Creating effective Powerpoint presentation slides is crucial for engaging your audience and delivering your message effectively.
Here are seven tips to help you design better presentation slides:
- Keep it Simple:
Avoid cluttering your slides with excessive text or graphics. Aim for a clean, minimalist design that focuses on the presentation techniques and key points you want to convey. Use bullet points or concise sentences to convey information, and limit each slide to one main idea. This is something we frequently looking for presentation skills training courses. - Use Visuals Wisely:
Visuals can significantly enhance your presentation but should complement your message, not distract from it. Use high-quality images, charts, and graphs relevant to your content. Ensure that visuals are easy to understand and support your points. - Choose Legible Fonts:
Select readable fonts to ensure your audience can quickly grasp the information on your slides. Sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica are generally a safe choice for body text, while bolder fonts can be used for headings and titles. Avoid decorative fonts that might be hard to read. - Maintain Consistency:
Consistency is critical to a professional-looking presentation. Use the same font style, colors, and layout throughout your slides. This creates a cohesive visual experience and helps your audience focus on your message rather than being distracted by inconsistent design elements. - Emphasize Key Points:
Highlight important information or key takeaways using bold text, italics, or color. This makes it easier for your audience to remember and understand the most critical aspects of your presentation. However, use emphasis sparingly, as overuse can diminish its impact. You might also want to consider live-polling for Google Slides. - Limit Bullet Points:
While bullet points are useful for summarizing information, avoid creating slides solely composed of bullet points. Instead, use them to convey key ideas and elaborate on each point verbally. Break down complex information into smaller, more digestible pieces. - Practice Visual Hierarchy:
Arrange your presentation content in a logical order, ensuring that the most critical information stands out. Use visual hierarchy techniques like varying font sizes, bold headlines, and color contrasts to guide the audience’s attention through your slides. The most crucial information should be easily noticeable at first glance.
Bonus Tip: Rehearse and Time Your Presentation
Once your slides are ready, rehearse your presentation to familiarize yourself with the flow and content.
Be mindful of the time it takes to present each slide and the overall duration of your presentation.
Keeping your talk within the allotted time ensures you deliver a focused and engaging presentation.
Remember, your presentation slides should support your spoken words, not replace them entirely.
Slides are visual aids meant to enhance your message and engage the audience, so aim for simplicity, clarity, and consistency to make your presentations more impactful.
With 30+ years of experience, Catherine Fitzgerald, B.A., M.A., PGDip, founded Oak Innovation in 1995. Catherine received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s from University College Cork. She holds qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. She is completing a second Master’s from University College Cork. Since 1995, clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.
