In this episode of Integrate This! EdTech Podcast, we sit down with Kevin Smith—associate professor at Dakota State University, veteran instructional designer, and author-illustrator of the children’s book Yucky! 🖍️📚—to unpack the art and science of slide design and clear communication. Kevin takes us from his start as a high-school math teacher to instructional-tech expert and visual-design aficionado, sharing practical tips you can apply right away.

In this interview, you’ll learn how to…

• Balance creativity with clarity in every slide ✨
• Spot and avoid the most common presentation pitfalls 🚫✏️
• Build engaging visuals—charts, images, and multimedia—without overloading text
• Use tools like Canva, Keynote, and more for polished, professional decks 🎨
• Integrate AI into your design workflow for faster mock-ups and prototyping
• Get started in visual design, even if you’re not “techy,” with Kevin’s go-to resources

Resources & Links:

• Kevin’s Website → https://www.kevindsmith.org/
• Yucky! on Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/Yucky-Kevin-D-Smith/dp/1955026599
• Kevin’s DSU Profile → https://dsu.edu/directory/smith-kevin.html
• Watch the Video on YouTube → https://youtu.be/8yneR5bHE3E

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