8 Creative Presentation Board Ideas to Make Your Projects Stand Out (Free Tool Included)

• They are carefully planned.

Architecture presentation boards require careful planning. Each aspect considers the preferences of the client, the message you want to convey, and the overall aesthetics of the board. Well-designed boards have logical flows, making complex architectural concepts easier to understand.

• They use a variety of visual elements to communicate ideas.

Architects use photos, graphics, diagrams, and other elements to help build the story of their design and, in effect, engage their audience. For example, a presentation board for a beach resort may include assets like coast lines, rocks, plants, and trees, all of which help the audience see what the end project will look like.

• They are well organized and easy to follow.

Each aspect of a good presentation board is carefully organized, following a specific logical order. The overall layout is neat and uncluttered. It uses headings and subheadings to organize ideas and contain visual cues to help guide the viewer’s eye. A well-designed presentation board is similar to a user-friendly website. It has everything a viewer needs to see, yet is easy to navigate.

• They are beautiful and engaging.

Excellent presentation board creators do not only consider aesthetics. They keep the reader in mind. They explore different color combinations and try various fonts and appropriate images that they deem would provide the viewer with a pleasant visual experience.

Although your presentation board’s content will depend on the project you will be presenting, there are some elements you should include.

• Title

You need a clear and informative title on your architecture presentation board to communicate your ideas effectively. Think of well-written titles like the headlines of newspaper articles; they need to be clear, specific, and valuable. They can also lend you credibility and professionalism. Use a large, bold font so viewers can easily see your board’s title.

• A brief description of the project

Place a brief description of your project beneath the title. This will serve as a quick overview that will provide your viewers with the context and key aspects of your design. Use a smaller font for your description and position it beneath your title.

• Drawings, sketches, and/or photos

Drawings, sketches, and photos are important elements of an architecture presentation board. They are the visuals that make the story of your design more interesting, compelling, and easier to understand. However, do not overuse these elements. Too many drawings, sketches, and photos on a presentation board can make it look cluttered and untidy.

• A site plan

A site plan shows viewers how your design integrates with its surroundings, from landscapes to existing buildings in the area. It explains the factors that influenced your design. For example, your site plan can show how the hotel you are designing effectively highlights the beautiful mountain view near the area. Additionally, a site plan on your presentation board makes it more aesthetic, adding more visual interest to your design.

• Floor plans

Floor plans show the purpose, flow, and functionality of your design. They provide comprehensive views of room sizes in relation to the total area. Additionally, these plans show how people will move from area to area, giving them a bird's-eye view of the property. You can include doors, windows, closets, toilets, and other assets that will help viewers understand your design.

• Elevations

Elevations are important aspects of architecture presentation boards as they show the exterior and interior facade of a building. They show heights, trims, floor levels, and similar details.

• Sections

Sections are like X-rays that reveal a cutaway view of the building, showing its interior spaces, construction details, spatial volumes, and vertical connections.

• Details

Adding details to your presentation board makes it look better overall. For example, zoomed-in camera shots make your presentation board more interesting by showing off the skill, substance, and technical know-how that went into making your design.

• A materials and finishes palette

An important part of an architecture display board is a materials and finishes palette, which shows the different colors, patterns, and textures of the materials you used in your design. It makes the board more interesting to look at and helps people understand how your ideas fit together. The palette also helps clients see what the finished result will look like and lets them make smart choices. Overall, it improves communication, shows what you are trying to do, and adds credibility to your presentation.

1. Use the correct size and orientation

Before planning your board, ask your juries or clients their preferred size and orientation. This will not only eliminate the guesswork on your end; it will also meet client expectations and, in effect, convince them of your expertise. The correct board size will ensure readability and, ultimately, its impact on your viewers. Your board will not look crowded, as you will have sufficient space to put your drawings, elevations, sections, and other elements. On the other hand, the right orientation will positively affect a viewer’s perspective. Keep in mind that your presentation board should be suitable for the project. For small projects, a smaller board will suffice. Conversely, a bigger project will require a larger presentation board.

