2. Types of Visual Aids
Projected images (PowerPoints, Prezios, etc.)
Props (Objects)
Display boards
Video clips
Photographs
Maps
Charts/Graphs
People
3. Why use a visual aid?
Improves audience understanding and
memory
Serves as notes
Provides clearer organization
Facilitates more eye contact and motion by the
speaker
Contributes to speaker credibility
Having a prop or visual aid may also help
some speakers feel more comfortable.
5. Size Matters
Make sure that the visual aid is large enough
to be seen.
Any writing should be easily readable by
those in the back of the room.
6. Keep It Simple
In design and content
Keep graphics, fonts, and writing simple, so
that your audience may grasp their meaning and
purpose immediately.
Avoid overwhelming the audience with too much
information.
Use your speech to fill in the details.
8. Practice Makes Perfect
A common mistake for the novice speaker is to
think that s/he will know how to handle a visual
aid without ever practicing with it.
Get the feel of your visual aid before you give
your speech.
10. Take Control
An aid is an aid. It is meant to help, not control.
To do this:
Show the visual aid only when you are utilizing it.
Make sure you introduce/summarize it’s content &
purpose.
Maintain eye contact while using your aid.
Don’t talk to your visual aid or turn your back on
the audience.
Stand to the side of your visual aid.
Never pass your visual aid around.
11. Works Cited
"Using Visual Aids." University of Pittsburgh.
21 Aug. 2008. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.
Young, Teri. Speech 1 Public Speaking. De
Anza College. PDF.