Appreciating Office 2007: SmartArt

The out and out best part of Office 2007 has to be the new SmartArt capability. There are loads of times that I want to create diagrams that are relatively simple and portray a concept or an idea. Previously I would spend hours creating shapes with text in them that I would then structure into a diagram. These diagrams are essential to the work that I do.

With SmartArt the hours of messing about have become seconds and minutes. This allows me to focus on the message of the diagram, rather than on the look and feel of the diagram.

The ability to switch between different diagram styles with ease is a dream. I’ve started so many diagrams in one way, only to change them to a different diagram as I get further in.

I can see it becoming a new way that people can use to create even messier presentations – but that’s got more to do with a very poor understanding of what a good presentation looks like than it has to do with PowerPoint. Having said that, if I see more SmartArt and less bullet points I’ll be a happier person.

The best software for you is the software that aids the way that you already think, and that’s what SmartArt does for me. So I’m sure that some people will hate it, but I’m not one of them.