Choosing the Right Fonts for Your Presentation

design 101

fonts

PowerPoint Design

presentation design

video

Back in the day, when a global connectivity system, computers, and all these technological advancements were decades, even centuries, away from being invented, no one had the trouble of choosing what font to use for their works. Everything that people had—some without much choice—were their hands and what amounted to pens. Getting something on paper was all manual labor, and how readable manuscripts were depended not only on the conventions and foundations of the language but also on how legible their penmanship was.Now, though, almost everything has become digital: messages, word-processing programs, presentations, and the like. Fitting, then, that with technology came another host of problems. Technology isn’t perfect; it gave people the power of choice from an infinite number of many things: colors, fonts, layouts, images, etc.Since the birth of PowerPoint, presenting has never been the same. Now, there are more stuff to consider when making your deck. From background to theme and, yes, fonts. How do presentation designers decide what to use? More importantly, how do you choose the perfect typeface for your slides? By answering three main questions:

1. What is my message?

Choosing the Right Fonts for Your Presentation: What is my message?Along with that is a follow-up question: “How do I say my message?” Your topic and how you present your data are factors that affect your decision with which font to use.If your topic is serious, then it begets an authoritative font, like the thick Rockwell or the aptly named Impact. But, if you like a quirky and light-hearted font for your topic, then something along the lines of Tahoma, Segoe, and Verdana can do the trick. When you know how font personalities affect readers’ perception, then you can easily narrow down your choices and find the one that’s apt with the gravity of your message.The worst you could do is mismatch your fonts with your theme. Have you even seen a public service announcement that used Symbol (which, for those who are unfamiliar, are letters from the Greek alphabet)? And please, no matter what, don’t use Wingdings. Your font must be appropriate. You don’t want another case of Comic Sans, do you?

2. Is it readable?

Choosing the Right Fonts for Your Presentation: Is it readable?You could answer that question in two approaches: font type and font size.In general, there are four font classifications: serif, sans serif, script, and decorative. Of the four, the first two are most widely used. Fonts belonging to the serif family are great for print since, even with small sizes, their serifs provide space and fluidity for continuous reading. Sans serif are best used when large and projected onscreen because they are clear in the sense that when serif fonts are projected, the thinner strokes of the letters tend to be muddled or appear broken-up.As for a specific font size, a good rule to live by is Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 rule: 10 slides in 20 minutes with 30 font size. Maximum readability even for the people at the back is guaranteed. If anything, you could even go bigger, especially when you have a single word on your slide. It’s easily read, impactful, and memorable.

3. How many should I choose?

Choosing the Right Fonts for Your Presentation: How many should I choose?This goes over into consistency territory.You’re already having trouble deciding one font; what more two or three? Generally, the usual advice is to have two complimenting fonts, a pair that doesn’t take away or fight for attention with each other. Typically, the best pair is a serif-sans serif combination, like the classic Times New Roman and Arial. But if you know font personalities, for the right topic and with the right approach, even a sans serif-sans serif combo will work in unexpected ways, like Cubano and Nunito.Of course, you don’t need to use different fonts. A major point of using combos is to highlight certain parts of your content, and stylizing a keyword or an important point differently draws attention to it.Choosing the perfect font to use on your slides is seldom easy. You could fall back to the old mindset of “As long as it’s readable,” but almost everyone does that; thus, you get the ubiquity of certain “standard” fonts that are now recommended to be avoided.Experiment with your presentation. Answer the three questions above, and you’ve got a narrow pool to choose from. When you get the harmony you’re looking for, you can then wow your audience with your talk.If you want to know more, watch this short video from our PowerPoint design agency, SlideGenius.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFCEb8fU8RY

Resources:

Agarwal, Amit. “What Are the Best Fonts for Presentation Slides?” Digital Inspiration. July 17, 2012. www.labnol.org/software/tutorials/advice-select-best-fonts-for-powerpoint-presentation-slides/3355Cass, Jacob. “15 Stunning Font Combinations for Your Inspiration.” JUST™ Creative. May 5, 2015. www.justcreative.com/2015/05/05/15-stunning-font-combinations-for-your-inspirationCournoyer, Brendan. “What Are the Best Fonts for Killer Presentations?” Brainshark. March 29, 2012. www.brainshark.com/ideas-blog/2012/March/best-powerpoint-fonts-for-killer-presentationsErickson, Christine. “Not My Type: Why the Web Hates Comic Sans.” Mashable. October 3, 2012. www.mashable.com/2012/10/03/comic-sans-history/#6J_bWV037EqwGabrielle, Bruce. “The #1 Best Advice for Choosing PowerPoint Fonts.” Speaking PowerPoint. December 5, 2011. www.speakingppt.com/2011/12/05/best-fontHaley, Allan. “Type Classifications.” Fonts.com. n.d. www.fonts.com/content/learning/fontology/level-1/type-anatomy/type-classificationsKawasaki, Guy. “The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint.” GuyKawasaki.com. December 30, 2005. www.guykawasaki.com/the_102030_rule

