Getting Creative

In class this week, we are learning about creating and delivering interesting presentations. First, we looked at examples of very well-done presentations versus boring ones. Presentations given by Bill Gates were used as examples of dull, complicated and poorly executed presentations. For someone as successful and wealthy as Bill Gates, it is surprising that he is incapable of creating a better presentation. Although Bill Gates may lack creativity, I don’t see why he can’t use his resources to find someone else to create a stimulating presentation for him. Apple CEO Steve Jobs, on the other hand, made a very simple, visually appealing presentation for his MacWorld 2008 Keynote Address. The difference between these two computer superstars is amazing. This inspection of presentation-making made me start thinking about artistic design and its place in the public relations field.

As someone who has always been interested in art and design, I have always hoped that I will someday have a job in public relations that involves some level of creativity. So far, during my studies at the University of Oregon, I have mainly focused on writing skills. As a public relations major, I have been encouraged again and again to keep my writing concise. This has proved to be a difficult concept for me. I like language. I love descriptive, creative writing. The more adjectives the better, right? Apparently, this is not the way to succeed in public relations. However, there has got to be some room for creativity, if not in our writing, then somewhere else.

Learning about presentation-making this week has opened my eyes to a new vehicle for creativity in public relations. Presentations are all about using space, color and form to create a visually appealing expression of your main ideas. In presentations, you use text and spoken words along with visual images to deliver your message.

It looks like there might be a little room for art in public relations after all!