PowerPoint™ The Rules of Design © 2001William Earnest.
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Transcript of PowerPoint™ The Rules of Design © 2001William Earnest.
PowerPoint™PowerPoint™
The Rules of DesignThe Rules of Design
© 2001 William Earnest
Introduction to PowerPointIntroduction to PowerPoint
Rules of DesignRules of Design- good templates- high-contrast colors- sans serif fonts- efficient text- choose images wisely- appropriate “build” effects- visual balance of slide elements
Introduction to PowerPointIntroduction to PowerPoint
Rules of DesignRules of Design- good templates- high-contrast colors- sans serif fonts- efficient text- choose images wisely- appropriate “build” effects- visual balance of slide elements
Table of ContentsTable of Contents
To create anew PowerPoint presentation …
launch the program, then …
Go to the Rules of Design Next slide
Introduction to Introduction to PowerPointPowerPoint
choose the “DesignTemplate” optionfrom this menu
and click “OK.”
A menu similar to this one will appear.
Click on a template’s name to preview it.Highlight the one you want, then click “OK.”
The rules of design will helpyou select a good template.
The “AutoLayout” menu appears automatically.
Use it to choose the kind of slide you need.
For new presentations, the defaultselection is a title slide.
For example
To create additional slides, use
Insert / New Slide … or the“New Slide”
button.
Choose the kind of slide you want from the “AutoLayout” menu, which includes:
Single bullet listDouble bullet list
Bullet list + graphOrganization chart
Bullet list + clip-art
A few more pointers
There are two basic ways to insert text:
Click in pre-set title or text boxes and start typing.
Use the “Insert / Text Box” command or button, thenposition cursor as desired.
“Slide Sorter View” lets you work with whole slides to
create transitionsbetween slides
make bulleted itemsbuild one at a time
delete, copy, ormove slides
Get to know the “Drawing” toolbar.
draw a line, arrow,
rectangle, or ellipse
insert text
* If the toolbar is not visible, go to “View/Toolbars / Drawing.”
insert Clip Art
object
color
linecolor
text color
Click here toreturn to the
Rules of Design
Click here toreturn to the
Rules of Design
The Seven Rules of The Seven Rules of DesignDesign good templates high-contrast colors sans serif fonts efficient text wisely chosen images appropriate “build” effects visual balance of slide elements
are a matter of using …
Click a bullet to view a specific rule. Otherwise, click to continue.Each slide is fully automated. Click to advance between slides.
Choose the right Choose the right template.template.- Bright or medium blue fields
are problematic because they:- are hard on the eye- tend to strike an overly subdued mood
- Some templates to avoid include:
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BlueDiagonal SoaringAzureHigh
Voltage
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Choose the right Choose the right template.template.- PowerPoint’s newest templates
are more colorful and theme-specific.
- Pick one that matches the mood you’re trying to convey. For example:
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Blueprint
This template would be appropriate for presentations concerning architecture, engineering, construction, planning, design, etc.indexindex
Choose the right Choose the right template.template.
11
These templates seem tailor-made for business and
the professions, yet are equally useful elsewhere.
Expedition
PostmodernRicepaper
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Global
Choose the right Choose the right template.template.
11Templates like these could be used when your subject is scientific or technical in focus.
TechnologyTechnology
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Straight EdgeStraight Edge
Choose the right Choose the right template.template.
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“Notebook” would be useful in workshops, training seminars, and other settings
concerned with instruction or education.
Notebook
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Choose the right Choose the right template.template.
11
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Gesture
JapaneseWavesPaper
Nature
These templates convey elegance, regardless of the subject.
Choose the right Choose the right template.template.- Very dark or very light fields with
simple patterns are often good choices.
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BrushstrokesBlends
Capsules Artsy
including dark blues
Factory
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Choose the right Choose the right template.template.- You can also make your own
template.- begin with a
blank presentation
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Choose the right Choose the right template.template. You can also make your own
template. from the menu, choose:
View / Master / Slide Master
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Choose the right Choose the right template.template.- You can also make your own
template.- place images (e.g., corporate logos),
objects, etc.
