarity. - Stacked Bar Chart & Area Chart – Both work well for visualizing composition over time, whether you’re tracking a few or many periods. 💡 Key Takeaways - Comparing across categories? Go for bar charts, embedded charts, or spider charts. - Tracking trends over time? Line or bar charts help capture time-based patterns. - Revealing relationships? Scatter and bubble charts make variable correlations clear. - Exploring distribution? Histograms or scatter plots can showcase data spread. - Showing composition? Use tree maps, waterfall charts, or pie charts for parts of a whole.

Elon Musk's new Twitter logo has a problem. Though I appreciate his vision of consistently pushing boundaries, as a designer I could not ignore the mistake in the logo. An important aspect that could enhance the new logo's impact even further was the Visual Balance Principle. 🎯 This technique used by designers to create aesthetically pleasing and harmonious designs. It involves aligning elements in a way that brings a sense of equilibrium, ensuring that the design feels just right to the human eye. 🎯 If you take an "X" of any font and add a diagonal line through it, you'll notice that the top and bottom lines are not on the same axis. Designers adjust the alignment, subtly shifting the top line to achieve visual balance. This small adjustment makes the audience perceive it as perfectly aligned. Elon's new logo is mathematically correct but has missed this critical aspect of visual balance. While the simplicity of the "X" is commendable, implementing the Visual Balance Principle could potentially elevate the logo to new heights of visual appeal. Design is an iterative process and there's always room for improvement. What are your thoughts on the new logo? Do you want the bird back? PS: Swipe to see the Helvetica X #graphicdesigner

Ever looked at a chart and thought, “This could be so much clearer”? We’ve all been there—whether it’s trying to decode a graph or create one that tells a story effectively. Recently, I came across a guide on Matplotlib, and it really changed how I think about creating visualizations. It wasn’t just about the technical “how-to” but also the art of making data click with people. Here are a few insights that stuck with me: 1️⃣ Simplicity wins: If your audience needs extra time to figure out what your chart is saying, it’s probably too complicated. Keep it clear and to the point. 2️⃣ The little things matter: Colors, labels, and consistent formatting aren’t just aesthetics—they’re tools to guide attention and understanding. 3️⃣ Reusable design is a game-changer: Building modular and reusable code for charts not only saves time but also keeps your work consistent and polished. Visuals are more than just charts—they’re bridges that connect data to insights. And when done well, they can spark those “aha!” moments that drive decisions. What’s your go-to strategy for making visualizations pop? I’d love to hear how you approach it! #data #ai #matplotlib #theravitshow

Simple, Yet Striking. From the art movements of the 1950s to the iconic branding of Apple and Nike, the mantra "less is more" proves that simplicity has power. But here's the real challenge—how do you make sure your minimalist design doesn't get lost in a sea of plain white packages and black serif fonts? It's easy to blend into the crowd when everyone's playing the same game. That's where bold choices in colour, texture, and unexpected details come into play. Gabriele Melo's work with Wener Skincare is a perfect example of this balance. Her packaging is anything but ordinary, flaunting bold colours and textures that grab attention without screaming for it. Take the Clay-based Enzymatic Cleanser—its texture feels like fresh pottery, giving a nod to its clay formula. This tactile detail ensures the product stands out while maintaining a sleek, refined look. The design doesn't stop at textures. It also uses clean sans serif fonts and soft colours to create a calm background, letting the products stand out. Plus, there's a playful gradient on the sides of the boxes—just enough to spark joy and curiosity during the unboxing. The takeaway? Minimalism doesn't have to be bland. It's about stripping down to the essentials and then adding that unique element that makes your brand unforgettable. Textures can make you feel something. A splash of colour can turn plain into powerful. Even the simplest fonts can pack a punch. So, is less truly more, or is it time to shake up minimalism with a bit of the unexpected? 📷Gabriele Melo

