Nowadays, it's common to give PowerPoint presentations to present solutions to problems. This might happen to management, colleagues, or at university.
PowerPoint SmartArt allows Microsoft Office PowerPoint users to convey information using graphics. This article will show you various ways to use PowerPoint SmartArt in your presentations and impress your audience.
What is SmartArt?
Presenting problem solutions clearly and interestingly can sometimes be a challenge. Often, the audience is confronted with overloaded slides and doesn't know where to look first.
PowerPoint SmartArt allows users to convey information using graphics. With a wide selection of styles, SmartArt illustrations in attractive designs simplify the presentation of various facts and information. SmartArt graphics are versatile and can be flexibly expanded.
Advantages of using PowerPoint SmartArt
SmartArt offers PowerPoint users numerous advantages:
- Time-saving: Create professional presentations quickly and effortlessly using the pre-made designs.
- Simplicity: Even for PowerPoint beginners, SmartArt is easy to use and self-explanatory.
- Wide selection: Numerous SmartArt graphics, pre-made for a wide variety of purposes, are available for you.
- Flexible formatting : All SmartArt graphics can be individually customized to your needs and are therefore versatile in their application.
- Transferable: SmartArt graphics were available as early as one of the first PowerPoint versions (2007). Office 365 now offers more than 150 different layouts. You can easily insert SmartArt graphics into other PowerPoint versions.
- Visually appealing: SmartArt scores points with visual stimuli on your slides. The clear and professional presentations ensure your slides are not boring and remain memorable.
Why SmartArt is the best methodology in many cases
There are numerous presentation options available, such as tables, charts, and infographics. However, PowerPoint SmartArt is the most advantageous in most cases.
SmartArt is always the best solution when it comes to presenting information in a visually appealing and structured way . Unlike traditional tables or lists, SmartArt allows for a clear and aesthetically pleasing representation of relationships, processes, hierarchies, and other complex content. In contrast, charts and infographics often highlight specific data sets or quantitative information.
Furthermore, SmartArt impresses with a wide range of predefined layouts and designs , enabling you to create a fast and professional presentation. Unlike manually creating charts or infographics, which can often be time-consuming, SmartArt offers ready-made designs that you can adapt to your individual needs . This saves valuable time and allows you to focus on the content of your presentation.
STAR method
The STAR method originates from the United States and stands for "Situation, Task, Action, Result" . Originally developed for job interviews, the method now also helps to clearly and concisely summarize issues in the business world.
The arrangement of the visual elements is star-shaped, as the name (English: Star) implies.
Here's how to create a SmartArt graphic using the STAR concept: The instructions
- Create a slide with the layout "Title and Content".
- On the content placeholder, click the icon to insert a SmartArt graphic.
- Next, in the dialog box that appears, select the "Cycle" category and then "diverging radial" and confirm with "OK".
- You now have the option to enter your desired text in the text area next to the graphic.
- In the final step, customize the SmartArt to your liking. Here you can change font size, shapes, and colors, among other things.
Problem solving as a process with PowerPoint SmartArt
Problem-solving doesn't usually happen by itself, but rather describes processes —that is, a sequence of steps. These steps ultimately lead to a solution. PowerPoint offers several ways to effectively visualize these processes. In the "Choose SmartArt Graphic" dialog box, select the "Process" category. Several visualizations are available.
You can insert various graphics that, for example, make your process look like an arrow. To illustrate that the process proceeds step by step, you can also choose a sequence of steps or a staircase. It's also a good idea to present problem solutions as a formula , which clarifies that a specific combination of elements is necessary to solve the problem.
As you can see, PowerPoint offers a wide selection of SmartArt graphics . To find out which option is best suited to presenting your solution, we recommend trying out a few.
You can also find inspiration in our SmartArt Toolbox in the shop on our website. Our professionally designed SmartArt graphics will help you impress your audience!
Lists as charts
Besides processes and problem solutions, other elements can also be transformed into diagrams. For example, you can use SmartArt to convert lists into diagrams. This avoids the risk of boring your audience with simple bullet points on your slides.
Below we explain how to create SmartArt lists using PowerPoint.
- First, insert a text box on your slide and create a list using the "Bullet" option under "Home" .
- Next, select the text box and click " Convert to SmartArt" on the "Home" tab.
- From the context menu, you can now select from a range of preset SmartArt graphics.
- After creating your graphic, you can edit the text within it. To do this, click the icon on the left edge of the SmartArt graphic.
- In "SmartArt Design" you can choose from additional layouts and change the design colors for the graphic.
Bonus tip: Edit individual shapes in your graphic
- To do this, first select the relevant shape with a left-click.
