Effective PowerPoint

10 top tips for designing and

presenting great slide

shows

1. Keep the points simple• If it is a book or report look for the contents page. Identify

any chapters that you think maybe of particular relevance and focus on them. Again start from the introduction or the conclusions. You can find your way through a chapter or section by using the subheadings.

• Use the contents page

• Start with introductions and conclusions

• Use subheadings

2. Keep the background simple• Keeps a clear, clean design

2. Keep the background simpleKeeps a clear, clean designAvoids distractions

2. Keep the background simple

• Keeps a clear, clean design• Avoids distractions• Allows good contrast

2. Keep the background simple

• Keeps a clear, clean design• Avoids distractions• Allows good contrast• Prevents confusion

2. Keep the background simple• Keeps a clear, clean design• Avoids distractions• Allows good contrast• Prevents confusion• Avoid PowerPoint’s own templates

3. Keep the text clear• 24 pt minimum • 36-44 pt for heading• Contrast colours

18 point

20 point

24 point

28 point

36 point

40 point

44 point

Good Bad

Bad Good

Good Bad

Bad Good

Bad Good

Good Bad

Bad Good

Good Bad

3. Keep the text clear• 24 point minimum • 40-44 for heading• Contrast colours• Don’t use black on white

3. Keep the text clear• 24 point minimum • 40-44 for heading• Contrast colours• Don’t use black on white

3. Keep the text clear• 24 point minimum • 40-44 for heading• Contrast colours• Don’t use black on white

3. Keep the text clear• 24 point minimum • 40-44 for heading• Contrast colours• Don’t use black on white

• Photographs are fantastic• Cartoons are fun• Diagrams are

useful• No picture? Why a slide?

“My PowerPoint presentation went so well, I had it made into a tattoo!”

4. Always have a good picture

Just SPEAK

it!

5. Use a full sentence as your title

• Show where you are going!

6. Animate quickly and simply• Avoid transitions

6. The next slide?

6. Animate quickly and simply• Avoid transitions• For text use:

– Appear– Wipe, from left (very fast)– Fade (very fast)

Appear Fade

• For graphics use:

Dissolve in

6. Animate quickly and simply• Nothing fancy

– It will only end up– really annoying– your poor audience

• Keep it quick– Or you try to read

or recognise it before it has fully developed!

7. Never just read the slideThis is the thing that annoys more people about PowerPoint presentations than anything else.

It is boring!Keep something back!

8. Take control of the show• Use B or W keys• Change to pen (Ctrl P) – E to erase• Hide the pointer (Ctrl H)• Move to specific slides

Great for learning languages…

…or adding a bit of realism!

9. Be very careful with sound• No whooshes• No chimes• No lasers • No typewriters

French

Hello

Goodbye

Thank you

Français

Bonjour

Au revoir

Merci

10. Give out great handouts• People will listen!• Don’t use Handout

option• Send to Word?

Thank you for your attention