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Introduction
Introduction
It is good to consider the overall design and visuals for your presentation to make choices that will help you convey your message. Specifically, these choices focus on colour, font, contrast, images, and layout.
What Is On This Page?
What Is On This Page?
Colour
Colour
Colour Psychology
Colour Psychology
Colour is one of the easiest ways to make your video or project stand out, and a good use of colour is a great way to create meaning in a subtle way.
There are a lot of articles online about the psychology of colour in marketing. Cool colours tend to be calming and friendly; warm colours may be welcoming and positive. Bold colours can be passionate, while lighter tones convey thoughtfulness. When choosing colours, consider using these hidden meanings to your advantage.
How To Choose a Palette
How To Choose a Palette
With colour, the important thing is to keep it consistent.
Sticking to a colour palette will help make your work stand out and will keep your message on track.
You can choose colours you like, or use the colour wheel to choose similar or opposite colours. If you have an image you really want to use, you could pick colours from the image. There are a lot of choices you can make!
If you are not sure what colours look good together many tools, including PowerPoint, offer themes and colour variants you can choose from. There are also free tools that offer colour palette suggestions.
Choose between two and five colours for your palette and designate one as your main colour and one as your secondary colour. These will be the colours you use most. Any others you choose should be used sparingly to add interest or emphasis.
Watch
Watch
This short video talks about the basics of colour theory and dives into simple colour schemes and the message colours may convey.
Read more on colour
Font and Text
Font and Text
In general, sans serif fonts are preferred over serif fonts (think Calibri vs. Times New Roman), though that is not to say you can not use any font you like. Try not to overuse fun or complex fonts; your viewers will get tired of them quickly.
If you do want to play with fonts, limit yourself to no more than two or three fonts and be consistent in their use; e.g. one for headings, and one for body text. A third font choice might be used for emphasis, but you could also use a colour or size for that purpose instead.
Font Size
Font Size
As far as size goes, some say there should be no text less than size 30, but you can use your discretion.
The goal is to keep your font large enough so everyone can read your text whether they are looking at a screen from the back of a room, or viewing it on their phone.
Watch
Watch
Learn about the different types of fonts and how to choose fonts for your project. This video also talks about common typography terms, and fonts to avoid.
Read more about choosing fonts
Contrast
Contrast
If a background colour and the text or images on top are too similar, they may blend into one another and will be harder to see.
You want your content to stand out, and that is where contrast comes in.
One general rule is that when using light coloured content use a dark background and when using dark coloured content use a light background (straightforward, right?). If you are adding text and you don not want to change your background, consider using shapes or gradients behind it to make it more legible.
Remember that contrast is not just for text. Using contrast between your graphics or images and your background will help your visuals stand out.
Watch
Watch
This video discusses colour contrast and how it can help your design stand out. Knowing how to create visually accessible content will help your entire audience see your message.
Images and Icons
Images and Icons
Studies have shown that using images can help your audience retain information, so use them to help keep your content memorable and interesting.
Choose images or icons that:
Relate to your message.
Are consistent in look and feel.
Are a higher resolution (if file size is not an issue) so they look good at any size you use them.
Remember that too many images can create clutter and distract your audience. If you are not sure why you are including an image, consider leaving it out. It is ok to have white space.
As for filetype, look for .jpg or .png file types as they will be suited to most projects. Animated .gif files may not work as intended in all software.
Watch
Watch
This video offers a basic overview of choosing and using images for your design projects.
Read more about choosing images
Find free images and graphics
Layout
Layout
Direct Your Audience
Direct Your Audience
When working on laying out your content, consider how your audience will see each slide or scene. The most important content should be clearly visible, and ideally your audience will see that important content before they see everything else.
When looking at your layout, ask yourself:
Where do your eyes go first?
Will your audience read your text in the right order?
Do you see the images before you even notice the text?
Is there just too much content? If there is, what can be removed or simplified?
The Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds
If you are not sure where to place content, use the Rule of Thirds.
To use this rule, imagine your work in a 3x3 grid. The points where those grid lines intersect are where our eyes tend to go naturally, so are ideal spots to add content.
You will usually only need to add content near one of those spots to create an effective slide.
Watch
Watch
Watch this quick overview of the Rule of thirds and why it works. Using this simple rule can boost your design and composition skills.
White Space is a Good Thing
White Space is a Good Thing
You do not need to visually fill your slides. Your job is to help your audience understand your topic, and too much content in one spot might overwhelm your viewers and muddy your message.
Use very simple or even blank slides to your advantage. Occasional visual pauses give your viewers a break and encourage them to listen to your voice or audio.
Variety in Layouts
Variety in Layouts
It is a good idea to have a variety of different slide or scene layouts so your audience does not get bored. If each slide looks the same, your audience may miss content not realizing you have moved ahead in your presentation. Scroll through the example below to see the same content designed in different ways:
If you are not a natural when it comes to slide design, the Designer Tool in PowerPoint 365 may help. Other software may also offer straightforward layout options that you can easily vary.
Take a closer look at 5 Ways to Design the Same Slide for inspiration.
Watch
Watch
Discover the basics of layout and composition. Topics covered include the five basic principles: proximity, white space, alignment, contrast, and repetition.
Animations
Animations
As you design your presentation, think about which points you want your audience to focus on. Animation can help draw your viewer's attention to those important points. Remember to keep it simple. Too many animations will be distracting for your audience. Movement should compliment your message and enhance your audience’s comprehension of your topic. In other words, do not use a fancy star wipe transition on a somber presentation. Instead think of animation as a way to control the amount of information you share at a given point in time.
If you are working on an online presentation, consider also that animations may not appear as you intended due to slow network connections, so keep them simple and use them sparingly.
Animations vs. Transitions
Animations vs. Transitions
Though similar, animations and transitions have different purposes.
Animations
Animations
Animations impact each slide individually and can help emphasize content on your current slide.
Transitions
Transitions
Transitions are inserted in between slides when one slide moves to the next (similar to flipping pages of a book).
Watch
Watch
This video looks at the difference between transitions and animations within PowerPoint and when it is best to use them.
Animation Options
Animation Options
There are four types of animations you can use in PowerPoint, each with its own purpose:
Entrance
Objects will move to appear on your screen.
Emphasis
Animations applied to objects already on your screen to draw attention to them.
Exit
Objects on your screen will now disappear from your screen.
Motion Path
Objects will follow a predetermined path.
Using any of these types of animation can help draw your audience's attention to a specific point you are trying to make. Remember to use them sparingly. If there is too much happening on the screen your audience will find it distracting.
Watch
Watch
This video outlines the reasons you might use animation in PowerPoint, and how you can use animation to your advantage.
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