typography
Keep in mind that the slide might be in view / on screen for quite some time. Our audience will switch between looking at us and our slide. All details will be in focus such as our typesetting and overall layout.
Ensure consistency and clarity above all. Fine-tune text elements in context and focus on a clear hierarchy of the detail. Layout should include plenty of white space and present a calm and clear visual.
Keep font colour in strong contrast and text size large — a minimum of 36pt is recommended. With beautiful typefaces, I think we can go much larger still. Keep text on slides succinct and only to a few words.
layout / alignment
Slides are definitely one of those designs where perfection wins. If we have headings or lines within our layout that span all our slides - we have to make sure those are consistent, placed exactly the same across all. It can be very distracting (to some at least) if a line or heading appears to visually jump between slides.
Using guidelines or grids in the app we can ensure that the horizontal and vertical coordinates of repeated elements are the same across the entire slide deck. Setting a generous outer margin will ensure that everyone can view the content easily, whether we present in person via a project or online via screensharing.
colour
There are so many different personal preferences that it would be impossible to find a perfect solution. Opt for what fits the presentation purpose and topic and aim for clear contrast between content and design elements (as we would for the web).
The same best practices we use for web design apply to slide design. Be subtle or bold but focus on clarity and legibility over mere visual flair. Bear in mind that in any case, be that via projector or via screen, light will be a factor in how your colours might appear. Err on the side of caution for formal presentations.
a quick note on my own slides
As I usually mention during my talks, the slides I prepare for my teaching sessions are not a very good example, design aside, of an effective presentation per se. Bear in mind that the purpose mine have is quite different to a presentation - they are specifically designed for teaching and, post-talk, to become a useful resource for you, my students, to review in your own time. My aim is to include plenty of information for recap and revision purposes. Hence, there tends to be more information in the slides than I would include otherwise.
The following examples are from talks of some brilliant people ~ and you will see that without the talk itself, much is lost. However, the slides still present their topics well and can still inspire ツ
about slide content
keep it simple.
Presentation scripts and notes can lead to content-heavy and overloaded slides quite easily. Avoid adding too much detail — focus on the core point and present the information in your talk.
Avoid summarising all you’re presenting via long lists — remember that your slides are merely complementary to your talk. Showing a summary will distract your audience who will try to read the text on your slides while you are addressing them.
keep it right.
In your quest to engage your audience - you might be considering to throw in some provactive content, something to stir emotions and reactions. Depending on context, this can be perfectly fitting and appropriate.
For an effective presentation however, it is important to be sensitive to your audience, to avoid words, topics and visuals that might cause unintended offence.
No more than 6 words on a slide. Ever.
Seth Gothin
keep it safe.
One way to reach your audience is to consider all sorts of external media, like polls and videos and the like. By all means do spice up your presentation :P — and don’t forget to plan for alternatives if the tech gremlins are throwing a spanner in the works!
Be considerate and mindful of your audience in your use of motion and audio and moderate the time spent on such media. Short bursts can be great ice breakers, or liven up your talk. Prolonged periods however could be overload for some people’s sensitivities and might not be time well spent.
Videos which relate directly to the presentation are of course a different matter. Again, preparation is king — make sure the video is online and keep the link handy. Be ready to summarise the video so you can carry on regardless if the video should fail to play.
