Presenting Structure or Organization Effectively [How to visualize a concept]

One thing our clients struggle with when preparing PowerPoint presentations is how to effectively illustrate abstract thoughts or ideas. Common ideas people ask for help illustrating are structure and organization. We all know it is important to provide powerful visuals when designing a presentation. The graphical element is a huge part of what makes it effective! However, demonstrating concepts like “organization” which feels abstract is a roadblock for many folks.

People who contact us know there HAS to be a way to illustrate this common, key concept! Our usual advice is to select a simple icon when representing complex or big ideas. That way your audience will recognize and remember the image and be better equipped to return your content.

Style Neutral Visual Metaphors for Structure and Organization

To demonstrate structure, you need to utilize basic icons and diagrams. Our flat icons collection contains many diagrams which may work for representing structure or organization. Some of our favorites are pictured below. Suit-wearing figures with charts extending from them, busts of people which branch out and form a web. Flow charts or tree charts to illustrate different sections or structures within your organization. Some equally capable, but less commonly chosen icons are stately buildings both in button and clip art form, and a web-like diagram that is less a chart and more a solid, graphical design.

Creative Metaphors for Structure or Organization

Alternately, organizations or structures which require more flair in their illustrated diagrams have the sketched diagram alternatives we feature in the next image. Our creative hand drawn symbols are sketch-inspired and hand drawn. This set of icons adds zest and personality to even mundane topics pertaining to structure and organization. It’s one of the many ways you can personalize the look and feel of your PowerPoint into something your audience will benefit from and be compelled by.

It’s easy to see the difference in feel and tone between the hand drawn building and the simple icon version above. The diagram of a flow chart on a screen in the sketchy set definitely adds a level of meta creativity that some presenters will find useful. The honeycomb and compass-like diagrams illustrate teamwork, structure, and organization in a metaphorical way.

Need to show another concept in Your presentation?

Have an idea or concept, but can’t seem to figure out a great metaphorical illustration? We would love to hear from you! We’d love to help you brainstorm a way to get your ideas “on paper” so to speak. If we do not have exactly what you are looking for or need, let us know. We can help you conceptualize that big idea and create unique diagrams (even for things like data processing , retail business reviews or supply chain and other big data ideas.)

I’d love to hear what ideas you will be illustrating in your upcoming presentations and if any of these slide making suggestions were helpful.

We mean it; if you’re stuck on something we’d love to help. Share your visualization challenge in comments and we’ll propose ideas of how you can illustrate your concept in your PowerPoint presentation text or charts.

Further Inspirations

Need to show another concept in a presentation? See how to illustrate other business concepts – Strategy, Investment, Growth and more.

Check our Business Concepts Visualisation List blog:

One picture to rule them – Visual Metaphors Ideas

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