Friends, we make ugly things.
Posters, websites, t-shirts, stickers, bulletin boards, mailouts…youth workers are responsible for some of the ugliest design work the world has ever seen.
Don’t believe me? Try this fail-proof test.
- Open a new tab in your web browser.
- Navigate to your youth ministry’s website.
- Behold the ugly.
OK, so the test isn’t fail-proof, but you get the point. If you don’t have the cash to hire pros to do your design work, you’re probably gonna make some really ugly stuff.
Now, I don’t think that we all need to hire pros, and I certainly don’t think all of us should be great designers. I do, however, think that we should be equipped with a few basic tools for creating graphics when needed.
And if we’re going to take this task on, we may as well start with the worst culprit of all: PowerPoint slides.
Yes, PowerPoint slides (or Keynote slides, or whatever slides), the worst of the worst when it comes to design in youth ministry. Most people just turn their software on, pick a theme, type in their outline and move on.
Let me be clear: this is a problem.
My complaint here isn’t entirely aesthetic. It’s functional. If you are anything like the folks I work with in youth ministry, you spend hours figuring out ways to get your kids to connect your teaching. We create activities, make videos and write new curriculum all to communicate what we believe are important, life-giving truths to students. And then, with our leftover time, we slap a slideshow on top of it all.
Clear, well-made slides can exponentially increase the power of your words when you speak to your students. Here are a few guidelines to get you started in your recovery.
1. Step Away From the Powerpoint Template
Just because its popular doesn’t mean its pretty. There isn’t a single PowerPoint template that I would use in my work. Period. The problem? I’ve seen more seizure-inducing, color-clashing, visual train wrecks in PowerPoint slides than in just about any other medium. (Just check out the title graphic for this post. It looks like just about every slide I created for projects in high school.)
If you want to do something right, you gotta do it yourself. Start with a blank slide and build it from the ground up. Its the only way to ensure that every element is exactly what you want.
Find that blank slide intimidating? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered in the next step.
2. Use Great Stock Art
Here’s a little secret from Captain Obvious: if you use stock art that’s already beautiful, all you have to do is not mess it up. (note: I am not talking about clipart. Don’t use clipart. Unless you’re being ironic. Then send it to me, because that sounds like a really great idea.)
The first thing I do when I’m building a slide is search for great stock art to serve as a base for the slide. If you can find the right art, the slide almost makes itself. Using real stock art may cost a little bit of money, but I think its well worth it. (Tip: Keep a well-organized stock art folder on your computer so you don’t purchase unnecessary art later on.)
3. Use Beautiful Fonts
See my post here. Bottom line: fonts may seem mundane, but they may be the most important part of the design. Use good ones, and stick to a few. I use a lot of Helvetica (yeah, I’m that guy), but I also like Futura, Georgia and a handful of others. Make sure its legible and attractive.
Oh year, and if you’re going to hit up your favorite free font site, please use caution. There’s a lot of crap floating around out there.
4. Easy on the Words
Putting your entire outline into the slideshow is not a good way to communicate with your students. I try to limit myself to 5 or 6 words per slide. The less you include, the more impact the content has. I would recommend avoiding bullet points all together and, instead, include an image or phrase that communicates the same idea you’re trying to get across in your teaching. Remember, they don’t need to read what you’re already telling them.
Resources:
iStock Photo – The best and cheapest source for stock photos on the internet. (Full disclosure: I love this site. I ran into the iStockPhoto folks at the Nation Youth Worker’s convention in Nashville a few weeks ago and I almost kissed the nice folks at the booth. They gave me a free mouse pad. Its on my desk in my cubicle so, you know, keep that in mind.)
Presentation Zen – This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who gives public presentations with visual aids.
Church Marketing Lab – A community of designers on Flickr. You can submit your work and receive helpful feedback from the community.
The Grid System – An online shrine to the classic design grid. The site includes template, usage instructions and lots of other great content.
