Shapes

Home screen clutter

The longer I use my iPhone, the fewer the apps change that I frequently use. So while these apps have been sitting for a long time on my phone home screen, I still make frequent mistakes in tapping the right one. Some lessons here that are also applicable to presentation design.

Shape fill with a data chart

You can use shape cut outs as masks to create unconventional data charts. Here is how I created the pyramid-shaped stacked column chart:

1. Insert a standard stacked column chart
2. Cut away clutter until you are left with one huge…

Aspect ratios and image fills

PowerPoint distorts the aspect ratio of images when you use them to fill a shape. To work around the issue, you need to crop the picture in the aspect ratio of your target shape. In the example of the circle below, that is a square.

Concept: a third way

This slider chart is a great way to show a comparison between multiple concepts across multiple dimensions. I recently used it for a hedge fund with a new innovative investment process.

Lots of layers

Here is a concept to label lots of layers in a circle without bending text, the second image shows with which components the first chart was created.