BtD #015: Navigating the New Era of Presentation Design with Intelligence & Imagination
Photographs are a thing of the past. Quite literally.
So, how do you stay ahead as AI imaging redefines the future of presentation design visuals?
Over the last six+ months, I've embraced AI imaging tools like Midjourney, Ideogram, and DALL-E, not just as supplements but as central elements in my slide designs. This shift has not only enhanced the visual impact of my work but also dramatically expanded my creative boundaries.
Mark Cuban, renowned for his insights on innovation, recently said, “There are only two types of companies in this world: Those that are great at AI and everybody else…”
This perspective resonates deeply in the design space, where AI's capabilities are turning the conventional use of stock photographs—once a staple—into something that feels like the clipart of the '90s - quaint, generic and outdated.
This evolution prompts a critical question: In a world where AI's influence on design grows by the day, what does the future hold for presentation design? And, how can (even novice) designers leverage AI not just to stay relevant, but to redefine the boundaries of creativity and visual storytelling?
The New Future
A line has been drawn, propelling us toward a new era of design visuals, an era anyone can now envision and actively shape.
Not only can you ideate with a Chatbot to develop a slide outline for your deck, but ‘Chatty’s’ capabilities extend into the realm of design itself, transforming visions into visuals with unprecedented ease.
The playing field is quickly leveling up and the creation of high-quality visuals is no longer exclusive to seasoned professionals with extensive training or substantial budgets. These advancing technologies are empowering both novices and experts, equipping everyone with advanced design capabilities previously unimaginable.
This is no small thing.
These Matisse-style images on the right are ’outtakes’ from a client presentation on listening.
Created in Midjourney.
Opening the Door
So, how do you harness the potential of AI imaging in presentation designs?
The answer: Sparingly.
Visuals in presentation design, whether they are classic photographs or AI-generated images, remain supportive elements of the story you tell. Their primary purpose? To accentuate, complement, elucidate, and elevate your core message, not overshadow it.
Nancy Duarte is a maven in the presentation space. She has detailed how the great presenters, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Steve Jobs, paint visions of a 'future state'. And now, with AI imaging, you can manifest this vision, not just metaphorically, but literally.
“AI illustration concept of sustainability and recycle, container box remake as restaurant, office or house, modern and minimalism design, idea for sustainability for environmental preservation, orange”
By QuietWord
(Adobe Stock)
Learning to Dance
If we can be a little bodacious (yes, bodacious) and view AI imaging as a collaborative dance—shaping, refining and at times letting our partner take the lead. This partnership unlocks a remarkable capacity for creativity and innovation.
The freedom this offers in expressing your vision, doubled down with the ability to share it uniquely with your audience, is unmatched.
But, much like the early stages of text-based AI, this technology is in a phase of rapid evolution and its interpretations of your inputs can be unpredictable.
In other words, you don’t have complete control over your results.
Yet, the results are often breathtaking, presenting visual narratives that will defy your expectations. As AI technology matures and its algorithms grow more sophisticated, you can anticipate not only more streamlined design processes but increasingly precise tools to articulate your ideas.
This evolution promises a future where our creative expressions are limited only by our imaginations.
The image on the right was generated by Midjourney, responding to a prompt envisioning the alphabet raining from the sky. While the outcome may not always align with initial expectations, the results are enough to make you appreciate the possibilities.
Beyond
The best advice I can offer regarding the current AI imaging options is simple: play!
Embrace these tools as creative partners and be prepared for unexpected outcomes. Some will tickle your creative curiosity in ways you can’t begin to imagine. Other results will leave you scratching your head wondering how A + B = ??? FYI: the tools I utilize currently operate on a monthly subscription basis: DALL-E at $20 and Midjourney at $14.99—both of which are invaluable investments.
The essence of my message is this: AI imaging is not just an element within the future in presentation design— it's more than just a tool. It's a dynamic collaborator, broadening our horizons and transforming the way we imagine and create what's next.
Thank you for joining me 🤍!