I learned a long time ago that a clever phrase paired with a cool image can be a real life saver in the design world. How? By grabbing the audience's attention. Take, for example, this blog entry. I've never blogged before and listing my goals for the quarter would probably make for some pretty dry reading. Add to that the fact that 22 other people have exactly the same assignment and you have the makings of a very forgettable blog entry. So, in order to get the audience to actually stop and read the dull content I put it in a shiny wrapper*.This same principle applies to project presentations as well. Unfortunately, as professionals we're not always going to be working on amazing products that challenge us or make the world a better place. Sometimes, work is just that...work. It's something you do to pay the bills. Sometimes a client just wants a product. So you give them one. You go through the process and when you reach your final direction it's good and professional and the correct solution to the problem but it's not an earth shattering piece of design. Unless you want to spend the next few months "refining" the design for the client you need a kick-ass presentation. You need to sell your idea. Will you have to blow a little smoke in order to do that? Maybe a little; but not enough to burn your eyes.
* A piece of shit wrapped in gold is still a piece of shit.
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