The much-maligned PowerPoint is not dead. In fact, it is not even near to its end, no matter how smothered it may seem due to its far more prevailing and awarding history.  

 

Whether delivered through PowerPoint, Keynote, PC, Mac, or any other platform, bad slides are always tormented for being sleep inducers (termed as DEATH BY POWERPOINT) that make the audience cringe and regret their second serving at the buffet. 

 

We all have suffered through those long-winded speeches, horrible slideshows with nothing to reflect upon, hot mess PowerPoint presentations, and whatnot that totally undermine the point of ‘visual’ representations. Due to the long list of unreadable and jarred text, pixelated clip art, and the constant habit of the presenter turning a blind eye to the fact that his presentation is a torturous experience, slides have always been reprimanded as “Bad”. They have always received a bad rep in the history of visual art due to ‘information overload’. 

 

But, the fact that no matter how embroiled slides are, they are always a prerequisite and an essential part of our work.  Whether it is a major business conference, a small group meeting, or a thesis defense topic, having good quality presentation slides is a must. If done well, they serve as visual reinforcements that speak the language you like. If not, well you know it better! 

 

Although the basic principles are still applicable like “limit your text servings”,  “keep it simple” and others that can be navigated across all the Internet pages, we have a few extra tips that can make your complicated slide designing process, less tormenting and more rewarding!  

 

But, first, let us start with the basics! 

 

What you see up front is not what your audience will see

 

Consider this as a thumb-rule! Although rules are meant to be broken, not this one! 

 

Why? Hear us and then decide! 

 

If you are using a modern laptop with a pretty good display quality in terms of resolution and contrast, there is nothing to worry about. But what if you are catering to three or more people? Then obviously, a good laptop with a decent color display simply won’t cut it. While projecting on a large screen, the images, fonts and other elements are to be chosen wisely and competently, because they may not seem as clear as they are on a small laptop screen. 

 

Consequently, the room layout is also an important factor to consider. In dedicated lecture theatres, people might have an unobstructed view of the screen, but that is not the case with small enclosed auditoriums, jam-packed with an audience far more than required, meaning most of the people will have a partial view. 

 

These less-than-ideal conditions should always be borne in mind and reflected upon if you want your presentation slides to work their magic. Therefore, it was important to get them out of our way first. 

 

That being said, let us break down all the potential tips for designing and delivering good presentation slides! 

 

1. Say No to “Junk” 

 

PowerPoint software was designed to support the visual message and the speaker. Slides were never meant to be the star of the show in the first place, they were meant to be supporting actors that shielded and made the true star (You: the speaker) look good. This is why slides brimming with unnecessary stuff like charts, fancy backgrounds, and others derail and defeat the entire purpose of presenting. They hinder the process of communicating the actual message to the audience, or as Edward Tulle calls it turns it into a ‘Chart Junk’.Therefore, nothing in your slide should be superfluous, rather it should contain enough “white space” or negative space as filling it with unnecessary graphics will not contribute to it becoming a piece of art. The less the clutter, the more powerful the visual message!

 

Tip 1- Declutter

 

 

2. Typography- Serif or Sans-Serif?

 

Non-designers often stress the importance of choosing the right typeface for their presentations and for a good reason. The wrong font can be a serious turnoff and more so when it is not legible to all your audience. Typefaces can communicate a mood, set the tone right, and reflect a point in time, so choosing the right typeface is necessary. For academic presentations, serifs fonts can look crappy and lousy because of their finer details. Also, when viewed from a distance on a large screen, they may seem to be blurry and inconsistent. Therefore choose the old style sans-serifs fonts that are simple, less finely milled, and sharply edged to help create a balance. Fonts like Arial and Helvetica are safer choices to play with. They feel more formal and professional, ensuring that your slide design remains inside the realm of the neat and polished layout. 

 

Tip 2- Sans Serif Typography

 

3. Use high-quality graphics and imagery 

 

Death to screen beans! 

 

Low-quality images are “visual cliches” and make your presentation look flat out cliche and unprofessional. They show a lack of creative intellect and adherence to the most basic presentation design rule to “use high-quality imagery.” While presenting on a larger screen, the biggest issue is image pixelation, which is why a presenter needs to make certain that all the images used are of high resolution. These high- quality images can also be thematic to reinforce your Big 

Idea competently. 

 

Ideal presentation slide images should be:

 

  • Visionary
  • Relatable 
  • Credible 

 

Tip 3- Use high-quality graphics

 

4. Leave the Fireworks to Walt Disney

 

It is great to know how to add visual elements to a design by transforming the text into shapes, making images spin- but, leave the fireworks to Disney. Let them do what they are best at and focus on conveying the true meaning of your presentation. Your job is to make your speech the star of the show. Simple transitions, bare minimum animations, clean and polished fonts, attractive graphics trump creative PowerPoint tricks every time. So, stick with plain and simple rather than over-the-top and fancy! 

 

Tip 4- Keep it simple and basic

5. Use the top half 

 

Unless an event management presentation is to be designed, specifically showing the venue where an unobstructed view for the audience is guaranteed, try using just the top half of the slide.

 

This restricts the amount of space available for you to play with, making the slide look neat, polished, and professionally sound. 

 

6. Ditch the “Me” paradigm 

 

Recklessly scanning a graphical image or a table from the existing print file material and including it in the presentations is the biggest presentation sin referred to as the “Me” paradigm. A majority of presenters commit this crime, resulting in a sub-optimal presentation slide. Print visuals are actually meant to be viewed from a distance of 8-12 inches, not more than that. If the distance is exceeded it can result in image pixelation. Typically these images are text-laden and too detailed, so the most you refrain from using such images, the better your slides will be. The same is true for font size; 12 points or lesser font simply won’t do. For an optimally designed slideshow to be presented in a conference room, a minimum of 40 point font fulfills the legibility criteria. 

 

Note- Remember,  move the circle from “me” to “we” to help create an impact, strong enough to induce call-to-action! 

 

7. Practice, Practice and Practice 

 

More important than the slides, is planning the delivery beforehand. Practice your talk (speak loudly and fluently, carefully scanning every important point you want your audience to ponder upon) and make sure:

 

  • They fit the time criteria
  • Are neatly aligned 
  • The opening and closing statements are well-scripted 

 

8. Last but no the least: When in doubt, dump it

 

If you are AI Gore explaining CO2 emissions or Jeff Besos for that matter, slides are essential- but not always!  If not, pre-designed slides that have all the elements neatly and professionally presented that can act as a valuable asset. 

 

One last thing and probably the most important of all is; if you are a solo flyer, with no A/V assistance, then pack a remote with spare batteries to suffice your flight filled with turbulencies. Nothing is worse than looking at a miserably confused presenter, hunting for the right key to peck away the advanced slides! 

 

We hope you enjoyed reading the tips and will apply a few to make your slides AWESOME!