The way presentations are currently constructed, delivered and received is broken. This is not the result of laziness on the part of presenter or audience. Presentations are built with effort, intention and time but with a concept that breaks the result. The Japanese art of kintsugi recognises the value of a piece of pottery and it is repaired, often with gold. Presentations are broken. They should not be thrown in the trash. They can be repaired with kintsugi and returned to intended function and experiences of real value.
The reasons that presentations are broken are multiple, complex and variable. The end result remains the same. Rather than throwing them out because they don’t work currently we can use the concept of kintsugi to repair and restore. The value of the resultant, repaired piece is increased, the original purpose remains the same whether that is presenting research, teaching or a business case. It is not about making something new or weird from the pieces but restoring the original and intended function. The p cubed approach is kintsugi for presentations, restoring and increasing the value of presentations.
The cracks in a broken piece of pottery are analogous to the flaws in presentations. The underlying reasons for the damage does not change the need for repair. They should of course be avoided in future. It may be the broken approach of construction of a message (p1) attempting to deliver large volumes of data or complex information. The repair is in making the information accessible, memorable and relatable. The huge flaws in presentations caused by text driven supportive media (p2) and overly complex slides can be repaired by highlighting only that which is valuable and adds to the message and that time. The destruction caused to delivery (p3) by unengaged speakers reciting text or over running can be rectified to allow the excitement and passion of the presenter to shine, like the gold of repair.
Repairing broken presentations does not happen overnight. It takes acceptance, effort and importantly change. Some sections may need replacing completely but the end purpose remains the same; restoration of intended function and seeing the value and beauty in every presentation. Kintsugi for presentations.