PPT Design  While choosing template, look for sharp colour contrasts  Text should stand out!  Stand back 6 feet and check readability…  Ideally, text should be readable with lights on!

PPT Design  Text does not stand out, against soft colour background

PPT Design  Functionality more important than nice colours  Colour Contrasts make headlines stand out!

This title does not stand out  Colour Contrasts are important  Check which colour stands out against a particular background  Bigger pointsize stands out more than smaller point size

Consistency!  Define Fonts and point sizes in advance  Use the template consistently.  Avoid format changes on different pages  Slide Headline: between 44 and Forty pt  Level One headline : pt.  Level Two headline : pt Level Three Headline : 24 pt  Avoid 18 pt and less

Mindfulness!  Avoid ALL CAPs and Underlining for URLs and addresses.  Use bold sparingly and italics appropriately Bold stands out. When everything is bold… Convention: Italics for Quotes, References...  Avoid Default Repetition of Headlines  Minimal Repetition for Continuity…  Judicious use of Animation and Clip Art

Fewer the words, better the recall  Like headlines: Attention-getting!  Phrases, not sentences  Break up & bullet long sentences 2nd and 3rd level headlines...  Avoid ‘burkha’ language: ‘Introduction, Conclusion..  Five to Seven lines to a Page  Seven to Eight words to a Line

Overall Impact  Avoid GIGO in Graphs and Pie Charts  GIGO = Garbage In, Graphs Out!  Space out your text  Aesthetics is important!  Stand on left of participants...  Easier for audience to read left to right

Font Selection  Serif and Sans Serif (without serif) fonts: ST  Sans Serif are Display Fonts (e.g. Arial, Verdana, Tahoma)  Times New Roman designed for Electronic Media  Serif Fonts preferred for text (e.g. in newspapers)

Transparencies  While writing TPs... Landscape or Portrait mode? Place ruled sheet below TP while writing Size of letters and display fonts Approx: 7 lines to a TP. 6 words to a line Mix of colours, symbols, pictures

Transparencies Limit use of lower third of your slide Expose transparencies progressively Don’t block the view Avoid reading extensively from TPs Decide where to keep TPs after use Avoid switching off lights

Aids For Recall  Reading a Script  Delivering from Memory  Confidence Cards  Transparencies  Easy Confidence of the Master

Conventional Aids  Black/Green Boards  Whiteboards  Flip Charts  Handouts  Lectern  Microphone  Samples and Demos

State-of-the-art Aids  Computerised Presentations  Special Effects can distract  Try to carry Text or TP backups...  Beware of the Idiot Box effect  Carousel Slide Projectors  Video Films  Audio Recording