The best product pages don’t say more. They say it better (here's how) If you have long content sections on your PDP, you're making it harder to: • reach key CTAs • understand important information • purchase from your site Overall hurting your conversion rate and revenue. Here are 8 ways you can highlight essential information prominently, overall making your PDP easier to scroll and convert from. 1. Move the product name above the product image along with reviews+price. That way, the space between the images and the add-to-cart CTA is reduced, increasing chances of adding to cart.     2. Use a primary product image that highlight key USPs. This would help the user to quickly understand why to buy this product and why from you.     3. Add product image thumbnails. More important if product requires education. Thumbnails help shoppers understand what's in the image. Increasing engagement.     4. Consider adding 3 short bullets or USPs about the product before the add to cart CTA. This way, they are educated about the product before they consciously think about adding it to cart.     5. Motivate users to add more quantity, increasing the AOV. Do this by highlighting savings when they buy in bulk or highlighting the cost per item if they buy a bundle.     6. Optimize the area around the add-to-cart CTA. Highlight the estimated delivery time, free shipping threshold and return policy.     7. Highlight key USPs to differentiate your product and brand from the others.     8. Add accordions that the user can click on to read more. This way they can find the answers to their questions quickly. Other 3 CRO changes I did: • Re-iterated price near the pack selection so the user doesn't have to scroll back up to see the price. • Changed "Packs" to "Select Packs". Asking them to take an action. • Added a "best seller" badge to help with decision making Found this useful? Let me know in the comments! #conversionrateoptimization #uxdesign

Interactive content has emerged as a powerful tool to engage audiences and generate leads. This shift towards interactive experiences – encompassing quizzes, polls, and interactive videos – represents a dynamic way to captivate potential clients. Unlike traditional content, interactive elements encourage active participation, making the experience more memorable and engaging.   Types of Interactive Content in B2B Marketing: ✅ Quizzes and Assessments: These tools not only engage users but also help in segmenting them based on their responses, enabling more targeted follow-up. ✅ Interactive Videos: They offer immersive experiences, with clickable elements that can lead to product demos, webinars, or detailed information pages. ✅ Polls and Surveys: These are excellent for gauging audience opinions, providing insights that can shape future content and product development. ✅ Calculators and Tools: Custom calculators or tools (like ROI calculators) help potential clients understand the value proposition in a tangible way.   Benefits of Interactive Content: ✔ Enhanced Engagement: Interactive content holds the user’s attention longer than static content, increasing the chances of message retention and conversion. ✔ Improved Lead Quality: The data gathered through interactive content often results in higher quality leads, as it reflects genuine interest or specific needs. ✔ Higher Shareability: Engaging and unique interactive content is more likely to be shared within professional networks, expanding its reach organically. ✔ Feedback Mechanism: It serves as a two-way communication channel, offering immediate feedback from the audience, which is invaluable for B2B marketers.   Strategies for Effective Implementation: ➡ Align with Buyer Journey: Ensure that the interactive content aligns with different stages of the buyer’s journey, providing relevant information at each step. ➡ Seamless Integration: Integrate interactive elements with existing marketing tools (like CRM systems) for a streamlined process of lead collection and analysis. ➡ Consistent Branding: While focusing on interactivity, maintain consistent branding to reinforce brand identity and message.   Real-World Examples: ✴ HubSpot’s Website Grader: A tool that evaluates and provides feedback on website performance, turning a simple analysis into a lead generation opportunity. ✴ Deloitte’s Executive Quiz: A quiz designed for C-level executives to assess their company’s readiness for digital transformation, effectively generating relevant leads.   In conclusion, interactive content represents a significant shift in B2B marketing, moving away from one-way communication to engaging dialogues. With this marketing mix, B2B companies can not only captivate their audience but also gather meaningful data, driving both lead quantity and quality. #b2bmarketing #ABM #GTM #leadgeneration #PaliwalTalks #B2B #LinkedinCreators