Presentations are used to communicate, inspire or demonstrate a topic, perspective or concept. They can be one of the most effective and inspirational mediums for delivery. I’ve recently started a training course in the subject and how it relates to my work in design, where presentations are needed to pitch for work and also present conceptual or finished work.

One early outcome of the course identified ways which a presenter can enguage with an audience. This list can be used for any topic and the more things you can address as a presenter the more chances the audience will listen to and enjoy your presentation:

1) Have something to say — Ask or pose questions, make bold, controversial statements. Know and be passionate about the topic. Practice the presentation before giving it.

2) Know your audience — Cater the presentation to the demographic. Dress to suit their expectations but also ensure you feel comfortable.

3) Use other methods of communication — Re-inforce your perspective with body language and simple visual support. Leave pauses to allow the audience to digest and reflect on topics.

4) Add a personal touch — Use humour or personal stories to create a relaxed atmosphere and make the narrative more human focussed. Adopt a relaxed, conversational tone that makes it more personal.

There are several styles of presentations that have recently emerged and try to ensure presentations are more enguaging. Used in conjunction with the above list these can help to create a strong starting place for creating an amazing presentation:

Pecha Kucha — Drawing its name from the Japanese term for the sound of “chit chat”, it rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x 20 seconds

20x2 — exists to showcase the creativity that lurks in each of us. Writers, musicians, filmmakers, web geeks and other bon vivants are asked to take two minutes each to answer the question of the day.

Ignite — In talks that are exactly five minutes long, Ignite presenters share their personal and professional passions, using 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds.

Finally some inspirational presentations you can watch on the web:

Presentation Zen — Garr Reynold’s blog on issues related to professional presentation design. Links to lots of presentations with commentary.

TED — A yearly conference with some of the most inspirational speakers you’ll see.

Apple Keynotes — An archive of some of Steve Job’s famous keynote presentations.