SMPS welcomes Lyn Vicknair, Senior Designer at Provi for SevenFifty Daily and BMG publications, for a 3-part graphic design workshop. 

This workshop series will be offered both in-person and virtual. Microsoft Teams information will be sent to attendees shortly before the event.  Ticket prices remain the same for in-person and virtual. 

Wednesday, February  8
Part 1: Building Templates for Proposals that Get Noticed

Register here

“Proposals rarely win pursuits, but they can lose them in a heartbeat.”

First and foremost, proposals must be compliant. Clearly defining a strategic approach is often a differentiator, as is showcasing an "A team" and relevant project experience. Something you may not realize is the design of the proposal itself. An effective design can make your proposal stand out from that of your competitors, and it can leave a positive impression on the selection committee.

You can streamline your pursuit efforts by creating well-designed templates for your proposals, and meeting deadlines will be much easier. With 15+ years of experience in both publishing and AEC marketing design, Lyn has learned some valuable lessons in how to create effective, sophisticated, and most importantly, usable templates. This session will focus on Adobe InDesign, a powerful tool created specifically for desktop publishing; however, there are tips shared in this workshop that can be translated to the program of your choice.

In this session we will cover:

• The Basics of well-designed proposal
• The Elements of a useful template
• Building templates for print and digital submissions – what’s the difference?

Tuesday, March 7
Part 2: Presentation Design Principles for Effective Slide Decks

Register here

Knowledge is power, but it’s only half the battle. A true strength is being able to share knowledge - that is, effectively communicating even complex concepts to your audience.

Presentations are stories, not lists, and stories have a structure. They build towards an impact moment and unleash a wave of momentum that changes people’s perceptions and preconceived notions. Good stories aren’t boring, and neither are good presentations. Presentation design is an opportunity to craft a compelling narrative that earns big wins for our teams.

Slide design is an important part of presentation design, and effective slides are rooted in visual simplicity. Simplicity is best achieved by grasping the complex and being able to interrupt it in bite-size information that the audience can grasp quickly. This session will focus on PowerPoint; however, there are tips shared in this workshop that can be translated to the program of your choice.

In this session, we will cover:

• The 5 Design Principles for Effective Deck Design
  • Hierarchy and Layout
  • Typography and Legibility
  • Image selection
  • Color schemes
  • Use Special Effects with Intention
• The Importance of the “Leave Behind”
• Overview of some helpful and powerful PowerPoint Features

Tuesday, April 4
Part 3: How to Make Effective Social Media Graphics Without Being a Graphic Designer

Register here

The job of a marketing manager often requires the ability to work with graphics, although not everyone is a professional graphic designer. The goal of this session is to teach you how to make social media graphics that look professional.

Social media is highly competitive. As soon as you publish content, it is immediately included in an endless feed of content, competing not only with other brands but also with the platform's ranking algorithm. It is true that only the strong survive in social media, but you can use stunning social media graphics to create engaging, memorable content.

In this session, we will cover:

• Doing the Prep-Work Before You Start
• Tips On Designing Your Social Media Page
• 5 Guidelines For Social Media Content Design