Podiums and Lecterns: Height and Sightlines

A lectern exists to hold notes at a readable angle while leaving the speaker visible. Both halves of that matter.

Reading height

Notes should be readable with a glance down, not a bow of the head. Too low and the speaker reads to the floor and the room loses them.

Do not hide the speaker

A large solid lectern in a small room puts a wall between speaker and audience. Clear or slim designs exist precisely to avoid that.

Somewhere to put things

A shelf underneath for water, a remote or a laptop keeps the top surface for notes. Without it everything ends up on the reading surface.

Stability

People lean on lecterns, usually without realising. A base that resists a lean is worth more than a lighter one that is easier to move.