1. Creative Inventions and Robotics
Presenting Your Ideas
Creative Inventions and Robotics
Welcome to the Build-It-Yourself Laboratory.
I’m John, chief inventor at Build-It-Yourself
To get us on the track to build way cool projects, we’re going to talk for the next 10 minutes about how we present creative ideas and inventions at Build-It-Yourself.
At Build-It-Yourself, it’s important to have good ideas. But it’s just as important to know how to present your ideas so they get the attention good ideas deserve.
A great idea may never benefit others if you don’t present it well:
explain your idea clearly,
focus on your audiences’ interests, and
sell your idea convincingly.
So get ready to spend time drawing, writing and presenting your ideas clearly, concisely and convincingly.

2. Presenting Your Ideas www.build-it-yourself.com
Let’s look at some examples of how important it can be to present your ideas thoughtfully.
Imagine that both bags contain the exact same candy worth $1. Which bag would you buy? Why?

3. Which Lemonade Stand would you visit?
Presenting Your Ideas
Both lemonade stands are set up for business next to each other.
They sell exactly the same lemonade for exactly the same price.
What goes through your head when you are deciding which lemonade stand would have the best lemonade?
Which Lemonade Stand would you visit?

4. Which Book would you pick off the shelf first?
Presenting Your Ideas
Imagine that you have written a book of cool tricks.
Now you need to design a cover for your book.
Which book do you think most people would open first even though both may have exactly the same cool tricks?
Why?
What’s right and what’s the problem with the quote, ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover.’
Which Book would you pick off the shelf first?

5. Which sign is convincing?
Presenting Your Ideas
Motion is
prohibited
here.
Which sign is clear?
Which sign is concise?
Which sign is convincing?
Here are two signs that signal an important action.
Which sign would you want on street crossways near your home to ensure that you don’t get squished?
Why?

6. Presenting Your Ideas www.build-it-yourself.com
Which lab book do you think has the most complete and accurate information?
What if you developed an amazing machine that could fix a big problem but it looked so junky that no one bothered to take the time to see amazing things it could do? There are many great ideas that never see the light of day because the inventors failed to convince people that the idea is worth anything.
At the Build-It-Yourself laboratory, we aim to avoid this problem.

7. Presenting Your Ideas Ugly Average Way Cool www.build-it-yourself.com
First, make 3 rectangles (or squares)
Add a title … Presenting Your Ideas
Then label the boxes
Ugly
Average
Way Cool (or some expression that convincingly expresses above average like Knock-your-socks-off, Sick, Far out)
Way Cool

8. Presenting Your Ideas Ugly Inconsistent Out of bounds
First, make 3 rectangles (or squares)
Scribble in the first box.
This is the ugly or “I don’t care” way to present your ideas.
You’re all over the place, helter skelter, un-disciplined, not paying attention to boundaries or directions.

9. Presenting Your Ideas Ugly Inconsistent Out of bounds Average Boring
In bounds
In the next box, draw very careful straight, parallel, consistent lines. Or fill it in quickly with an ordinary color.
You’re making neat, careful moves and playing by the rules.

10. Presenting Your Ideas Ugly Inconsistent Out of bounds Average Boring
In bounds
Now color the 3rd box using two colors that dance with each other.
You’re thinking outside the box but there’s a basic logic in your moves.
You’re breaking ground and operating in a new dimension.
You’re adding your creativity. This is the quality that separates you from the robots!
You’re looking pretty fine!
Way Cool !!!
Creative order
3rd dimension

11. Presenting Your Ideas Ugly Inconsistent Out of bounds Average Boring
In bounds
Imagine you’re a musician:
Ugly - You’re playing an out of tune guitar.
Average - You’re playing straight ahead, simple notes with a metronome.
Way Cool - You’re playing phat chords in a syncopated rhythm.
You’re Elvis the King!
Imagine you’re a soccer player:
Ugly - You’re running around the soccer field always out of position. The refs have issued you 2 cards. You’re outta there.
Average - You’re doing exactly what the coach taught. Eventually the other team figures you out.
Way Cool - You’re making moves no one has seen. Your team mates are inspired to play with you.
You’re the great Brazilian soccer star, Pele.
Imagine you’ve got a job at Burger King flipping hamburgers:
Ugly - If you flip hamburgers the ugly way, you’re fired.
Average – If you flip hamburgers the average way, either you’ll be flipping hamburgers for the rest of your life or you’re working at a boring, repetitive job that will soon be done better by a robot.
Way Cool – If you flip hamburgers the way cool way, You're the boss.
Imagine you’re a politician:
Scribble - You’re a democrat … all over the place.
Straight - You’re a republican … up-tight, can’t dance.
Way Cool - You’re an independent … thinking for yourself.
Way Cool !!!
Creative order
3rd dimension

12. Presenting Your Ideas Conclusions:
Building a solution that works is important. But if you do not present your ideas clearly, concisely and convincingly, you may not get the attention you deserve.
The way you present your ideas will often drive how your buddies will think.
Building a solution that works is important. But if you do not present your ideas clearly, concisely and convincingly, you may not get the attention you deserve.
The way you present your ideas will often drive how your buddies will think..

