1. Creating Effective Proposals Utilizing Proposal Graphics C O N S U L T I N G

2. Proposal Graphics What are Proposal Graphics? Theyre worth 1,000 words when used properly and effectively Great for page constraints They show spatial relationships They break up monotonous text They convey information quickly Some evaluators focus primarily on graphics

3. C O N S U L T I N G Proposal Graphics What Graphics Represent Architectures (1-3) Technical diagrams, network topologies, etc. Processes and Methodologies (4-9) Management procedures, testing processes, KPMG methodologies, etc. Relationships (10-11) Organizational charts, reporting structures Statistics and Related Information (12-19) Revenue figures Staff breakdown by skill area/degree

4. C O N S U L T I N G Proposal Graphics Graphical Elements BackgroundAction Captions TitleFigure Numbers TextMaps/Legends BoxesCharts ArrowsBullets ShadingBalloons Clip-ArtKey Features PhotosIllustrations

5. C O N S U L T I N G Proposal Graphics Graphics Development Process Message/Purpose Architecture/Processes/Relationships Flow/Starting Point Placement/Size (Mockup) Draft Graphical Elements Action Caption Review - Is the original message clear? Refine (often go through several iterations) Review again

6. C O N S U L T I N G Proposal Graphics Action Captions Effective for conveying a message and reinforcing a theme Should be informative and positive Should tell the reader what to conclude from the graphic, and not serve solely as a title Bad Example: Project Schedule. Good Example: KPMGs project schedule accelerates delivery by 3 months due to the use of COTS software.

7. C O N S U L T I N G Proposal Graphics Symptoms of Bad Graphics Too much text (1,4) Too much white space (14, 17, 19) No clear message (1, 3, 4) No clear entry point (1, 3, 4, 9) Excessive use of red - sounds an alarm Poor balance/symmetry (19) Poor shading/contrast (2, 9, 17) No consistency (4, 10)

8. C O N S U L T I N G Proposal Graphics Tips and Pointers Clear Message (12) 5 - 7 Second Test (15) Flow and Entry Point (5) Left-to-right, top-to-bottom, or center out Organization (2) Balance/Symmetry (6, 10) Appropriate Size (2, 8, 16) Use Shading to Provide Contrast (1, 8)

9. C O N S U L T I N G Proposal Graphics More Tips and Pointers Consistency Fonts, shading, shapes, pictures/images, verb tense, capitalization, arrows, titles, clip-art/diagrams, photos Graphics should be conservative and professional, not flashy Graphics can and should reinforce the text Check references for accuracy Page should look the same upside down (12) Check spelling/grammar (4)

10. C O N S U L T I N G Proposal Graphics Any Questions? Carl Rosenblatt BDST Manager, Public Services Tysons Tower 703 747-6508