Slide Design

The Power of PowerPoint

 Determine whether slides will add value―if

you are part of a panel or interview, they may

not be needed

 PowerPoint slides can provide visual elements

that clearly explain, dramatically depict, and

emotionally emphasize each point you wish to

make

 Presenting an image in a slide with narration

allows audience members’ auditory and visual

channels to work collaboratively, making the

information easier to process

 Presenting an image with a lot of text and

narration overloads the audience with too

much information to process at one time

 Saying the words and showing the picture is

most effective

Keep It Simple

 Your slides should have plenty of white or

negative space

 Do not fill up your slides with logos,

unnecessary graphics, or text boxes that do not

contribute to the key point

 Less clutter equals a more powerful

presentation

Limit Bullet Points and Text

 The best slides are highly visual and have

almost no text

 Create slides that reinforce your words, not

repeat them

 If you want to provide audience members with

detailed information, make a handout

available after the presentation

Use Color Well

 Make sure you have sufficient contrast

between the text and the background

 A white (or light) background with dark text is

the best way to maintain visual intensity in high

and low light settings

Control Content with Simple Animation

 Use simple animation (appear, fade, wipe)

without motion and without sound effects

 Use animation to place information on the

screen as it becomes relevant

 Use animation with graphics to deliver complex

information gradually

Have a Visual Theme

 If you need to use your institution’s branded

template:

o Use the designated color palette, font, and

basic design style

o Select slide layouts that minimize the

amount of space taken up by branding

 If you do not need to use a template, create

your own, maximizing the amount of space

available for content

 Choose a sans-serif font and use the same font

throughout the presentation

Use High-Quality Graphics

 Use your own photos or purchase stock photos

 If using an image from an online source, be sure

to get permission and/or give proper attribution

 Avoid using clip art or other cartoonish line art

Use the Slide Sorter

Use the slide sorter to ensure that

 Your presentation has a logical flow

 Information is conceptually grouped

 Visual information is presented consistently

Slide Design Checklist

Item Done

Do your slides have sufficient white space?

Did you replace words with high-quality images wherever possible?

Have you limited the amount of text on your slides to reinforce (not repeat) your message?

Are your points grouped conceptually to help the audience remember them?

Have you reviewed the flow of content in the slide sorter?

Have you incorporated simple animation to control the flow of content?

Have you chosen the most effective chart style for visually presenting data?

Are you using a white or light background color with dark text?

Are you using a sans-serif font?

Can someone in the back of the room read the text on screen?

Are you using a branded template? If so, have you chosen the layouts with the least amount

of visual clutter?

Sources:

Godin S. Really bad PowerPoint. 2007. http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/01/really_bad_powe.html

Goodman A. Why bad presentations happen to good causes .2006. http://www.thegoodmancenter.com/resources/.

Reynolds G. Top ten slide tips. 2014. http://www.garrreynolds.com/preso-tips/design/.