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Final Design Critique

Dr. Kurlinkus
+ Sample Final Projects on
Canvas
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Deliverable Basics (review our reading!)
n  Deliverable: “A stand-alone document that must tell a complete story,
must convey the ‘larger whole’” (205).
n  DiscoveryàResearchàConceptàDesign

1.  Good deliverables tells stories.

n  What’s the theme of this story? What’s the beginning middle and end? What’s the
mystery or driving question? Who are the characters (stakeholders, user
personas, interviews, etc.)?

2.  Good deliverables encourage conversation.

n  Good conversations are about specific things from specific expertise. Critique
not complaint.
n  The presenters job is to guide conversation through asking questions. Whether
that’s through providing options, decisions to be made, identifying gaps, etc.

3.  Good deliverables are actionable.

n  Actionability: the ability of your deliverable to carry participants into the next
stage of activities.
n  Nothing should be in a deliverables that doesn’t explicitly inspire the next set of
actions/decisions. Everything should be in service of the next step.
n  Use commands (we recommend you do this)
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Your Presentations
1.  Must be 5-6 minutes
2.  Must include running questions for the audience +
Q&A after those 5 minutes
3.  Must include the following key parts (show don’t tell—
concrete examples):
n  Introduction: What is this? Who are you? Why am I reading it?
What’s inside? What’s the story?
n  Statement of Need: What’s the problem? Prove it. Prove your
solution is somehow linked.
n  Research: Who did you interview?
n  Prototypes: What are you making and why?
n  Conclusion: What’s next? What’s first? Why do you believe the
problem has solved? What problems or ideals or goals for your
project do you have for the future?

4.  Must be powerpoint/slide driven

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Designing + Giving Presentations
1.  Keep it simple, specific, and example/research driven
1.  Include plenty of power sentences and make sure to put them on your
slides: This is that. Think tweet-ability. People will take pictures of these.
2.  Give vivid descriptions of your research.
3.  Are there ways you can visualize or make infographics of your data?
2.  One key idea/concept per slide (avoid bulleted lists—split into
individual slides)
3.  Image and example driven
4.  Sign post at the beginning and throughout: first, second, and third.
5.  Choose three focal points in the room for eye contact
6.  Face the audience not the PowerPoint: Don’t read the PowerPoint and
don’t stand in front of it.
7.  Realize your most important points and give beats, slow down, get
loud.
8.  Don’t use transitions of effects anymore
9.  Are there props you can pass around?
10.  Be aware of how your body is moving in space. Walk around. Come
out from behind the podium. Interact with the audience.
11.  Conclude in an active way: Call to action, point out why this research
needs to be explored further, inspire.
12.  Bring copies of your presentation