13. Presenting Your Ideas www.build-it-yourself.com
Here’s a coin detection machine. Pay 25 cents and a wizard will answer a question. This coin detection machine drew as much attention as his wizard because it’s so colorful, playful, clever and interesting. You may want to pay a quarter as much to get your fortune as to watch what happens when you put a coin in the spillway.

14. Presenting Your Ideas www.build-it-yourself.com
Max, the inventor of this contraption, earned $27 dollars and 25 cents with his Feeling Lucky Machine. Not only was his game fun, but it looked irresistible.

15. Presenting Your Ideas Is your design … Clear? Concise? Convincing?
Now its time to show off your new presentation skills. Design a lab book cover that will make others say. “Hey, what’s in there?” Measure how well you are doing by asking 3 questions.
Is it clear? (Can it be read from a distance like a STOP sign?)
Is is concise? (Do your design get to the point quickly and directly? Is it focused?)
Is it convincing? (Does your design attract attention? Does it make you want to do something?)
Your Lab Book cover must have:
Build-It-Yourself Lab Book
2) A picture
3) Your first name
The next slide will show you an example of a lab book cover.
At the end of this session, you should have the start of a good lab book including a cover and a 1st page to remind you that presenting you’re ideas clearly, concisely and convincingly is very important.

16. Creative Inventions and Robotics
Brought to you by
Creative Inventions and Robotics
After you get some practice presenting your ideas, you could start to make signs and labels for your project.
If you’re building the clock project, you’ll need numbers.
If you’re building a machine that earns money, you’ll need a 25 cents sign.
While you are drawing your lab book covers, perhaps you may like to debate some of these questions…
Can you tell anything about a person by what that person wears?
Have you ever had a great idea but were not able to make that idea come true because you couldn’t convince your parents it was important?
What products are mostly judged mostly by how they look and what products are judged primarily by their contents?
Is it true that in some cases appearance and substance or quality are equally important?
Is appearance ever more important than substance? How about the case of the STOP sign?

17. Public speaking is a function of
Public Speaking Lecture Notes from MIT Artificial Intelligence Prof. Winston
The Formula
S = f { K, P, t }
Public speaking is a function of
mostly knowledge,
partly practice and
just a bit of talent. 
The following slides are for advanced interns.

18. www.build-it-yourself.com Presentation Structure
Public Speaking Lecture Notes from MIT Artificial Intelligence Prof. Winston
Presentation Structure
State Vision, Promise, or Goal 
What have you done? Action. Results
Summarize the take away's.
(Question and answer)
When we Webcast lessons or when we are selling Build-It-Yourself,
keep your presentation or lecture as short as possible.
10 slides, 30 – 60 seconds per slide.
Leave lots of time for Q&A.

19. www.build-it-yourself.com Presentation Attributes ( 5 S’s ) Statement
Public Speaking Lecture Notes from MIT Artificial Intelligence Prof. Winston
Presentation Attributes ( 5 S’s )
Statement
Stories
Symbols
SurPrize
Salient

20. ? Builders Rule! nce upon a time … www.build-it-yourself.com
Public Speaking Lecture Notes from MIT Artificial Intelligence Prof. Winston
Presentation Tricks
Builders Rule!
Use memorable key words
Repeat, reinforce
Ask questions
Put ideas in context
Tell stories.    ?
Your
Idea
Use slides with just a few key words or symbols.  Don't make the audience read.  They will fall asleep.
Repeat or reinforce your key points 3 times to reach 90% of audience.  At any point in time only 30% of your audience is tuned in.  (Winston's math is a bit weak here but his point is not.)
Ask questions to make sure the audience is paying attention.
Put your idea in context.  Compare to competing ideas. Refer to popular analogies.  State benefits. 
End with a joke or interesting storyline.  That way, the audience will think they had fun for the whole lecture.
nce upon a time …

21. Presenting Your Ideas Website Design www.build-it-yourself.com Focus
Consistent, intuitive navigation
Professional, memorable design
Now its time to show off your new presentation skills. Design a lab book cover that will make others say. “Hey, what’s in there?” Measure how well you are doing by asking 3 questions.
Is it clear? (Can it be read from a distance like a STOP sign?)
Is is concise? (Do your design get to the point quickly and directly? Is it focused?)
Is it convincing? (Does your design attract attention? Does it make you want to do something?)
Your Lab Book cover must have:
Build-It-Yourself Lab Book
2) A picture
3) Your first name
The next slide will show you an example of a lab book cover.
At the end of this session, you should have the start of a good lab book including a cover and a 1st page to remind you that presenting you’re ideas clearly, concisely and convincingly is very important.

