Digital signage presentation design guidelines

Introduction
This page provides guidance on designing your presentation, as well as useful links to download the production-ready templates, with the correct aspect ratios and orientations for the various displays in the libraries.

"Uploading your presentation to Xibo"

- To upload your completed presentation to Xibo, please see the Xibo guide for digital signage.

PowerPoint templates - Download links
The following templates are based on the official Stellenbosch University PowerPoint templates, with modifications to include the Library and Information Services logo and modern aspect ratios for use with the displays linked to the Xibo digital signage system.

Click on the images below to download the corresponding template:



The horizontal template is most commonly used, and will fit nearly all modern displays. The vertical template should only be used the when the display itself is oriented vertically, like e.g. the large screen mounted against the column outside the learning commons.

If you come across a display where none of these templates fit perfectly, please log a ticket on HEAT, select the "ITProbleem" option and provide the manufacturer, model number and specifications of the display. Also include information detailing where the current templates fall short, e.g. the horizontal template is too narrow for the display. In some cases the display may already support one of the existing templates and only require a configuration change for a perfect fit.

Use of colour
It is strongly recommended to stick to the official University colour palette whenever possible. This ensures better readability (these colours are designed with good contrast in mind) and increased brand recognition, and additionally increases the consistency of the branding used by the library.

For your convenience, these colours are provided below:



The templates provided also make use of a white background, which provides a neutral field on which to display colourful items such as photos or logos pertaining to the content. The default font colour is black, which provides maximum contrast to combat glare and promote readability at a distance. It is important to simplify the use of colour and maximise contrast where possible to best accommodate persons who suffer from colour blindness or reduced vision.

Use of links to online resources
Long links, or URLs to web pages are hard to read and copy in the short time that a slide is visible. There are two alternatives to this:

Provide a path for the user to follow from the home page
For example, instead of including a link to the following page on the presentation: http://library.sun.ac.za/SiteCollectionDocuments/jsg/Library%20Interactive%20Floor%20plan_Eng_BB_ADL_17Jan18_FINAL%20sonder%20klank.pdf

It is much more accessible to include the following text: Library Homepage -> Help -> SU Library Floorplan

Provide a QR code
"QR code quality and accessibility"

- Resizing the QR code once it has been generated (e.g. in PowerPoint) should be avoided, as it decreases the sharpness of the image and could cause problems for the applications reading the data. Also ensure that the code is within arms reach when displayed on the screen, since some of the displays are mounted near the ceilings and it may be impossible for clients to position their devices to read the code if it is displayed on the top half of the slide.

QR codes can provide convenient access to long, complex links, and are nearly universally supported on mobile phones (sometimes the functionality is built-in, otherwise the user may need to install a small app). To generate a qr code, do the following:


 * 1) Launch Wolfram Alpha
 * 2) Type "qr code" followed by the URL you want to link to in the search box (see the examples below) and press enter
 * 3) Once the code has loaded, press "Show larger" in the upper right corner of the QR code section (see the example below)
 * 4) Now right click on the larger code, and choose "Save Image As", and choose where to save the image
 * 5) You can now insert the QR code into your presentation, as you would with any other image.





Questions
For any questions, please log a ticket on HEAT, select the "ITNavraag" option, and describe your query.