Design Hacks for Designers on a Deadline

design

design 101

infographics

tips and tricks

Graphic design is expanding. Every year, new designers emerge—many of which are equipped with skills that match, if not surpass, that of established professionals. If you don’t want to be replaced, strive to be more valuable. Identify yourself from the crowd by being consistent with the quality of your work. Excellence is important for artists like you since your job entails producing creative outputs that spark the imagination. To be a great designer, you need to make sure that your designs don’t stagnate and lose their luster over time.Quality is indeed number one in the list of things that should define you as an artist. However, it doesn’t end there. Since the design marketplace teems with designers who produce exceptional work, quality is no longer enough. You need to add another ingredient to the mix.

The Missing Piece in the Puzzle

What design skill is so important that, without it, you won’t be able to outshine others in your field? Why, speed, of course. With the upsurge of client demands, there’s nothing more sought-after today than a designer who can produce quality work within a short time frame. Time is money—the faster you work, the more you’ll earn. It’s as simple as that.Still, we’re no strangers to the conjecture that quality takes time. You can argue that speed comes at the expense of quality, but if you give it enough thought, you’ll see that this isn’t really the case. There’s a difference between a fast output and a rushed one, and obviously, you should aim for the former. Lighten your workload by applying some tricks of the trade that will enable you to work faster.The following infographic provides some advice on becoming a better and faster designer. Integrate these hacks into your work process, and never miss a deadline again!

Resources:

Beachy, William. “How to Become a Faster Graphic Designer.” Go Media. June 24, 2015. gomedia.com/zine/insights/how-to-become-a-faster-graphic-designerCousins, Carrie. “How to Become a Faster, More Efficient Designer.” Design Hack. June 21, 2016. designshack.net/articles/freelancing/how-to-become-a-faster-more-efficient-designerMerimee, Jordan. “7 Essential Productivity Tips and Hacks for Designers.” Shutterstock. October 24, 2016. www.shutterstock.com/blog/productivity-tips-hacks-designersVukovic, Peter. “15 Ways to Design Better and Faster.” 99 Designs. n.d. 99designs.com/blog/tips/15-ways-to-design-better-and-faster“A Designer’s Time Is Money.” Affordable Printing. February 11, 2014. www.affordableprinting.co.uk/2014/02/11/designers-time-money“Top 5 Hacks to Brainstorm a Perfect Design with a Tight Deadline.” Fohlio. n.d. learn.fohlio.com/top-5-hacks-to-brainstorm-a-perfect-design-with-a-tight-deadline

Design 101: Basic Elements of a PowerPoint Deck

design 101

PowerPoint Design

slide design elements

Creating a visually appealing and effective PowerPoint deck involves more than just placing text on slides. Good design ensures that your message is clearly communicated, your audience remains engaged, and your presentation looks professional. To achieve this, it’s essential to understand the basic elements of PowerPoint design and how to use them effectively.Here’s a guide to the basic elements of a PowerPoint deck and tips on how to design your slides for maximum impact.


1. Slide Layout

The slide layout refers to the arrangement of text, images, and other elements on your slides. A clear and well-organized layout makes it easier for your audience to understand your message and follow along.

Key Tips:

  • Consistency: Use consistent layouts throughout the deck. PowerPoint offers various pre-made slide layouts (e.g., title slides, content slides) that help maintain visual consistency.
  • Alignment: Ensure that elements on the slide are properly aligned. PowerPoint’s alignment guides help position text, images, and graphics in a balanced way.
  • White Space: Don’t overcrowd your slides. Leave enough white space around elements to avoid clutter and give the design room to breathe.

Example:

Use a Title and Content layout for most of your slides, with a large header at the top and content (text, images, charts) placed beneath it in a structured, easy-to-read format.


2. Typography

The typography (font style, size, and color) you choose plays a crucial role in making your presentation readable and engaging. Choosing the right fonts ensures that your text stands out, remains legible, and enhances the overall design.

