Design Strategies for Effective Presentations

PowerPoint Poisoning

Have you experienced it? How can you avoid it?

Important Introductory Note

Many slides in this presentation contain little or no formatting. Any formatting present is intentional.

I Can See Clearly Now

A - Title off center?

I Can See Clearly Now

B - Title centered?

I can see clearly now

The visual center of a page is NOT the exact center of the page.
Position your title slightly above the center of the page.

Four design goals:

Get the audiences attention

Draw the audience into the information Keep the audiences attention Make a lasting impression

A - Lots of transitions and sounds?

Four design goals:

Get the audiences attention Draw the audience into the information Keep the audiences attention Make a lasting impression
B - Limited transitions and sounds?

I can see clearly now

Beware of novelty bumps.
Dazzle is no substitute for substance! Limit the use of transitions and sounds.

Consider
Sound and video Text Colors and background Pictures and clipart Relevant learning

A - Bulleted text?

Consider
Use sound and video only for educational purposes. It is easy to get carried away with the bells and whistles. Dont let it happen to you. You must consider how you use text. You should think about the size of the text, the amount of text, and the font of the text. You should also Preview the effect of chosen colors and background. Try to preview it on the machine you will use. The screens may look different when you connect to a projection unit. Choose pictures and clipart that enhance the presentation. Photographs are powerful and we probably do not use them enough. Look for ways to provide relevant learning clues in the presentation. Finds ways to involve your learners beyond just listening.

B - Paragraphs of text?

I can see clearly now

If there appears to be too much writing, the viewer may not read the text.
Apply the 6X6 rule. Put no more than 6 words per line and 6 sentences per page. Use words as markers of key ideas.

Lets Look at Formatting Text

Case Size Font Amount Placement
A - Capitalize title and bullets?

Lets look at formatting text

case size font amount placement
B - Lowercase title and bullets?

I can see clearly now

Titles and bullets can be in lowercase. However, if this bothers your readers, you may want to capitalize titles and bullets.

Which of these two blocks of text is easier to read? Why do you think thats the case?

WHICH OF THESE TWO BLOCKS OF TEXT IS EASIER TO READ?

WHY DO YOU THINK THATS THE CASE?

A - Lowercase? or B - Uppercase?

This is Apple Chancery in small letters. Which is easier to read?

THIS IS APPLE CHANCERY IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.

A - Lowercase? or B - Uppercase?

I can see clearly now

Text should not be written in all capitals.
Capital words are only 60% as readable as lowercase words.

Can you read this without glasses? 4 point

Can you read this without glasses? 6 point

Can you read this without glasses? 8 point

Can you read this without glasses? 12 point

Can you read this without glasses? 14 point

Can you read this without glasses? 18 point

Can you read this without glasses? 20 point

Can you read this without glasses? 22 point

Can you read this without glasses? 24 point

Can you read this without glasses? 28 point

A - Less than 18 point? B - Above 18 point?

I can see clearly now

The minimum size of font is 18 point.
Stand 10 back from your computer. If you can read your text, your audience will be able to read it.

Serif fonts vs
Serif fonts include tiny horizontal or vertical lines. They are highly readable because the serifs facilitate the ease of eye movement across each line of text.

A - Serif font?

San-Serif fonts
San-Serif fonts do not include tiny horizontal or vertical lines. They are highly noticeable and get the readers attention. The lack of lines tends to slow down the readers eyes.
B - San-Serif font?

I can see clearly now

Serif fonts are appropriate for formal presentations.
They guide the readers eyes.

San-Serif fonts are easy on the eyes.

They get the readers attention.

A look at fonts
Comic Sans is
Dilberts favorite! This is what Garamond looks like.

Helvetica is the
default for many programs.

Avant Garde has a

clean look.

Arial is popular for

web pages. Times is an easy-toread font

Schoolhouse makes

you feel like youre back in school.

A - A lot of fonts? B - Limited fonts?

I can see clearly now

Try not to use more than 2 fonts in 3 sizes on any slide. Try not to use more than 3 fonts in 4 sizes in your entire presentation.

Aligning your text

Type can express moods and emotions too. Type can be serious and businesslike, or it can be relaxed and open. It can shout at you, or it can give its message quietly.

A - Left-justified?

Aligning your text

Type can express moods and emotions too. Type can be serious and businesslike, or it can be relaxed and open. It can shout at you, or it can give its message quietly.

B - Centered?

I can see clearly now

We read from left to right, so text that is left justified is more readable. Titles are also easier to read aligned on the left instead of centered.

The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.

A - Text on one line?

The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.

B - Text in phrases?

I can see clearly now

Long lines are harder to read. Think of reading patterns.
We read in phrases, so a phrase of text is easier to read than a long line of text.

Create contrast
Light background and dark text

A - Light background?

Create contrast
Dark background and light text?

B - Dark background?

I can see clearly now

Graphics and text need contrast. Dark print and a light background is easier to read in print, but darker colors generally make better backgrounds for presentations.

Using images
Which one do you prefer?

A - Clipart?

Using images
Which one do you prefer?

B - Photographs?

I can see clearly now

Whenever possible, use photographs rather than clipart.

Using images
Follow the eyes

A - Off the page?

Using images
Follow the eyes

B - Towards the center?

I can see clearly now

Be aware of apparent motion. Keep the viewers eyes on the page by placing pictures so they face inward or towards the message.

More information can be found at:

http://www.thecommittedsardine.net/infosavvy/education/ejukesbio.html