Samantha Starmer outlines 4 key principles for structuring a presentation: 1) Start with yourself by identifying your goal and style, 2) Learn the environment by understanding the audience and constraints, 3) Build the structure by freeing your mind and keeping the narrative, and 4) Leave time to adjust through rehearsal and ensuring your main point is clear. She emphasizes remembering the "ONE thing" you want the audience to take away and providing a beginning, middle, and end like telling a story.

1. Structuring your Presentation
Samantha Starmer sstarme@rei.com @samanthastarmer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/saroy/3455464539

2. me
experience, web stuff: Amazon, Microsoft
REI – Recreational Equipment, Inc.
lead design, IA & experience teams
teach at University of Washington

9. 4 key principles
1. start with you
2. learn the environment
3. build the bones
4. leave time to adjust

10. 1. start with you

11. 1. start with you
• what is the ONE thing?
• think about the story
• what is your style?
• are you scared?

12. what is the ONE thing?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

13. what is the ONE thing?
• why are you speaking?
• what is your point?
• what is the ONE thing you want
your audience to remember?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

14. think about the story
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarpond/3016905349

15. think about the story
• beginning, middle and end
(make sure there is an end)
• all points to your ONE thing
• how would you tell it to your
grandma? to a child?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarpond/3016905349

16. what is your style?
http://

17. what is your style?
• formal or informal?
• deep details or inspirational?
• don’t try to be funny if it isn’t
natural
• get feedback. lots of it.

18. are you scared?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindaugasdanys/3766009204/

19. are you scared?
• the more nervous you are, the
more structure you need
• unless you are a very skilled
improviser
• in which case, you probably
wouldn’t be in this class
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

20. 2. learn the environment
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brue/4806532954

21. 2. learn the environment
• scout the space
• know your audience
• build to your time limit
• understand expectations

22. scout the space
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/4157191493

23. scout the space
• ideal is to get on stage in
advance, but learn what you can
• note placement of lights,
screens, podium
• size and ‘feel’ of room should
impact your structure
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/4157191493

24. know your audience
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36714668@N02/4598065240

25. know your audience
• size, level of expertise
• what do they want from you?
• voluntary or hostage?
• bored or interested?
• friendly or combative?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

26. build to your time limit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/3297205226

27. build to your time limit
• focus your topic on the time limit
• focus your scope & detail on the
time limit
• the less time to prepare, the more
structure you need
• experience will improve your gut
sense
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/3297205226

28. understand expectations
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristin-and-adam/2778203028

29. understand expectations
• do they expect results? or is the
journey more relevant?
• technical or high level?
• what kind of assets/deliverables?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristin-and-adam/2778203028

30. 3. build the bones
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianturton/9555513

31. 3. build the bones
• free your mind
• remember the story
• just jump in
• make it FUN!

32. free your mind
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PhrenologyPix.jpg

33. free your mind
• don’t constrain too early
• use your creative juice makers
• let it percolate
• be willing to throw out initial ideas
• which means you need twice the
planning time you expect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PhrenologyPix.jpg

34. just jump in
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccheviron/3603397114

35. just jump in
• don’t be afraid to scribble
• paper prototype, but only if it
works for you
• get into the tool as soon as you
have the guts (of the structure,
but also the nerve)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccheviron/3603397114

39. remember the story
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarpond/3016905349

40. remember the story
• ah, there is a point to all this
• keep the narrative (linear or not)
as your north star
• throw out anything extraneous
to the story
• no matter how cool
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarpond/3016905349

42. make it FUN!

43. make it FUN!
• you should enjoy building the
story
• you should enjoy creating the
structure
• you will feel a quiet ping when it
starts to come together

44. 4. leave time to adjust
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clintjcl/4001170877

45. 4. leave time to adjust
• lift your head out of the trees
• remember the ONE thing
• practice time is critical
• minimum formula: 70%, 25%, 5%

46. lift your head out of the trees
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mountjoy/5194910368

47. lift your head out of the trees
• check the whole arc regularly
• don’t get too hung up on the
exact words or pictures
• the whole is greater than the
sum of the parts
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mountjoy/5194910368

49. remember the ONE thing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

50. remember the ONE thing
• when you think you have it, go
back to the beginning
• is the ONE thing clear?
• is your narrative intact?
• does it flow? can you easily
remember your points?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14617207@N00/4872111479

51. dress rehearsal is critical
http://www.flickr.com/photos/evilpeacock/2194032579

52. dress rehearsal is critical
• rehearse more than you want to
• rehearse out loud
• rehearse in presentation mode
• rehearse with a timer
• then CUT (if you have built the
structure right, you should have too
much vs. too little)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/evilpeacock/2194032579

54. minimum formula
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joao_trindade/4362414729

55. minimum formula
• take the time allotted
• multiply by 5 for the number of
minimum dress rehearal minutes
• multiply by 14 for the minimum number
of building (in tool) minutes
• e.g. 20 minutes =
100 minutes rehearsing
~4 ½ hours building
untold weeks stressing 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joao_trindade/4362414729

56. structure is key
http://www.flickr.com/photos/saroy/3455464539

57. 1. start with you 2. learn the environment
• what is the ONE thing? • scout the space
• what is the story • know your audience
• what is your style? • build to your time limit
• are you scared? • understand expectations
3. build the bones 4. leave time to adjust
• free your mind • lift your head out of the trees
• remember the story • remember the ONE thing
• just jump in • dress rehearsal is critical
• make it FUN! • minimum formula: 70%, 25%, 5%

58. thank you!!
Samantha Starmer sstarme@rei.com @samanthastarmer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/baking_in_pearls/3960662314