Graphic designer Rachel Baker shares expertise with students for Innovate 2022 competition

Rachel Baker said visually appealing content is one way to resonate with audiences. (photo courtesy of Lynsey Steinberg)

By Rakiyah Lenon | Co-editor in chief

Rachel Baker, brand lead for Wier/Stewart and expert in design, gave students tips on how to create effective presentations pitching their ideas for the Innovate 2022 competition earlier this month.

Baker’s visit on March 8 came as Augusta University students were finalizing their presentations for Innovate 2022, a competition designed for students to provide solutions that would solve problems within the local community. Students will pitch their ideas at the Georgia Cyber Center’s Hull McKnight Building, March 31 at 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In Baker’s talk, she said visually appealing content helps people to be engaged. She said that elements often seen in design can also be applied to presentations.

“Any presentation that we give, or you give, is also in a sense a piece of design,” Baker said.

Baker said she uses hand-lettering, calligraphy and clean fonts to create compelling material. In speaking of her work for Weir/Stewart, Baker said that she works with a team to provide the best for customers.

“We like to dream alongside our clients,” she said.

Baker said that understanding audiences is also key when presenting a pitch.

“Wowing an audience is ultimately about empathy and taking on their problems as our own,” she said. “Because if we really understand our audience, we’ll understand their problems too.”

Baker encouraged the competition participants to remember five tips when delivering their presentations:

1. “Set the tone.”

2. “Make your presentation legit.”

3. “Say it, don’t display it.”

4. “Rehearse it.”

5. “Surprise and delight.”

Baker also answered questions from students who wanted ideas for their presentations.

Vahe Heboyan, part of the competition leadership and assistant professor in health economics and modeling, said that students should focus on the goal of their project in their pitch.

“Try to go directly to the problem you are trying to address,” he said.

Baker was the third and final guest who spoke in preparation for the competition. Previous speakers include Ben Chestnut, co-founder of Mailchimp and Greg Thomas, director of user experience at TaxSlayer.

The pitch competition open for all Augusta University students, faculty and staff to attend.

For more information, students can visit the competition website at https://www.augusta.edu/innovation/innovate .

Contact Rakiyah Lenon at rlenon@augusta.edu.