A great presentation isn’t just about what you say—it’s how you show it. Thoughtful visual design and standardization can turn a basic slideshow into a powerful and memorable mic-drop experience.
Visuals make information easier to understand and remember, while standardization ensures clarity, consistency, and efficiency across your entire presentation.
Regrettably, many presenters face hurdles related to a common issue, which undermines their ability to communicate their information effectively: too much data using too many elements.
The problem lies in the tendency to overload slides with information. This makes it hard for audiences to quickly interpret the information for recall later. Let’s break it down.
The first is visual design. Inconsistent use of colors, symbols, fonts, and type sizes across slides and figures can confuse audiences and thus disrupt the flow of information.
Common culprits include microscopic text which forces the audience to strain their eyes; clashing color schemes that make content unreadable; and probably the biggest issue is the use of far too many bullet points.
The second is graphics. Graphics should help clarify information, but often they add to the confusion. Recurring issues include overly complex multi-panel figures, which become hard to see. These include unexplained charts that leave little context, as well as other unclear visuals that obscure rather than illuminate the message.
Alone or combined, these presentation missteps create roadblocks to meaningful understanding. They dilute key takeaways. Instead of facilitating learning, unstructured presentations can leave attendees feeling confused and disengaged.
However, there is a clear path forward: embrace fundamental design principles that transform slides from overwhelming to engaging.
If you’ve ever gotten engrossed in a mystery novel, you know clues are slowly collected and lead to solving the secret. Not so in presentations. Effective message uptake is aided when presentations start with a clear message first.
So, lead with the outcome, such as key findings or conclusions. These are the takeaways you want the audience to retain. Then follow with the supporting data. This order helps focus attention and enhance retention.
A presentation shortcut some presenters take is to copy data and graphics directly from papers and reports. Often these fonts and symbols are too small for presentations. So one of the simplest ways to beef up the visual appeal is font size.
Recommended font size guidelines emphasize clear readability from a distance, typically in large auditoriums:
Once your message and fonts are established, aim to keep the graphics simple and maintain a consistent look throughout your slides.
Pay attention to design elements, such as slide themes and colors. Don’t over-clutter your slide layout. Effective use of white space and logical arrangements of visual elements helps guide the audience through the data and follow the presentation more easily.
While PowerPoint and Keynote both come with a dizzying array of visual effects, suppress the urge to use too many of them in your presentation. Wipes, dissolves, 3D effects, and other visual “fluff” can distract from the data and reduce clarity. Simple, clean 2D visuals are generally more effective.
Combined, these measures not only make individual talks more effective but also raise the overall standard of how you communicate what your audience retains.
In a world overflowing with information, visual design and standardization create a unified approach aren’t just enhancements—they’re essential tools for making your presentation stand out and stick.