11
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Choose the right Choose the right template.template.- You can also make your own
template.- change font characteristics (face, color,
etc.); resize, reposition, add or delete text boxes
11
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Whatever youdo to the master
will apply toevery slide.
Use high-contrast Use high-contrast colors.colors.- Dark text on
a light field- Light text on
a dark field
22
The Four D’s:----------------
Drop itDelay it
Delegate itDo it
The Four D’s:----------------
Drop itDelay it
Delegate itDo it
The Four D’s:----------------
Drop itDelay it
Delegate itDo it
The Four D’s:----------------
Drop itDelay it
Delegate itDo it
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Use high-contrast Use high-contrast colors.colors. Colors of similar luminosity
blend together and make reading difficult.
22
The Four D’s:----------------
Drop itDelay it
Delegate itDo it
The Four D’s:----------------
Drop itDelay it
Delegate itDo it
The Four D’s:----------------
Drop itDelay it
Delegate itDo it
The Four D’s:----------------
Drop itDelay it
Delegate itDo it
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Use high-contrast Use high-contrast colors.colors.- Apply this rule to objects such
as:- text boxes- AutoShapes- etc.
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Employeeof theMonth
On-time guaranteeOn-time
guarantee
- and backgrounds:
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Use Use sanssans serif fonts. serif fonts.33- On screen, text with
plain lines and clean edges is easier on the eye:- Tahoma
- Arial
- Trebuchet
- Verdana
- On the printed page, traditional “serif” fonts are easier to read:
- Times New Roman
- Bookman
- Garamond
- Century Schoolbook
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Use Use sanssans serif fonts. serif fonts.
- Sans serif:Arial, 24-pt
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Mission Statement
Focus, focus, focuson the customer.
- Serif:Bookman, 24-pt
Mission Statement
Focus, focus, focuson the customer.
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Use Use sanssans serif fonts. serif fonts.- As noted earlier, the slide
master can be used tochange template defaults.
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Times New Roman Tahoma
Use Use sanssans serif fonts. serif fonts.- There are always exceptions. If desired, use serif fonts for
special emphasis orto add distinction or elegance to someaspect of the slide (e.g., the title).
33
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Be text-savvy.Be text-savvy.
keywords, not sentences
minimum words, maximum size
no “orphans”
capitalize correctly
44
a
b
c
d
Click to jump directly to a topic, or click to continue to next slide
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Use keywords for Use keywords for bullets.bullets.
- Slides are visual notecards.- main ideas- not complete thoughts- full sentences only when quoting
- For every bullet try to eliminate:- articles (a, an, the)- pronouns that could be implied (you, we)- verbs that could be implied
44
If your PowerPoint presentation is meant to function by itself (for example, as a tutorial like this one, or a display at a trade show) then it would be necessary to use full sentences to ensure audience comprehension.
a
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44 a
The Acme Grocery PledgeThe Acme Grocery Pledge
- We offer the freshest produce.- Your satisfaction is guaranteed.- We will deliver anywhere,
anytime.
Use keywords for Use keywords for bullets.bullets.
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44 a
The Acme Grocery PledgeThe Acme Grocery Pledge
- Freshest produce- Guaranteed satisfaction- Unlimited delivery
Audience getsthe main idea
You providethe details
Audience getsthe main idea
You providethe details
Use keywords for Use keywords for bullets.bullets.
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44 bMinimum words, maximum Minimum words, maximum
sizesize
Try to keep titles 44 pts. or larger.
Main bullets32 pts.or greater
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44 b
- Keep text toa minimum,
25 words orless per slide.
- PowerPoint is more visualthan written.
