Designing Effective “PowerPoint Presentations” By: Satyajeet Singh Modified for WODSS by: J. Wright

Designing Effective PowerPoint Presentation Simple Consistent Clear Big Progressive Summary

Make It Big

Make it Big (Text) This is Arial 12 This is Arial 18 This is Arial 24 This is Arial 32 This is Arial 36 This is Arial 44

Make it Big (Text) This is Arial 12 This is Arial 18 This is Arial 24 This is Arial 32 This is Arial 36 This is Arial 44 Too Small

Make It Big (How to Estimate) Look at it from 2 metres away 2 m

Keep It Simple

Keep It Simple (Text) Too many colours TooToo Many Fonts and Styles The 6 x 7 rule –No more than 6 lines per slide –No more than 7 words per line

Keep It Simple (Text) On the day of the presentation, arrive early so that you can check the room. Check that all the equipment you need is there, that it is working well, and that you know how to use it. Test and adjust all controls such as lighting and volume levels before you begin. Too detailed !

Keep It Simple (Text) Arrive early Check the equipment Test and adjust lighting and volume On the day of the presentation : Much Simpler

Falling Leaves Observed DelhiMumbaiGoa January11,532,23414,123,6543,034,564 February1,078,45612,345,56716,128,234 March17,234,7786,567,12316,034,786 April16,098,89710,870,9547,940,096 May8,036,89710,345,39414,856,456 June16,184,345678,0954,123,656 July8,890,34515,347,93418,885,786 August8,674,23418,107,11017,230,095 September4,032,04518,923,2399,950,498 October2,608,0969,945,8905,596,096 November5,864,034478,0236,678,125 December12,234,1239,532,1113,045,654 Too detailed !

Falling Leaves in Millions In 10 6 DelhiMumbaiGoa January11143 February11216 March17616 April16107 May81014 June1604 July81518 August81817 September4189 October295 November506 December1293 Much Simpler

Keep It Simple (Picture) Art work may distract your audience Artistry does not substitute for content

Keep It Simple (Transition) This transition is annoying, not enhancing "Appear" and "Disappear" are better

Keep It Simple (Animation) 2 m Too distracting !

Keep It Simple (Animation) 2 m Simple & to the point

Make It Clear

Make It Clear (Capitalisation) ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ARE DIFFICULT TO READ Upper and lower case letters are easier

Sanserif Z Serif Z Make It Clear (Fonts) busy clear

Serif fonts are difficult to read on screen Sanserif fonts are clearer Italics are difficult to read on screen Normal or bold fonts are clearer Underlines may signify hyperlinks Instead, use colours to emphasise Make It Clear (Fonts)

Make It Clear (Numbers) Use numbers for lists with a specific order For example: How to put an elephant into a fridge? 1. Open the door of the fridge 2. Put the elephant in 3. Close the door

Make It Clear (Numbers) How to put a giraffe into a fridge? 1. Open the door of the fridge 2. Take out the elephant 3. Put the giraffe in 4. Close the door

Make It Clear (Bullets) Use bullets to show a list without Priority (first, second, third) Sequence (order) Hierarchy (importance), …..

Make It Clear (Colours) Use contrasting colours Light on dark vs dark on light Use colours that look good together

Make It Clear (Contrast) Use contrasting colours Light on dark vs dark on light Use complementary colours low contrasthigh contrast

Make It Clear (Contrast) Use contrasting colours Light on dark vs dark on light Use complementary colours This is light on dark

Make It Clear (Contrast) Use contrasting colours Light on dark vs dark on light Use complementary colours This is dark on light

Make It Clear (Complement) Use contrasting colours Light on dark vs dark on light Use complementary colours These colours complement (look good together)

Make It Clear (Size) Size implies importance

Make It Clear (Size) Size implies importance

Be Progressive (Do one step at a time)

Understanding Technology Floppy disk User interface CPU I/O Error Backup system Software Mouse Debugger Function key Main Storage Too many & not focused

Understanding Technology Floppy disk User interface CPU I/O Error Backup system Software Mouse Debugger Function key Main Storage Progressive & thus focused

Be Consistent

Differences draw attention Differences may imply importance Use surprises to attract not distract

Be Consistent Differences draw attention Differences may imply importance Use surprises to attract not distract This implies importance

In Summary Big Simple Clear Progressive Consistent

Thank You !