1. Designing Effective PowerPoint Presentations
Avoiding
DEATH BY POWERPOINT
Designing Effective PowerPoint Presentations
Adapted from Victor Chen, ERAU

2. Designing Effective PowerPoint Presentation
Big
Simple
Consistent
Clear
Summary

3. Make it Big (Text) This is Arial 44 This is Arial 36 This is Arial 32

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

5. Too many different font sizes
Keep It Simple (Text)
Too many colors
Too Many Fonts and Styles
Too many different font sizes

6. Keep It Simple (Text) List main ideas only – bullets
Avoid full sentences
20 word rule
Speak the details

7. Too detailed ! Keep It Simple (Text)
Instructional Technology: A complex integrated process involving people, procedures, ideas, devices, and organization, for analyzing problems and devising, implementing, evaluating, and managing solutions to those problems in situations in which learning is purposive and controlled (HMRS 5th ed.)
Too detailed !

8. Much Simpler Keep It Simple (Text) Instructional Technology:
Offers solutions to problems in learning
Involves people, procedures & tools
(HMRS 5th ed.)
Instructional Technology:
Much Simpler

9. Keep It Simple (Picture)
Artwork may distract your audience
Artistry does not substitute for content

10. Keep It Simple (Sound) Sound effects may distract too
Use sound only when necessary

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

12. Keep It Simple (Animation)
7 ft
Too distracting !

13. Keep It Simple (Animation)
7 ft
Simple & to the point

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

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

16. Make It Clear (Colors) This is a good mix of colors. Readable!
This is a bad mix of colors. Low contrast.
Unreadable!
This is a good mix of colors. Readable!
This is a bad mix of
colors. Avoid bright
colors on white.
Unreadable!

17. Be Consistent Differences draw attention
Differences may imply importance
Use surprises to attract not distract

18. Be Consistent Differences draw attention
Differences may imply importance
Use surprises to attract not distract
This tick draws attention

19. Be Consistent Differences draw attention
Differences may imply importance
Use surprises to attract not distract
These differences distract!

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

21. Be Consistent Differences draw attention
Differences may imply importance
Use surprises to attract not distract
Confusing differences!

22. Be Consistent Differences draw attention
Differences may imply importance
Use surprises to attract not distract
This surprise attracts

23. Be Consistent Differences draw attention
Differences may imply importance
Use surprises to attract not distract
These distract!

24. In Summary
Big
Simple
Clear
Consistent
“The purpose of using visual aids is to enhance your presentation, not upstage it.”
Lenny Laskowski PowerPointers.com

25. What’s Wrong With This Slide?
2. The data suggest that the high-level wells tap interconnected, though
bounded, aquifers whose rate of water level decline is inversely proportional
to its volume. Future well drilling for high-level potable sources must include
accurate, well-designed aquifer tests that will aid in the determination of
geologic boundaries to provide information on the geometry of the aquifer.
3. The data suggest that there may be more than geological mechanism that
created the high-level aquifer.
4. The data suggest that there is a water level pattern observed in the high-level
wells with Keopu being the “drain” for the ground-water flow system. The
ground-water flux south of Keopu is to the north, and north of Keopu, the
ground-water flow is to the south.
5. Some high-level wells do exhibit quasi-stable water levels, and show little
variation over time. Use of long-term water level transducers in these wells
should continue in conjunction with long-term water level transducers in those
wells that show water level decline. Real time correlation between water
levels in the wells with climatic conditions measured at Lanihau Rain Gage
will provide better insight into the behavior of the potable high-level aquifers.