Using Cartoons in Presentations

By Dan Rosandich

Incorporating cartoons in presentations is  another unique approach in getting your audience to pay closer attention to minute details or points you want to get across. Cartoons, like photographs, make an indelible impression in a person's mind and can help them understand the material.

1. What your subject matter is.
2. How you want to get your point across to them.
3. If there an intrinsic value to humor in your presentation.
4. When to pay closer attention to an issue whether humorous or not.
5. Helps the audience digest your text better.
6. Assists the timing throughout your presentation.

So in essence, there are several reasons as to why using this form of visual material can assist you to lay out a better and more appealing presentation.

Timing is key to a successful speech, talk, routine etc. and inserting a cartoon for people to look at will allow you to have more control over your presentation instead of verbally reading through a specific paragraph of text. This visual will additionally allow you to stretch the presentation out so people can look over (and laugh a bit) as you go through your presentation. Laughter relases endorphins that make people feel relaxed, and good, and overall happy. This will make for a more receptive audience. People remember you and will refer you and even contact you again for more of the same.

HOW you use cartoons will also be of the essence. Elements to consider will be whether or not you want to insert a standard black & white line cartoon or add a full color cartoon. For example, if you want to speed up the pace, simply incorporate a few select black and white cartoons followed by a vividly colorized cartoon when it is time to hold a Q&A period. Or use a cartoon to allow for leg stretching or to refer to the printed manuals you might have supplied prior to the start of your presentation.

You may also want to use cartoons in handouts, printed manuals, booklets or brochures for extra added impact. For instance, if a cartoon in the PowerPoint presentation is being used, you may also want to include that same image in your printed pieces. This gives people the chance to take something with them for further study and understanding, and it is tangible and a "visual" for them to refer to again and again. They'll be thinking to themselves, "I remember that cartoon, his point was fantastic!"

Before using cartoons in your presentation, consider various elements like whether cartoons are appropriate. They may not be appropriate to include in serious subjects like child abuse, domestic violence, drunk driving and similar matters. Using graphs, or charts may be best. However, if you're in fields like insurance, business, technology, law, marriage counseling, child rearing or facilitate training in areas that actually LEND themselves to adding humor, then cartoons are definitely on your list of "to dos!" Use your intuition and your own best judgement...any good trainer or facilitator develops a sense of what will work or not as far as adding humor or cartoons.

Another great use for using cartoons is not just in your planned presentation but PRIOR to that. Have a cartoon or a "custom" cartoon created for a print ad to promote the planned event. Use it in your e-blast or direct-mail piece or your print ad when you promote the session. Recipients see this and think, "Cool, a presentation with cartoons...a must see!" The use of a cartoon shows you're offering them something to look forward to and your presentation will have some substance and fabric, not just bland, plain text, followed by you verbally having to explain the thrust of your message throughout the presentation.

So to reiterate, images, specifically graphic images like cartoons will make your presentation a memorable one which can have long lasting effects in your audience members' memories as a pleasuarble and many times, humorous event. This positive impression will help them also refer you to other people and most likely lead to a positive reputation in presenting to groups. Boost your image AND PRESENTATION by incorporating cartoon humor into your presentations!

Learn more about Dan Rosandich in our Contributor's section.