Key Tips:

  • Font Choice: Stick to simple, clean fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica for body text. For headings, you can use a bolder, more distinctive font.
  • Font Size: Use a large enough font for readability. Generally, 24–32 points for headings and 18–24 points for body text works well in presentations.
  • Consistency: Keep your font choices consistent throughout the deck. Use one font for headings and another for body text to create hierarchy without overwhelming the viewer.
  • Limit Text: Avoid heavy paragraphs. Aim for short, punchy bullet points or key phrases to keep the slides easy to read.

Example:

Use Bold Arial 28pt for slide headings and Regular Calibri 20pt for body text, maintaining a consistent font size throughout the presentation.


3. Color Scheme

The color scheme of your PowerPoint deck sets the mood and tone of your presentation. A well-chosen color palette helps create visual harmony, draw attention to key points, and strengthen your message.

Key Tips:

  • Limit Colors: Stick to 3–4 primary colors. Too many colors can overwhelm the audience. Consider using your brand’s colors or a predefined PowerPoint color scheme.
  • Contrast: Ensure there is enough contrast between the text and background. Dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background improves readability.
  • Purposeful Use of Color: Use colors intentionally to highlight important points, differentiate sections, or emphasize key data points.

Example:

Use a dark blue background with white text and yellow or orange accents for emphasis or to highlight important figures.


4. Visuals and Graphics

Visual elements such as images, icons, charts, and graphs help break up text and provide a more engaging, visually stimulating presentation. They also help illustrate points more clearly than text alone.

Key Tips:

  • Use High-Quality Images: Always use high-resolution images to avoid pixelation. Ensure that the images are relevant to the content and don’t distract from the message.
  • Icons for Clarity: Simple icons can replace bullet points and add a modern, clean look to your slide. PowerPoint offers a built-in icon library that you can use for free.
  • Data Visualization: For data-heavy presentations, use charts, graphs, and infographics to visualize numbers and trends. Avoid overcrowding these visuals with too much data.
  • Balance Text and Visuals: Maintain a balance between text and visuals. Avoid too many images on a single slide, as it can clutter the design.

Example:

Use a bar chart to visually represent financial data or a large, high-quality image with minimal text to reinforce a key point in your presentation.


5. Transitions and Animations

Transitions (how you move from one slide to the next) and animations (how elements appear on a slide) add movement to your presentation. When used sparingly, they can make your slides more engaging. Overuse, however, can be distracting.

Key Tips:

  • Use Subtle Transitions: Stick to simple transitions like Fade or Appear to maintain a professional look. Avoid flashy or excessive transitions like Spin or Bounce.
  • Limit Animations: If using animations, apply them to key elements that need emphasis. Use them to reveal bullet points one at a time or to draw attention to important data points.
  • Keep It Consistent: Maintain consistent animation and transition styles throughout your presentation to avoid jarring shifts in pacing.

Example:

Use a Fade transition between slides and a subtle Appear animation for introducing new bullet points or images.


6. White Space and Balance

White space, also known as negative space, is the empty space between design elements. It’s one of the most critical aspects of design, as it helps keep your slides clean, organized, and easy to read.

Key Tips:

  • Avoid Overcrowding: Don’t feel the need to fill every inch of your slide with content. Leaving space around text and visuals helps guide the viewer’s eye and emphasizes important points.
  • Create Balance: Distribute elements evenly across the slide to achieve visual balance. Use PowerPoint’s alignment tools to ensure that text, images, and shapes are properly aligned and spaced.
  • Focus Attention: Use white space strategically to focus attention on specific elements or key messages on your slide.

Example:

For a quote slide, center-align the text with plenty of white space around it, allowing the message to stand out without distractions.


7. Slide Numbers and Branding

Including slide numbers and branding elements like logos helps maintain professionalism and makes it easier for your audience to follow along or reference certain slides later.

Key Tips:

  • Add Slide Numbers: Include slide numbers on every slide (except the title slide) to keep your presentation organized. This is especially helpful during Q&A sessions when referring back to specific slides.
  • Incorporate Branding: Add your company logo and use your brand’s color scheme and fonts consistently throughout the presentation.
  • Avoid Overdoing Branding: Place branding elements like logos in subtle places, such as the footer or corner of the slide, so they don’t overpower your content.

Example:

Place your company logo in the lower-right corner of each slide and include slide numbers in the footer to ensure consistency and professionalism.


Final Thoughts

Designing a PowerPoint deck involves carefully balancing text, visuals, and other elements to create an engaging and clear presentation. By focusing on slide layout, typography, color scheme, visuals, transitions, white space, and branding, you can create a professional and visually appealing PowerPoint deck that effectively communicates your message. With these design principles in mind, your presentation will not only look polished but also be more impactful and memorable for your audience.