Data Meets Design – Business PowerPoint Skills

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Paid Certificate Available
Duration & workload

8 hours 34 minutes
Sessions

On-Demand
Subtitles

English

Found in

Overview

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This course features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. In this course, you'll learn how to bridge data and design to create professional PowerPoint presentations that engage and inform. From mastering the basics of slide design to advanced strategies for storytelling, data visualization, and accessibility, each module builds the skills needed to transform raw data into a compelling business narrative. You'll be guided through creating effective slide components, including headers, footers, and body content, while learning how to use design principles like the Guttenberg Diagram and visual hierarchy. Along with this, you'll explore powerful frameworks like the Pyramid Principle and MECE for structuring your slides logically and coherently. As you progress, you'll delve into action titles, executive summaries, and various charting techniques within PowerPoint, ensuring that your slides are both visually appealing and data-rich. You'll also enhance your skills with accessibility features, ensuring your presentations are inclusive and impactful for diverse audiences. With practical exercises throughout, you'll hone your abilities and create real business presentations that resonate with stakeholders. This course is ideal for business professionals, marketers, and anyone looking to improve their PowerPoint skills for professional presentations. No prior design experience is required, though familiarity with PowerPoint is helpful. Whether you're crafting presentations for meetings, conferences, or executive briefings, this course will empower you to create polished, effective slides. By the end of the course, you will be able to design and structure compelling business presentations, apply data visualization techniques, implement storytelling frameworks like SCR and Pyramid, and enhance your PowerPoint slides for accessibility and visual impact. You'll also have the skills to create custom templates and charts, improving both design and functionality in every presentation.

Syllabus

Introduction

In this module, we will introduce the course’s mission and the essential concepts that bridge data and design in professional PowerPoint presentations. You will engage with a warm-up exercise to kickstart your design thinking and prepare for the more detailed lessons ahead. This section sets the foundation for using design to communicate data effectively.

Components

In this module, we will break down the key components of a professional PowerPoint slide. You’ll learn to design the header, body, and footer effectively, ensuring each part contributes to a cohesive and impactful presentation. We’ll also explore how visual structure influences audience engagement.

Action Titles

In this module, we will delve into the power of action titles in business presentations. You will learn how to transform traditional slide titles into action-driven statements that capture attention and enhance storytelling. Practical examples and exercises will help you master this critical aspect of slide design.

Pyramid Principle

In this module, we will explore the Pyramid Principle and how it can shape your presentation’s logic and flow. You’ll learn to structure your message in a clear, hierarchical way to improve audience understanding and impact. Through examples and exercises, you will apply this powerful technique in your own presentations.

Storytelling

In this module, we will focus on storytelling techniques that enhance the narrative flow of your presentation. You’ll learn how to utilize vertical and horizontal flows, and the SCR (Situation, Complication, Resolution) framework, to create a logical and engaging storyline for business audiences. Exercises will help you practice rearranging content to fit this framework.

Executive Summary

In this module, we will focus on creating effective Executive Summary Slides (ESS) to summarize the key messages of your presentation. You will learn frameworks and best practices for writing ESS slides that are clear, concise, and executive-ready. We’ll also analyze examples to understand what makes an ESS successful.

MECE

In this module, we will explore the MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) principle and its role in structuring business information. You will learn how to apply MECE to organize complex data into clear, digestible pieces. Interactive exercises will help you evaluate and refine your own content for MECE compliance.

PowerPoint: Chart Basics

In this module, we will introduce the basics of chart creation in PowerPoint, focusing on chart types and their effective use in business presentations. You will learn how to design and customize charts that clearly communicate data insights, ensuring your slides are both informative and visually engaging.

PowerPoint: Data Visualization

In this module, we will delve deeper into data visualization techniques within PowerPoint. You’ll learn how to select, create, and format a variety of charts, from column charts to more advanced area and stacked charts. This section focuses on making data clear, concise, and compelling through effective chart design.

PowerPoint: Bonus Charts

In this module, we will cover advanced charting techniques to take your PowerPoint presentations to the next level. You will explore features like map charts, waterfall charts, and pictographs to add dynamic visuals to your slides. Learn to integrate these advanced charts seamlessly into your presentation narrative.

PowerPoint: Accessibility

In this module, we will cover the fundamentals of creating accessible PowerPoint presentations. You’ll learn how to use built-in accessibility tools, like subtitles and contrast checkers, to make your slides more inclusive. We’ll also explore how to adjust your visuals for color-blind audiences, ensuring your content is accessible to all.

PowerPoint: Templates

In this module, we will explore how to create and manage PowerPoint templates for professional and consistent presentations. You’ll learn advanced techniques like Slide Master and layout customization, as well as how to set brand standards for fonts, colors, and other design elements. This section will help you streamline your presentation workflow with custom templates.

PowerPoint: Real Business Presentation

In this module, we will walk through the process of designing a real business presentation using PowerPoint. From selecting the topic to structuring the narrative with the SCR framework, you’ll learn to craft every slide with purpose and clarity. By the end, you’ll have a complete presentation ready for any business context.

Conclusion

In this module, we will conclude the course by reflecting on the key concepts and skills you’ve gained. You’ll gain insights into how to apply your new knowledge to real-world business presentations and receive tips for continued growth. We’ll wrap up with a thank-you message, leaving you ready to implement what you’ve learned.