This is another advantage of using keywords
Minimum words, maximum Minimum words, maximum sizesize
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44 c No “orphans”No “orphans”
Orphan, n. [Gr. Orphanos, later orphos; L.orbus. Bereaved.] 1. In PowerPoint, when only the last word of a long bullet spills over to the next line.2. It looks goofy and wastes space.3. Fix it by editing the bullet to one line, or by carrying over at least two words.
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44 c No “orphans”No “orphans”
before
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44 c No “orphans”No “orphans”after
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- For slide titles:- capitalize the first
letter of the line
- capitalize proper nouns, other words if desired(but be consistent)
- don’t capitalize prepositions
44 d Capitalize correctly.Capitalize correctly.
To capitalize, or not to capitalize: that is the question.
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Annual Sales Summary A record-breaking June
44 d Capitalize correctly.Capitalize correctly.- For main bullets:
- capitalize the first letter of each line if you wish, or if a proper noun.
- do not capitalize other words unless they’re proper nouns.
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Annual Sales Summary
• Sodas up 20%• Snacks held steady• Dairy down 3%
A record-breaking June
• Acme led industry• doubled May sales• expanded sales force
44 d Capitalize correctly.Capitalize correctly.- For sub-bullets:
- do not capitalize the first letter of the line, unless a proper noun
- capitalize other words only if proper nouns
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Annual Sales Summary
• Sodas up 20%- industry at 12%- boost from Europe- U.S. sales flat
Use images wisely.Use images wisely.55
Declarationof Principles
1. Images should predominate over text.
2. Photos should predominate over clip-art.
3. If used, clip-art should be of graphic-artist quality and not look “computer-drawn.”indexindex
Use images wisely.Use images wisely.- A picture is worth
a thousand words.- Almost every slide
needs an image …- but not every slide
needs text.
55
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Use images wisely.Use images wisely.- Frame regular images by applying:
- border of 1/4- drop shadow
55
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Use images wiselyUse images wisely- Do not frame irregular images:
- i.e., photos and art without straight edges- they’re meant to blend into background
55
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Use images wisely.Use images wisely.- Size images properly:
- don’t stretch them to the point of graininess
- don’t shrink them to be too small to discern
55
Small images may look okay to you, but you know what they’re supposed to be. Will your audience know … from across the room?
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Use images wisely.Use images wisely.- The “Clip-Art Hall of Shame”
- Images similar to these and the ones on the next page should only be used if you want an amateur, cartoonish look.
- In most cases, photographs are available to convey the same message, only much more professionally.
55
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The Clip-Art The Clip-Art Hall of Hall of ShameShame
55
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These effects tend to be distracting and can also
waste a lot of time
Keep build effects low-Keep build effects low-key.key. - Try to avoid
“moving” or slow effects like:
- Opt insteadfor “in-place” effects like:
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• spiralspiral
• swivelswivel
• crawlcrawl
• flyflywipewipe
random barsrandom barsblindsblinds
peekpeeksplitsplit
stretchstretch
dissolvedissolve
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Strive for visual balance.Strive for visual balance.
- Avoid lopsidedness.- Avoid dead space.- Position items for
legibility & clarity.
77
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Strive for visual balance.Strive for visual balance.
- Avoid lopsidedness.
- Avoid dead space.- Position items for
legibility & clarity.
77
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Strive for visual balanceStrive for visual balance
- Avoid lopsidedness.- Avoid dead space.- Position items for
legibility & clarity.
77
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Strive for visual balance.Strive for visual balance.77
- Avoid lopsidedness- Avoid dead space- Position items for
legibility & clarity
Add an imageor two or three
(perhaps one foreach bullet)
Spread bullets out:- Increase font size
- Increase line spacing between bullets
- Drag box downindexindex
Strive for visual balanceStrive for visual balance
- Avoid dead space.
- Avoid lopsidedness.
- Position items for legibility & clarity.
77
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Some final Some final observations:observations:
- Break any rule if you have a good reason.
- Observe copyright laws on photos and artwork.
- You control every aspect of a slide’s design. Have a purpose for everything that happens.
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