In “The Expert Trap” chapter, we discuss the power of frameworks to organize information. The simplest frameworks categorize content into groups, assign each group a title, and list the related elements within each group. We call these frameworks “n-boxers,” like in the figure above that shows several of the 54 simple n-box frameworks in our slide library.
N-box frameworks improve on wall-of-text bullet slides by chunking up content, creating a hierarchy, and adding visual elements. But you don’t have to stay inside the box.
Make frameworks more engaging by adding icons. Icons are eye-catching and, when well-chosen, make the categories easier to digest. The figure below shows icons with a simple cut-out effect on a classic 3-boxer.
Double down on relationships and hierarchies. Frameworks can also show how each element relates to the other elements. The figure below shows six classic frameworks. PowerPoint’s SmartArt and Google Slides’ Diagrams features have built-in frameworks that automatically update as you add or remove elements. While they’re not always perfect and some are clichéd, they’re a good place to start.
Make the category names memorable. In this sidebar excerpted from Presentation Pitfalls, we share how to use marketing hacks to make frameworks easier for your audience to remember.
