We come across many presentations in our professional journey that look the same and boring. This is because they have a few things in common- long text, too much information, bullet points, and lack of visuals. PowerPoint Icons are one of the ways in which the text on these presentation slides can be structured visually, making the presentation more appealing.
In this blog, we will discuss what PowerPoint icons are - their benefits, how to use them in your presentations, and most importantly, Where you can find them.
So, let’s get started.
What are PowerPoint Icons?
PowerPoint Icons are graphic symbols representing specific information, message, or action. In essence, PowerPoint Icons draw attention to, categorize, and simplify the information on the slide.
You can use these icons to create visually appealing presentations and explain your message effectively and quickly using PowerPoint slide templates. They not only help you save time but also help you create a great impression on your audience. The audience generally does not like too much content and dull-looking slides. So use PPT Icons to condense and present the content in an easy, visually appealing, and crisper format.
Benefits of Using PowerPoint Icons
One of the most significant benefits of using Icons in your presentations is that they make the most complex message understandable.
Presentation Icons act as a memory hook as they are retained in the audience’s mind for extended periods.
In addition to this, Powerpoint icons have the following benefits-
○ They help tell the story in a more structured way and convey more with less, which is helpful for both the presenter and the audience.
○ Icons help in simplifying concepts. For example, it could be hard for the audience to understand the diagrams in the slides; clever use of ppt backgrounds and icons can easily communicate the message.
○ People do not have the time to read the presentation slides thoroughly; therefore, you can draw the audience’s attention to the most important slide areas with icons.
○ The audience can drastically vary in their background, language, or expertise. However, popular Icons are universally understood, enabling messages to be communicated to diverse groups.
Cons of Using PowerPoint Icons
PowerPoint Icons should be strategically used to enhance communication in your presentation. Icons add visual appeal and take up less space, but their meaning can sometimes be confusing and misinterpreted. Let’s take a look at some of the cons:
○ Using too many icons on a slide can make the slides confusing, and this won’t allow the viewer to concentrate on any of the slides' messages.
○ PowerPoint icons are simple graphics, and their purpose is to give the user an idea about the concept just by looking at it. Forcing icons to illustrate overly complex concepts can create confusion.
○ The uncertainty of an icon’s function puts the viewer in a state of doubt. It requires them to think about the icon instead of focusing on the information.
○ PPT Icons simplify a complex message or visual into a simple graphic. But sometimes, sacrificing the nuances may work against you. For example, using a walking stick or eyeglasses to represent senior citizens may risk offending them, emphasizing disability.
Tips for Using PowerPoint Icons
One of the primary reasons for using PowerPoint Icons is that they are more intuitive. They are a replacement of text or words to represent objects or actions. But they are not always the best way to describe data. Below are a few tips for using PowerPoint Icons –
● The icon must evoke its meaning at a glance. It should not engage the user in interpreting it. An example of a good icon is the “trash box” icon. It refers to deleting or discarding. Therefore, the icons must be functional.
● Colors play an essential role in any design. The icon’s colors should not clash with the overall slide look and feel.
● Don’t overdo the icon design. Icons are supposed to be simple and make the slide look minimal.
● Avoid stuffing icons in the slide, as too many icons can make the presentation slide cluttered.
Where Can You Find PowerPoint Icons?
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint comes with a wide variety of free icons. The library consists of icons to serve a variety of needs. Here is how you can download them:
Insert ribbon > Illustrations > Icons
Free Resources
There are a lot of resources available on the web that offer Free icons. Flaticon and Icon finder are a few of them. They have a vast collection of PowerPoint icons keeping business professionals in mind. You just have to copy-paste these icons onto your presentations. The library includes Covid-19 icons, security, data icons, human silhouette icons, financial icons, and more.
Conclusion:
In a nutshell, presentation icons help you categorize the content on the slide into smaller chunks of information, making it easier for your audience to read, interpret, and absorb it. Therefore, we recommend using icons to strategically enhance your presentation's quality.
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