PowerPoint "Do This; Don't Do That"

1. Some Guidelines for Creating Strong Presentations
Allison Fraiberg, Ph.D.
University of Redlands
07.01.2013

2. 1. General Considerations
2. Do This; Don’t Do That
 Design, Format, and Organization
 Creating Text
 Graphics and Animation
3. Questions About Your Slides

3.  Slides should enhance your talk, not replace it
 Limit slides to essential info
 Don’t read your slides
 You are the star, not your slides

4.  Design a template
 Include title & agenda slide
 Include “Questions?” slide
 Use bland background with
contrasting text colors
 Standardize positions,
colors, and styles
 Create balanced slides
DO

5.  Use multiple backgrounds
 Use very dark backgrounds
 Use very bright text colors
 Create endless variety
DON’T

6.  Use 18-48 point easy-to-
read fonts
 Use bulleted sentence
fragments
 Spell and punctuate
correctly
 Use colors that contrast
with background
 Be consistent with
capitalization
DO

7.  Have more than 6-7 lines
on a slide
 Have more than 6-7 words
on a line
 Use complete sentences
 Use
abbreviations, acronyms, or
all caps
 Use unusual fonts
DON’T

8.  Enhance point with graphics
 Use graphics to convey
emotion
 Balance slides with graphics
 Animate to reveal points
when relevant
 Synthesize and highlight
info from tables and graphs
 Simplify!
DO

9.  Use more than two graphics
per slide
 Include graphics with
incorrect tone
 Let graphics overwhelm
 Overanimate
 Leave audience to figure
out table & graph info
DON’T

10. Questions?
Allison Fraiberg, Ph.D.
University of Redlands
07.01.2013