Interior Design Standards

Depending on the course and project there are several standard presentation options. Typically, those sizes are 11” x 17” landscape for complete project documents that include research, programming, schematic, and design development. Final presentation boards are most often 24” x 36”, although there are other formats such as 20” x 30”, 30 x 42”, etc.

Presenting in Person

Whether on campus or online, you’ll be presenting your work to an audience of your peers. It is important to know your work as you are the expert who’s been preparing for final presentations all term.

When presenting to your peers it is helpful to have index cards with notes on them to make sure you cover all pertinent info related to your project. In an academic setting it is important to include research, process, and analysis of your work from start to finish. Use industry standard terminology and integrate lecture content into your presentation. Also time your presentation with several practice run throughs in order to shorten or lengthen as needed. Many instructors will require a specific length of time depending on time allotment, confirm presentation length requirements with each instructor.

Once you’ve entered into the professional industry you’ll continue to make presentations for clients. Presenting to a client is different from presenting to academic peers. Clients are interested in the final product. They want to see the outcome, touch the sample materials, and focus in on time and budget. Having all your facts and figures prepared in advance is key to a successful client presentation. If your client asks you a question and you don’t have the answer it is ok to say you’ll find out and get back to them. Never provide false or inaccurate information to a client. That becomes a legal liability for you if there are any issues later in the project.

Begin with the end in mind

Always prepare your presentation with the end user in mind. Who is going to be your audience and how large will it be? Regardless of what the final chosen formats are, 24”x36” boards, handouts, or a Web-based presentation, you should consider you audience. What are the person's ages, what are their professional backgrounds, and what will they be learning and experiencing through your design? Although something in your design might make sense to you, it ultimately must make sense to the end viewer.

When embarking on your design, it can be beneficial to write aside a statement of purpose, nothing more than a single paragraph, to help you get to the heart of those qualities that should drive your design. Ask yourself, “The purpose of my design is to communicate what to the end user?” Your answer will help you define your presentation. 

Non Verbal Communication

Preparing what you have to say is important, but practicing how you will say it is imperative. The nonverbal message can speak louder than the verbal message you are sending.

Your hands: Gesturing or talking with your hands is very natural. Getting carried away with hand gestures can be distracting. Also, avoid touching your mouth while talking. Watch yourself in a mirror while talking on the phone. Chances are you are probably using some of the same gestures in an interview.

Don't fidget: There is nothing worse than someone playing with his or her hair, clicking a pen top, tapping a foot or unintentionally fidgeting.

Nerves: Watch out for nervous words that have no value ”um” “so” “like” “you know” “such as” “and” “well” “so on” etc. (also could be nervous laughter). Take a pause or a breath instead. Give your brain time to catch up and prepare what to say next instead of a filler word that only causes distraction.

Record yourself or conduct a mock presentation to gather feedback. Once you identify where your presentation weaknesses are then you can work on self correcting.

Never make excuses for your work.

If the project is subpar or unfinished you wouldn’t be presenting.

Treat every presentation as if it were being viewed by a client. As a professional what would happen if you turned in subpar work to your employer or client?

Once presentations are completed, it is perfectly normal to make changes and refine the project. Presentations are always evolving as your skills improve over time.

Process work can be a great addition to any presentation. Show sketches, diagrams, napkin doodles. They all communicate how you solved the problem. Design is about the process, not just the end result. Incorporate process work into all presentations.

Physical vs Digital

Traditional presentations can include original hand renderings and physical material samples mounted to a substrate such as foamcore.

Hybrid presentations can be digitally laid out then printed with placeholders for where physical sample materials can be added after printing.

Digital presentations allow for the greatest freedom and flexibility of graphic design. If tactile materials are needed, they can be placed in a separate binder that is supplementary to the presentation.