Slide Design

• The goal of this presentation is to communicate effectively with the audience using each medium correctly (correctly = the way it works best for the given audience)

• If your slides look like this, you are using visual communications medium incorrectly because you are changing visual to written communications

• Audiences will read the chart as soon as it first appears on the screen

• Because audiences can not read and listen at the same time, they will read the chart first and then come back to listen to you

• Audiences can read much faster than you can talk. Because you are still on Bullet #1 and your audience has already read the whole slide, the need for you as a presenter is gone. You will never catch up to what you audience already knows by reading a head.

The Typical SlideThe Typical Slide

Things to ReadThings to Read

Things to ViewThings to View

Usage peaks at 10:00 pm

What to do with bulletsWhat to do with bullets

• Show points individually

• Manage audience interest

• Stay focused on topic

Reveal the DetailReveal the Detail

• Unnecessary bells and whistles

Don’t Get CuteDon’t Get Cute

• Complex, annoying animations

• Random sounds and graphics

Avoid Trite Clip-ArtAvoid Trite Clip-Art

UNLESS you are teaching kindergarten

Simple Color SchemeSimple Color Scheme

ContrastContrast CoordinationCoordination

Simple Palette

ResourcesResources