The Evolution of Presentations From Cave Paintings to PPT

GE’s slides from 1958 demonstrate a significant lack of design and visual effect compared to the presentations we see today. As explained, slide presentations were not a cheap method of delivering information at this time. So it makes sense that the presentation forefathers stuck to a highly conceptual, simple slide layout.

IBM Talk Given at KU (1959)

This Talk Given at KU for the IBM Project Stretch demonstrates no computer-designed elements. The content is completely handwritten and would have been delivered to an audience via overhead projector. The slides would have served primarily as a visual point of reference for audience members, rather than a visually impactful presentation.

IBM’s Premiere of Products (1959)

This brochure by IBM reveals several of IBM’s data processing systems, printed in blue and black font color on white paper. The black and white photographs demonstrate the lack of color diversity and graphic design elements in the early presentations.

Donald Knuth’s Computer Languages (1963)

PowerPoint still had not yet made an appearance in the 1960s, which meant that presenters continued to rely on slides that offered no visual effect. This presentation on Computer Languages by Donald Knuth shows mostly text and some graphs. There is no visual appeal to the slides, as it is entirely in black and white and much more content-heavy than the presentations we would see today.

General Electric’s Numerical Control Programming Presentation (1968)

We can infer from GE’s Numerical Control Programming presentation of 1968 that the company probably invested a great deal into these slides. We already know that creating slides was more expensive before we had PowerPoint to do it for us. To create such text-heavy slides that also included the black and white images probably was not a cheap project for the company at this point in time.

Shattering Goblets with Amplified Singing (1973)

These slides from the early ‘70s include a bit more of a design element, with the company logo on the first slide to the left. However, the graphics included in this presentation still represent a serious lack of advanced computer design skill. The graphics are evidently inserted for visual reference rather than overall effect.

Packing, a Recurring, Recursive Problem (1976)

While this presentation boasts more visual appeal than past text-heavy presentations, it is still far different than the slide decks we see today. The text is obviously handwritten with whole photographs that do not include or incorporate any text layering. This presentation would have been delivered on an overhead projector, with the photos included as points of reference for the audience.

IBM (1979)

It is evident that IBM’s 1979 presentation began pushing the envelope of the presentation design standard. This presentation implemented bolder fonts and shapes, with a focus that extended past content and into the slide’s visual dynamics.

Apollo Guidance Computer (1982)

In this presentation designer Eldon Hall is turned towards the projector screen and is referring to the black and white images. These images have no color to them but are projected on the screen to help teach the audience about the Apollo Guidance Computer Design.

The Computer that Calls Itself (1985)

Starting to look a bit more familiar? These slides were used in presentations by John Imlay and certainly demonstrate a bit more similarities to modern presentations. With color graphics and different font types in bold layered onto the image, advancements in design technology is clearly evident in these slides.

The Dawn of PowerPoint (1987)

PowerPoint was finally launched in 1987 on the Macintosh and revolutionized the way people would give presentations for decades to come.

The early PowerPoint version had low-res and pixelated graphics, but could still add text and graphics, as well as sort slides. The highly conceptual early slides of the 1900s that primarily illustrated written content were no longer enough. Moving forward, presentations would be expected to step it up with compelling visuals and high-tech design.

Informix Corporate Image and Brand (1990)

While PowerPoint was already introduced to the world by the late 1980s, it took some time for companies, schools, and presenters to hop on the presentation software bandwagon. These slides appear to be for overhead projector presentations. However, they certainly demonstrate more modern presentation elements, with less text that is organized in a more visually appealing way – bullet points, diagrams, etc.

Dataquest Day (1991)

This Dataquest National Day presentation is also proof that the overhead projector was still alive and well in the early ‘90s – you can see the handwriting on the slides that was clearly added during the presentation. The text is more concise and better organized into an easy-to-read slide format. But there is still no color or ‘wow’ factor in terms of design.

While the presentations of today are used for various purposes, they are extremely popular among aspiring startups. Today, everyone has access to PowerPoint software and slides are not nearly as expensive to create as they were before PowerPoint – in fact, unless you hire someone to perfect the slides, they are free!

This easy access to presentation software combined with the all-powerful digital era of the 21st century has essentially established a requirement for startups to craft visually compelling slide decks if they wish to launch their business.

Let’s take a look at some of the more recent presentations and pitch decks that have emerged since the launch of PowerPoint.

LinkedIn (2004)

LinkedIn’s 2004 pitch deck presentation represents the drastic changes that slides experienced from the earliest presentations to the post-PowerPoint era. You can see that the company was able to insert a graphic of their logo and also incorporated many graphics, shapes, and tables throughout the pitch deck.

A significant development occurred in 2011 with Office 365, which allowed PowerPoint users to create and collaborate in the cloud. This past decade has witnessed countless pitch deck designs and presentations that push the boundaries of design and visual effects, while still upholding the principle of simplicity.

AirBnB

One of today’s most iconic startups is AirBnB, the online hospitality platform. But like all others before it, this startup needed a strong presentation if it wanted to successfully enter the market. This early AirBnB pitch deck presentation demonstrates unique font type and illustrates a consistent design and color scheme of blue and white. This presentation delivers clear, punchy content in an easy-to-read presentation.

Tinder (2012)

Another presentation that made it to the ‘pitch deck hall of fame’ is the Tinder pitch deck presentation, previously known as Matchbox. While it may not be the most visually striking presentation, Tinder triumphed in sparking audience emotion within the first few slides. The company wasted no time stating the problem – a problem that everyone could relate to – followed by the solution: Tinder.

The presentations that we know today in 2019 may become unidentifiable in the years to come. Virtual reality and augmented reality paired with the use of headsets are predicted to bring about significant change in the way we deliver and experience presentations.

Virtual reality headsets will transport audience members into the actual presentation, creating 360-degree experience. Augmented reality headsets will be used to transform the presentation space into one giant canvas, where the presentation information is displayed digitally on the walls.

Presentations are no longer about what information is being shown, but how it is being shown. With such substantial changes to presentation software on the horizon, new standards will surely evolve and we will adapt as we always have.

Despite past and future advancements in the way humans deliver information, one thing has remained constant: the need to deliver information. This need has stood the test of time since the first cave paintings of 15000 B.C. and will continue to do so for as long as humans have something to say.