Presentation Design Tips - Structure

Design and Layout
Color—the Magic Ingredient
Type
Graphics

DO

Keep the message concise, the words simple, familiar and to the point

Write simple phrases and use clear words and language. It's best to avoid acronyms, abbreviations, jargon and complicated sentences. Remember, the slides are an outline of what you want to say, not the speech itself.

Take advantage of bullet point formats

Many people today are scanners, not readers. This is especially so when viewing a presentation. Keep your text in bulleted form whenever possible. If you must have narratives, remember to write in scannable chunks. Write the way you would for a billboard or web page. See more about bullets and type tricks in the Type section.

Consider legibility

Remember, what seems clear on the computer screen may be inscrutable from across a room. Test the viewability of your presentation when you're still at the computer monitor. Measure the width of the on-screen slide and then step back eight times that dimension. If you can read it without strain, the text will be legible when projected.

Reduce line spacing rather than text size

Sometimes you may have more text on a slide than is ideal. To make it fit, try reducing the spacing between lines rather than reducing the text size. Text that is too small will not be readable across a room.

Limit the number of slides in your presentation - and practice!

Complex topics may require fewer transparencies and more verbal explanation by the speaker. Take advantage of PowerPoint's rehearsal feature and time yourself to see exactly how long your presentation takes.

For example, a 10-minute presentation may use six to eight slides, a 30-minute presentation may use ten to fifteen, and so forth.

Reconsider the length and content of any presentation that's grown to more than 25 slides — no matter what the time limit.

Use speaker notes

Include only major points in your presentation. If you have more content than can fit comfortably on slides, create speaker notes that you can refer to during the presentation. Then provide them as audience handouts along with your visuals. Keep complex charts and data in supporting handouts, as well.

DON'T

Load slides with text

Presentations are not term papers. If there is one common mistake when preparing a presentation, it is putting too much text on a slide. Instead, view your presentation as a tool for outlining, keynoting, and emphasizing. Besides, you want the audience to focus on what you are saying, not squinting to read text from the back of the room!

Download one of our pre-designed PowerPoint templates or experiment with the PowerPoint Design Wizard (PC platform only). This tool includes a variety of professionally designed templates with carefully chosen color combinations and backgrounds to compliment your message.