Ask the Graphics Guru

FREE Coronavirus Response Icons

I’m doing something different this time (as is everyone in the world). Rather than write my standard article, I’m sharing some of my PowerPoint coronavirus response and healthcare icons and symbols. My hope is twofold: Empower people like you to educate others about pandemic response best practices. These royalty free images can be used in

By |2020-06-19T01:44:55-04:00June 19th, 2020|Categories: Ask the Graphics Guru, eZine|0 Comments

It’s 2020. Stop Using PowerPoint THE WRONG WAY!

“Everybody hates PowerPoint,” writes Geoffrey James in his January 21, 2020, Inc. magazine article: “It's 2020. Why Are You Still Using PowerPoint?” Although his article is well written and researched, James is engaging in a “clickbait” technique exploiting a provocative opinion and using a provocative title to garner readers. He doesn’t consider the alternative (albeit

By |2020-04-10T10:02:31-04:00February 28th, 2020|Categories: Ask the Graphics Guru, eZine|0 Comments

What are the three newest trends in proposal development?

In the last decade, I’ve seen three changes that have gained momentum: shorter proposals, more orals, and an increase in visuals. 1.Shorter Proposals Prospects, customers, reviewers, evaluators, and decision makers are fractured. They are resource starved. They do not have time to read through five two hundred-page proposals. Although resources have shrunk in the last

By |2020-05-05T07:45:33-04:00December 30th, 2019|Categories: Ask the Graphics Guru, eZine|0 Comments

How Do I Lead Designers?

I saw Simon Sinek present at a conference. I was one of about 10,000 people who funneled into a large auditorium to see this popular TED Talk presenter. I heard he was an insightful speaker, and I had no idea how much his words on leadership would inspire me.[intense_blockquote width="33%" rightalign="1"]Being a great leader is

By |2020-04-04T14:16:05-04:00September 25th, 2019|Categories: Ask the Graphics Guru, eZine|0 Comments

3 Common Graphic Myths

In the world of proposal design, many gurus tell you to follow the “rules.” But, like Captain Barbossa of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, I believe rules are more like guidelines. They are there for a reason but, if followed blindly, can lead to dire consequences. Here are three common myths surrounding these “rules”

By |2020-04-04T14:18:04-04:00June 13th, 2019|Categories: Ask the Graphics Guru, eZine|Tags: , |0 Comments

What is the Best Design Style for Proposals?

Reacting to what we see is instinctual. In some instances, our reactions can mean the difference between life and death. Fortunately for us, reviewing proposals is not life threatening, although it taps into similar feelings and reactions that then become judgments about what is being reviewed. The style of your graphics says a lot about

By |2020-04-04T14:20:22-04:00March 31st, 2019|Categories: Ask the Graphics Guru, eZine|0 Comments

6 Tips for Better PowerPoint Presentations

It’s hard to create clear, compelling presentations for proposals, capture, sales, marketing, or education. We know what bad presentations look like and have sat through many uninspired PowerPoint decks. However, when it comes time to design our own, we fall prey to the same traps and deliver bad presentations, too. But what can we do

By |2020-04-04T14:22:49-04:00November 26th, 2018|Categories: Ask the Graphics Guru, eZine|0 Comments

Ask the Graphics Guru: Proposal Innovations

Watch "Prove It! 4 Easy Ways to Validate Your Solution" by Graphics Guru, Mike Parkinson [intense_video video_type="youtube" video_url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFC4ZYfTX3M"]  

By |2020-04-06T05:53:12-04:00August 5th, 2018|Categories: Ask the Graphics Guru, eZine|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Where Can I Go To Get Free or Low-Cost Graphics?

by Mike Parkinson, APMP CPP Fellow I have the honor of teaching graphics, PowerPoint, and solutioning around the world. In my workshops, participants and I share our favorite free and low-cost stock image websites. The following is a list I compiled from recommendations and from my experience with the sites. To save time and money

By |2020-04-06T06:01:12-04:00June 26th, 2018|Categories: Ask the Graphics Guru, eZine|0 Comments
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