Guidance for presenters
Getting ready for Pittsburgh
Your presenter hub has a checklist to help you prepare your presentation, share your session, plan your trip and know what to expect when you arrive.
You must be registered to access the presenter hub.
How sessions work
Each presentation format has its own timing and approach to audience engagement. Review the details below so you know what to expect from your room setup, equipment and session recording.
Presentation formats
Here's how the different presentations work during the conference:
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45-minute track sessions are your standard conference fare. Presentations are limited to 45 minutes, but they typically run about 30 to 40 minutes, with a live Q&A to follow.
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Lightning talks are like a series of mini keynotes. Four of our community members give high-energy presentations to all of our attendees. These presentations are 8 to 10 minutes long, with no audience Q&A. A DigiCol emcee keeps the energy flowing between each speaker.
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Pre- and post-conference workshops happen on Sunday and Wednesday afternoons. When you lead a workshop, you get the chance to dive deep into a topic for 3 1/2 hours. These sessions offer hands-on learning and thoughtfully designed content. We build in scheduled breaks to support both presenters and attendees.
Rooms and technical equipment
We ask that you bring your own laptop to run your presentation, or consult with your track chairs to make other arrangements. Each track room offers HDMI and USB-C cables for you to connect to the projector. If your device uses unusual or other connectors (or if you have needed other adapters for past presentations), please bring those adapters.
Session recordings
Track sessions and lightning talks are recorded. Attendees will have on-demand access for four weeks after the event through the conference website. DigiCol paid members will have long-term access through the Professional Development Library.
Presentation content
Strong presentations make ideas easy to follow and help everyone feel included. Use the guidance below as you develop your slides, record your video and prepare to present. Small choices in design and language can reduce barriers and help more people connect with your work.
Accessibility
Keep accessibility and room visibility in mind when designing your presentation slides and recording your video. This year, projection screens are smaller than they have been in the past, so design all content to be easy to read from anywhere in the room. When in doubt, bigger is better.
- Limit the amount of text and other content on each slide. When possible, spread information across multiple slides rather than reducing the font size to fit more content. For example, instead of eight bullet points at 16-point font, consider using two slides with four bullet points each at 24-point font.
- Make text as large as possible and use simple, easy-to-read fonts such as Calibri. Avoid long passages or complex layouts that require smaller text.
- Choose text and background colors with clear contrast. Use the color contrast checker to verify your selections.
- When using images to support your presentation, briefly describe the relevant information while speaking so people who cannot see the slide can still understand your point.
More resources on accessible conference presentations
Inclusive language
Words are powerful. They shape the stories we tell, how we share knowledge, and how we connect with one another. Even with the best intentions, our language choices can have unintended, harmful effects.
Many common terms and phrases carry histories or references that may not be widely known but can still cause harm. At DigiCol, we promote inclusion and ask all presenters to be mindful of the language used during sessions. What feels neutral to one person may feel exclusionary — or even offensive — to someone else.
Harmful language can be perceived as harassment and may violate our code of conduct. Please avoid language that is harmful to people with disabilities, language of a sexual nature, language that leverages racism or gendered language.
As you create your slides and deliver your presentation, take time to review your language. If a word or phrase could make someone feel excluded, look for a more inclusive alternative. Your thoughtfulness helps ensure everyone in our community feels welcome, respected and heard.
- "...so that we couldn't just ask the web guy to do it…" versus "…so we couldn't just ask the web person to do it…"
- "…we were going into the project totally blind…" versus "…we were going into the project with no information whatsoever…"
- "…our first designs were so lame…" versus "…our first designs were really awful…"
Industry jargon and technical acronyms are often appropriate and necessary in a DigiCol presentation, but be sure to include an opportunity to quickly explain or describe the term for those in the audience who may not already be familiar.
Keep in mind that during the conference, attendees will be participating from all over the world. Avoid assuming knowledge of United States or North American laws, and be mindful that not everyone is in the same time zone.
It’s fine to include an in-joke or pop culture reference in your presentation, but consider the folks in the audience who may not be in on the joke. Let those who get the reference have a laugh, but also provide an explanation or some context to bring new people in, rather than leave them feeling left out.
Language both reflects and reinforces our assumptions, biases and stereotypes. We will all make mistakes sometimes. If someone calls your attention to language choices in your presentation, take a moment to thank them for letting you know, and reflect on how you might improve your presentation style or content to help remove those barriers going forward.
More resources on inclusive language and conference presentations
Questions?
Email conference@digicol.org for support.