- Then, in the "SmartArt Tools" under "Format", select the "Change Shape" option. You can then select the desired shape from the context menu.
Edit images with PowerPoint SmartArt
Images are indispensable in PowerPoint presentations in 2023 and essential for maintaining audience attention throughout the entire presentation. Consequently, a significant amount of time is typically spent editing images when creating a presentation. Few users realize that simple tools exist for many complex processes.
SmartArt allows you to not only resize images, but also add captions or create collages. In the next section, we'll explain one of the methods for using SmartArt in image editing.
- First, insert the desired images into your slide. To do this, click on "Insert" and then "Pictures" and select the images you want.
- Next, select the images using CTRL + left-click and then, under "Image Format" in "Image Styles", select the "Image Layout" button.
- You now have the option to select the image layout that suits you best from the context menu. After your selection, a SmartArt graphic will be created from the images.
Move images within the graphic
- To move or align the images within the SmartArt graphic, right-click on the graphic.
- Next, select "Size and Position" from the context menu and set the image position under "Position" using the values "Horizontal Position" and "Vertical Position" .
- To customize the elements of your graphic, click "Convert" under "SmartArt Design" and then "Convert to Shapes".
4. You can now select the shapes individually and modify them as desired in the "Drawing Tools" under "Format" using the "Edit Shape" option.
Professional-looking images and well-organized slides in presentations not only make them easier for the audience to read, but are also visually appealing . Try image editing with SmartArt and see for yourself!
In which other areas can you use PowerPoint SmartArt
SmartArt is a versatile tool. In many ways, using SmartArt elements can simplify your presentation. Below are some examples of how you can use SmartArt to present complex content in a simplified way :
- Organizational charts: Organizational charts are a common application of SmartArt and offer a clear representation of hierarchies and team structures. With SmartArt organizational charts, you can clearly communicate roles and responsibilities within your company or project and vividly visualize the relationships between different departments and employees.
We show this in detail in the article " Creating organizational charts in PowerPoint ".
- Timelines: SmartArt timelines are ideal for illustrating the development of projects, historical events, or company growth. The clear presentation of data points and events creates a concise chronology that facilitates understanding and analysis of the sequence of events.
We show this in detail in the article " Creating a timeline in PowerPoint ".
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Comparison tables: SmartArt comparison tables are ideal for comparing products, options, or concepts. They allow for a quick overview of differences, similarities, advantages, and disadvantages, thus facilitating informed decisions.
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Hierarchies: SmartArt hierarchy graphics allow you to clearly illustrate complex structures, such as company hierarchies or decision-making processes. The visual representation of levels and connections facilitates understanding of relationships and ensures clear communication.
- Infographics: SmartArt can also be used to create informative infographics. Infographics are great for presenting complex data and statistics in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand way.
Tip: Use SmartArt to add interactivity to your presentation
If possible, you should make your presentations interactive . This keeps your audience's attention at a consistent level and adds excitement to your presentation. You can also create interactive elements with SmartArt and integrate them into your slides. Here are some examples:
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Hyperlinks to detailed information: Within a SmartArt graphic, hyperlinks can be placed that lead to further information or detailed explanations. For example, clicking on a specific shape in the graphic opens a linked slide or an external website that provides additional information on that topic.
- Interactive navigation elements: SmartArt graphics can serve as an interactive navigation bar, allowing the audience to move between different sections or topics of the presentation. By including links to the various sections of your presentation within the SmartArt graphic, you can create a non-linear structure and encourage the audience to explore the presentation individually.
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Quizzes or interactive polls: SmartArt graphics can also be incorporated into quizzes or interactive polls. For example, you can use a SmartArt graphic to represent different answer options, and the audience is asked to select the correct answer.
- Interactive presentation tools: There are also specialized presentation tools and software that can add extra interactivity to your presentations. These tools allow you to transform SmartArt graphics into multimedia elements, such as sliders, pop-up windows, or interactive maps, which actively engage the audience and create an engaging experience.
Further tips on interactive elements can be found in the article " Interactive Presentations ".
Conclusion: Impress your audience with PowerPoint SmartArt!
Whether lists, images, or processes: all of this can be presented simply with PowerPoint SmartArt, thus making your preparation easier. Furthermore, PowerPoint SmartArt allows you to impress your audience and ensure you remain in their memory long after your presentation.
Do you have questions about SmartArt or Microsoft PowerPoint in general? Don't hesitate to contact us at becker@presentationload.de . We're happy to help!
Are you looking for professional SmartArt or PowerPoint slide templates? In our shop you'll find a wide selection of slides designed for you for various (business) areas. Visit us today! ► To the shop
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