Architecture Presentation Board Tips

One of the most crucial parts of the design process is the presentation and the selling of your concept. You have worked on your design process for weeks now and your presentation is where you get to showcase the best aspects, features of your design. You want to make sure you put your design in the ‘ Spot Light‘

A good presentation could get your project approved, or quickly dismissed if you don’t plan it right. For example, a presentation to a client compared to a presentation for a group of architects is very different, even if the project you need to communicate is the same.

Before you start creating your presentation boards, take a moment to organise your work. What are you trying to convey? What drawings / images to you have to show as part of your criteria? What are your key elements in design that you would like to portray.

Collect together the information – even list out all the images to be included and what text you would like to put it, then you can start planning the structure of your boards. This will really help you visualise what information will be on your boards and how you are going to communicate your design.

1. Structure

2. Orientation, setting and size

3. Layout

4. Background

5. What to include

6. Information – Title, story, content

7. Text

8. Colour

Other Links

https://www.pinterest.com/yonav/architecture-presentation-board/?lp=true

https://www.pinterest.com/designwithco/good-competition-boards/?lp=true

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/architecture-presentation-board/?lp=true

http://www.archdaily.com/90006/presentation-tips-for-architects-part-i

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/laminas-de-presentacion-arquitectura-920575264386/?lp=true

This is a nice link "Architecture Awarded Competitions"

http://www.archdaily.com/category/awarded-competitions/

http://www.archiprix.org/2017/?m=22

http://designguggenheimhelsinki.org/finalists/GH-76091181

http://designguggenheimhelsinki.org/stageonegallery/view/

Structure

Before you start creating your presentation boards, take a moment to organise your work. What are you trying to convey? What drawings / images to you have to show as part of your criteria? What are your key elements in design that you would like to portray.

Collect together the information – even list out all the images to be included and what text you would like to put it, then you can start planning the structure of your boards. This will really help you visualise what information will be on your boards and how you are going to communicate your design.

Orientation, setting and size

Are you restricted to orientation of your presentation boards? Make sure you know whether your boards are supposed to be presented in landscape or portrait orientation.

Layout

Consider using a grid to help you organise the visual elements on your board. You can use a simple grid or something more complex.

Background

Try to keep your background plain, unless it is featuring one of your key images.A white background will make your images and text stand out and look professional. Most of the board images I am sharing in this post feature white backgrounds, it is clear to see why. The information comes across well, and the background makes the visuals pop of the page. A background image can often be distracting, so make sure all the information is crystal clear if you decide to go down that route.

What to include

Well this is tricky as it depends on the work you have done, and what the project brief requires of you. That being said, make sure you select the images and drawings that explain your design. Imagine you are viewing this project for the first time, what would you want to see in order to be able to understand it?Usually the basics will include floor plans, and elevations, maybe some sections. Some sort of perspective view, 3d drawing, render. Then maybe a focus on some of the key features of your design, perhaps with brief sentences explaining if required. Hand drawings and development work can be good to include if relevant.

Information – Title, story, content

Do you need to have a title bar? If so, consider a consistent title bar throughout your boards, giving a sense of professionalism, and orderliness. Don’t forget to include your details – name, title of project etc and whatever else is applicable.

Text 

Its tempting to get carried away with multiple fonts but please, don’t! Stick to one font, maximum of two. Use font sizes to create a hierarchy on the board – e.g. large font for your titles, a bit smaller for subtitles and standard size for the remainder of your content. Make sure your chosen font and size is readable! Keep your sentences short and punchy. No one is going to want to read an essay on your presentation board. A picture paints a thousand words!Consider how to align your text within its text box. What is easier to read? Think about text spacing, and hyphenation and how it appears on your board.

Colour

The standard architectural style – particularly for students appears to be black white and grey! Grey grey grey! I understand why people sway that way, but sometimes its good to break out and use a bit of colour. I remember going to a student show not so long ago and overall it was just so bland. Every single board looked the same, a collage of grey! I agree there is a place for simplicity, and grey can give a professional atmospheric board, but try to inject some colour.