©Trinity University, 2004
PowerPoint – Design Recommendations
PRESENTATION DESIGN
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Begin with a solid argument and old-fashioned storytelling.
Include slides that reinforce your words, not slides that repeat your words.
Substitute emotionally intense visual images for dry bullet points.
Bullet points are unnecessary on most slides. This information is best jotted down
in the "notes" section and delivered orally to the audience.
Do not distribute your PowerPoint slides as if they were a written report.
There is no need to copy the textbook to PowerPoint slides. Lectures should add
something new to the mix.
Create an agenda slide that will introduce your audience to the key topics/themes
of your presentation. This is usually the second slide in your presentation, the first
being the Title slide.
VISUAL DESIGN
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Avoid the pre-defined borders/logos/templates imposed by PowerPoint wizards.
Never write huge, bulky definitions on a slide. If you wouldn't write it on the
blackboard, you shouldn't write it on a slide.
Text should always be in at least a 28-point font.
Stay away from distracting backgrounds.
Emphasize visual legibility (readable text on a plain background).
Test your layouts and color schemes with colleagues.
Avoid gratuitous dissolves, spins, and other transitions.
High-quality photographs or line-art are preferable to amateurish clip-art.
Use contrasting colors for the text and the background so the text will be easy to
read. Choose medium or medium light background colors and textures (tan, gray,
medium blue, fern green, or light textures, NOT WHITE). Then select dark text
colors (black, very dark blue, burgundy, etc.) for easy readability. Avoid “hot
pink,” ‘warning-sign yellow,” and other extremely harsh color options. Use one
background color throughout the slide set.
Use one or two text colors throughout the slide set.
Every slide should have a header
Use footers to include presentation titles, slide numbers, or other relevant
information.
Use san serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Verdana) for body text.
Avoid cluttering the slides with too much text or graphics. Your audience should
hear what you have to say and not be distracted by a busy screen.
Use short phrases and sentences to convey your message. Spell check and
grammar check.
©Trinity University, 2004
ORAL PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES
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Reading slides out loud is the kiss of death. PowerPoint is not a teleprompter.
As Cringely (2004) notes, "People can read your slides, or they can listen to what
you are saying, but they cannot do both things at the same time."
If you hit the “B” (alphabet) key at any time during your presentation, the screen
will go blank. This will make it more likely that the audience will focus on your
words. Make eye contact with the audience.
Master your material in advance. Some experts suggest that you should spend
three to six hours preparing for every hour of speaking time.
Try to change contact points by using a variety of presentation methods (slides,
questions, discussion, video clips, etc.).
Don't feel that you are slave to the PowerPoint.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Robert Cringely, “Now hear this: If we’re in trouble it’s probably because people no longer really
listen,” I, Cringley (http://www.pbs.org/cringely), 2004.
 Seth Godin, Really bad PowerPoint (and how to avoid it), 2001. (Downloadable Electronic Book
at Amazon.com)
 Peter Norvig, “PowerPoint shot with its own bullets,” Lancet, August 2, 2003 (online).
 Andrew Wahl, “PowerPoint of no return,” Canadian Business, November 23, 2003 (online).