22. Presenting Your Ideas Website Design www.build-it-yourself.com Focus
Know what your website's call to action is.
Each page should have a goal which is relative to the website's main message or call to action.
Make content clear, concise and compelling.
Sell with an ‘edgy’ memorable picture or a phrase.
Inform with pictures and text.
Eliminate random content and cluttered pages "Less is more.“
Now its time to show off your new presentation skills. Design a lab book cover that will make others say. “Hey, what’s in there?” Measure how well you are doing by asking 3 questions.
Is it clear? (Can it be read from a distance like a STOP sign?)
Is is concise? (Do your design get to the point quickly and directly? Is it focused?)
Is it convincing? (Does your design attract attention? Does it make you want to do something?)
Your Lab Book cover must have:
Build-It-Yourself Lab Book
2) A picture
3) Your first name
The next slide will show you an example of a lab book cover.
At the end of this session, you should have the start of a good lab book including a cover and a 1st page to remind you that presenting you’re ideas clearly, concisely and convincingly is very important.

23. Presenting Your Ideas Website Design www.build-it-yourself.com
Consistent, intuitive navigation
Enable users to find content quickly with minimum clicks.
Anchor navigation bars.
Make a single header and footer for all pages.
Now its time to show off your new presentation skills. Design a lab book cover that will make others say. “Hey, what’s in there?” Measure how well you are doing by asking 3 questions.
Is it clear? (Can it be read from a distance like a STOP sign?)
Is is concise? (Do your design get to the point quickly and directly? Is it focused?)
Is it convincing? (Does your design attract attention? Does it make you want to do something?)
Your Lab Book cover must have:
Build-It-Yourself Lab Book
2) A picture
3) Your first name
The next slide will show you an example of a lab book cover.
At the end of this session, you should have the start of a good lab book including a cover and a 1st page to remind you that presenting you’re ideas clearly, concisely and convincingly is very important.

24. Presenting Your Ideas Website Design www.build-it-yourself.com
Professional, memorable design
Understand each page's message in less than 2 seconds.
Make readers want to drill down.
Contrast foreground/background.
Coordinate colors.
No more than 3 fonts, 3 colors or 3 font sizes
Make a reader's eye flow logically through a layout.
Every webpage should look like it comes from the same site.
Design for multiple browsers, devices, and screen sizes
Now its time to show off your new presentation skills. Design a lab book cover that will make others say. “Hey, what’s in there?” Measure how well you are doing by asking 3 questions.
Is it clear? (Can it be read from a distance like a STOP sign?)
Is is concise? (Do your design get to the point quickly and directly? Is it focused?)
Is it convincing? (Does your design attract attention? Does it make you want to do something?)
Your Lab Book cover must have:
Build-It-Yourself Lab Book
2) A picture
3) Your first name
The next slide will show you an example of a lab book cover.
At the end of this session, you should have the start of a good lab book including a cover and a 1st page to remind you that presenting you’re ideas clearly, concisely and convincingly is very important.

25. Balance, Proportion, Scale Rhythm, Harmony, Repetition
4 Principles of Design
Summary
Alignment
Balance, Proportion, Scale
Rhythm, Harmony, Repetition
Focus, Dominance, Emphasis, Hierarchy
The following slides are for advanced interns.

26. www.build-it-yourself.com Alignment, Order 4 Principles of Design
The following slides are for advanced interns.

27. www.build-it-yourself.com Balance 4 Principles of Design
The following slides are for advanced interns.

28. www.build-it-yourself.com Rhythm, Harmony, Repetition
4 Principles of Design
Rhythm, Harmony, Repetition
The following slides are for advanced interns.

29. www.build-it-yourself.com Focus, Dominance, Emphasis, Hierarchy
4 Principles of Design
Focus, Dominance, Emphasis, Hierarchy
The following slides are for advanced interns.

30. 4 Principles of Design
Design Principles in Famous Art (Design vs. Art)
Alignment
Balance
Rhythm
Focus
The following slides are for advanced interns.

31. 4 Principles of Design
Design Principles in Famous Art (Design vs. Art)
Alignment
Balance
Rhythm
Focus
The following slides are for advanced interns.

32. 4 Principles of Design
Design Principles in Famous Art (Design vs. Art)
Alignment
Balance
Rhythm
Focus
The following slides are for advanced interns.

33. 4 Principles of Design
Design Principles in Famous Art (Design vs. Art)
Alignment
Balance
Rhythm
Focus
The following slides are for advanced interns.

34. 4 Principles of Design
Design Principles in Famous Art (Design vs. Art)
Alignment
Balance
Rhythm
Focus
The following slides are for advanced interns.

35. 4 Principles of Design
Design Principles in Famous Art (Design vs. Art)
Alignment
Balance
Rhythm
Focus
The following slides are for advanced interns.

36. 4 Principles of Design
Design Principles in Famous Art (Design vs. Art)
Alignment
Balance
Rhythm
Focus
The following slides are for advanced interns.

37. 4 Principles of Design
Design Principles in Famous Art (Design vs. Art)
Alignment
Balance
Rhythm
Focus
The following slides are for advanced interns.

38. 4 Principles of Design
Design Principles in Famous Art (Design vs. Art)
Alignment
Balance
Rhythm
Focus
The following slides are for advanced interns.