The Five Minute Pitch

This week you will be presenting your ONE BIG IDEA in class. You don't have anything to hand in. Make sure that you have created a blog post that sums up and shows a visual of your ONE BIG IDEA at OCAD. From this blog posting you will be making a 5 minute pitch of your idea to the class. Try to convince us of the merits of your idea, and why we should adopt it here at the University.

The 5 Minute Pitch:
Practice and fine tuning the art of the five minute pitch is fundamental to your professional development as a designer. Good ideas can get lost if you don’t know how to present them. Even mediocre ideas (not that I’m advocating mediocrity) can be improved and worked upon in a presentation.

The idea is to get your audience’s attention – and hold it, for 5 minutes. Then you ask for what you came for. Make sure you are clear about this -- you should know what you want to get from the pitching session, and what you are going to ask for.

The Theory of the 5 Minute Pitch:
The beauty of learning to pitch your concept within the 5 minute time frame works on the basis that anyone can concentrate for 5 minutes - so you’re guaranteed to keep your audience’s attention to the end. They will appreciate the fact that you are so quickly able to come to the point, saving their valuable time. There will be times when you will require much longer to show work - when it is complex, or involves a time-based presentation, but more often than not, what you need to say can be said in 5 minutes.

The Method:
When you present, or ‘pitch’ your design ideas and projects, you must try to grab your audience’s attention as soon as you start, and hold it. Plan what you are going to say, and if necessary,take notes in point form so that you don’t miss any of the points you wish to make, or disturb the flow of your presentation.

Practice your presentation - and time it! Make sure that it really is a five minute pitch.

Here are the points you need to hit:

1 Introduce yourself and your team; briefly explain your roles and responsibilities in the team – what you did.

2 Introduce your project, by name (if your project hasn’t got a name, give it one).

3 Tell us about your vision – WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO DO THIS?

4 Briefly describe your concept, back it up with reference to your research.

5 Briefly explain your project and demo or describe a couple of the high points...

6 Identify your target audience.

7 Describe your method of marketing and distribution to your audience ie: how will they find out about it, and how will they get to use it?

You don’t need to do this for class, but the next steps in the real world are....

8 If your project is a product or service, identify your price point.

9 Briefly present your budget. Then ask for the money/support/grant/assistance you need!

10 Always -- Thank the people who have so graciously listened to your pitch.