Image: A well-designed presentation board

2. Harmonious color combination

Choosing a color combination that aligns with your client’s brand and complements the mood and atmosphere of your design gives your viewer an unforgettable visual experience. Colors evoke a variety of emotions and experiences. For example, red and orange show excitement and energy, so you can use them in restaurants or similar businesses. Blue and green provide a feeling of calmness and serenity, so they’re ideal for hospitals and clinics. Leverage bold colors to emphasize important elements like titles and subheadings, and lighter colors to tone down less essential aspects of your board.

Image: Different color combinations for an architecture board

3. Use white or light-colored background

When choosing a background for your board, you’d like something that would highlight the important aspects. That’s why most architects and architecture students choose white or light-colored backgrounds so that the focus of their viewers will be on the elements of their design.

4. Carefully plan the layout

Your architecture board should tell a story—one that your viewers can understand. And the best way to show this visual narrative is to plan the layout carefully and thoughtfully. Make your layout more interesting by strategically adding details and white spaces. A thoughtfully designed layout reveals a smooth flow of information and a clear visual hierarchy that guide the viewer’s eye to the most important elements of your design down to the tiniest details.

Image: A well-designed presentation board

5. Use complementing fonts

When choosing fonts, you should consider the presentation’s purpose, the project’s tone and style, readability, hierarchy, and consistency. If you are creating a presentation board for a traditional building, then the serif font family is a good option. You can use a font library to find a font that’s suitable for the project. Ensure that your texts are easy to read, from the title to the smallest subheadings. Ornate fonts might look nice to some people, but others might find them difficult to read. Use larger text sizes and bolder colors for titles, and smaller texts, lighter shades for captions and subheadings. Additionally, be consistent with your use of fonts. This will establish the brand’s identity.

Image: Different fonts

6. Use visuals strategically

Visuals play a huge role in the success of an architecture presentation board. They can provide warmth and dynamics, lending life to your board. However, be cautious with your use of visuals. Do not overload your design with too many images, diagrams, or drawings, as they might overwhelm the viewer.

Image: Different visuals

7. Use tools that can facilitate the entire process

In the old days, architects and architecture students used to spend a lot of time, money, and effort for creating presentation boards. Today, there are plenty of tools that can help speed up the process of creating and designing boards. One such tool is Bildigo, which can help you design presentation boards 92% faster. With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can stylize your drawings, plans, elevations, and sections. You can also scale different aspects of your design in just a few minutes. Using tools that can accelerate the creation and design of your presentation boards will save you a considerable amount of time, money, and effort.

Video: Bildigo in action

8. Ask for feedback

Before presenting your board to juries or clients, ask fellow architecture students or architects for feedback. Doing so will provide you with actionable tips and insights that can help you improve your board and ultimately achieve success during your presentation. You can join communities specifically created for architects and architecture students. There, you can ask for tips and suggestions on how to create and design better presentation boards. You can also ask admins and members for feedback.

Image: Screenshot of Bildigo community

What tool to use for effectively designing presentation boards

You can use a variety of tools for designing your presentation boards. Two options are doing it manually (hand-draw) on a traditional drawing board or using a (CAD) program. The first can consume a lot of time and effort, while the second can cost you some money.

If you need a free tool that’s fast, easy to use, loaded with thousands of assets to include in your designs, and allows you to scale different aspects of your design, try bildigo. We have an array of tools and templates for designing professional-grade architecture presentation boards.

Q: How do you create a good presentation board?

A: Think of a presentation board as a visual narrative that you will be presenting to a specific audience. Remember that you are creating the board for your viewers and not for yourself. Learn their needs and preferences. Then, apply the tips for creating creative presentation board ideas above to suit those needs and preferences.

Q: How should I layout a presentation?

A: Your presentation’s layout should help the reader understand your design’s narrative. Maintain a logical flow that guides the viewer through the narrative while balancing the layout to emphasize the most compelling aspects of your design.

Q: What do you recommend to be the best way of getting images onto presentation boards?

A: One tip is to use the ⅔ rule. First, establish guide lines that divide the entire board into thirds on both the vertical and horizontal axes. The floating images should be situated in 2/3 of the guide lines, either closer to the left or right, top or bottom, rather than the center of the board. If you want to add more framed images for contrast and balance, you should also position them on the board in accordance with the 2/3 Rule.

Now, if you want to add images to your presentation board faster, use Bildigo.