Dos and Don'ts of Presentation Design

A presentation is a visual display of information, typically to a small group of people, either in person or remotely. The information can be non-verbal (e.g., through video) or verbal (e.g., through speech).

The goal of any presentation should be to convey the message as clearly and concisely as possible in order to increase understanding, interest, and action on the part of the audience.

There are many do’s and don’ts when it comes to designing presentations:

Table of Contents

Dos

Include visuals

Presentations are a big part of our work. They communicate ideas, make a point, and persuade others.

A presentation should include visuals to ensure that the audience understands the message being conveyed. 100% of people think that a slide should include visuals and this is backed by research as well.

Visuals help us understand information better than words alone. They also give us a break from reading text on the slides which can be tiring for some people.

Include high-quality stock images

Including stock images in presentations can be a great way to make them more engaging, but it can also be a costly endeavor.

If you’re looking for free stock photos, you can use Unsplash and Pexels. These sites have a large library of high-quality images that can be used in presentations.

Use large fonts

Large fonts should be used in presentations to make the content easier to read, especially for those people sitting in the back of a room.

No matter what your opinion is on this subject, large fonts are generally better than small ones. From an eye-sight perspective, they allow us to see more words at once and make it easier to read them. From a design perspective, they give projects a clean and elegant look. All these reasons make it worth investing in larger fonts.

Create consistent slides

The design of the presentation slides should be consistent. This means that the slides should have the same color scheme, font size, and font type. This will help with branding and make it easier for your audience to follow along.

Create a visual hierarchy of text

We can use size, font, color, and weight to create a visual hierarchy for text. The most important text is usually bolded, larger, and in a different color than the secondary information.

Hierarchy can be created by defining different fonts and sizes of text. The most important information should be in a bigger font with more contrast or different colors to stand out from the text around it.

Use Dark Backgrounds

Dark background in PowerPoint design is one of the latest trends in presentation design. It has been used for a long time by designers and artists to create an atmosphere that is intended to be more serious or somber.

Dark backgrounds have a number of benefits for presenters. One of the most important reasons is that they reduce blue light exposure, which preserves battery life.

Use Audio or Video

Audio and video are the most engaging ways to present your ideas. It is important that you never show a long clip because people can get bored very easily.

Embed Fonts

Embedding your font files in your PowerPoint presentation will guarantee that the fonts will not change when presenters move from one computer to another.

To embed a font in your PowerPoint presentation, you can go to the “File” tab and then select “Options.” From there, you can click on the “Save” tab and then select the “Embed fonts in the file check box”.

Don’ts

Do not fill up space

Empty spaces are a part of any presentation. They give the presenter space to move around and make their point. However, there is a big difference between using empty spaces as a tool to enhance your presentation and filling them up with unnecessary elements.

The best way to use empty spaces in presentations is to use them sparingly and strategically. Do not fill up empty spaces with unnecessary elements that do not serve any purpose other than filling up space.

Don’t overdo transitions and animations

Animation is a powerful tool for engaging an audience. But it should not be used just to make something more interesting. It should be used to highlight important points or to explain complex concepts.

It is important to know when and how to use animations in presentations because they can easily distract the audience if not used correctly. Transitions are also a powerful tool for engaging an audience but they can easily become distracting if overused.

Colors

Color is a powerful tool for designers. It can be used to create moods, highlight important points, and make the design more visually appealing. However, there are some things that designers should avoid when using colors in their designs.

Don’t use too many colors
Don’t use a color that is not appropriate for the brand’s identity
Don’t use too many shades of one color
Don’t use bright colors for text on a dark background
Don’t use the same color for all elements of the design

Don’t use fancy fonts

The font you choose for your presentation design is an important decision. It can make or break the look and feel of your presentation.

Arial is usually better, a popular choice of font is Gill Sans.

Premade templates

There are many reasons why you might want to use a premade template. For example, you might need to create a presentation within a short time frame and don’t have the time or resources to create something from scratch. Another reason might be that you are not very creative and need some guidance in terms of what content should go into your presentation.

However, if you do use a premade template, ensure that there is consistency and that it looks professional. You should not make the mistake of using different templates for different slides in your presentation.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has provided you with a more in-depth understanding of the dos and don’ts of presentation design. Remember, the key to a good presentation is to use design elements that communicate your message clearly and effectively.

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