making effective slides
DESCRIPTION
Presentation about slide design, given at ANU July 2014TRANSCRIPT
“IMPRESSIVE MEYERS, BUT LET’S STICK TO YOUR QUANTITATIVE PROJECTIONS”
WELCOME TO
Designing Effective Presentations
HELLOmy name is
HELLOmy name is
I AM A
TODAY I WILL BE TALKING ABOUT
What is Effective Slide Design?
Using Type, Images and Color
Some Information Design Basics
Slides are not a document
The audience will either listen or read(AND YOU READ THIS FASTER THAN I CAN SAY IT)
Less stuff on slide = Less turning your back
> 75 WORDS = DOCUMENT 50 WORDS = TELEPROMPTER VISUAL AID = PRESENTATION
SOURCE: NANCY DUARTE IN SLIDEOLOGY DRAWING ON SETH GODWIN
Less content shows confidence in your content
Text heavy slides are boring(AND MAKE YOUR CONTENT LOOK BORING)
(DON’T MAKE A ‘SLIDEUMENT’*)
Handouts are an alternative
SOURCE: NANCY DUARTE IN SLIDEOLOGY DRAWING ON GARR RENYOLDS
TELEPROMPTER VISUAL AID
SOURCE: NANCY DUARTE IN SLIDEOLOGY DRAWING ON SETH GODWIN
ACADEMICCONFERENCE
COMMERCIALPITCH
3MT
‘Simple’ is not always so simpleMaking effective slides will take
longer than you think (36–90 HOURS FOR A ONE HOUR PRESENTATION WITH 30 SLIDES)
SOURCE: NANCY DUARTE IN SLIDEOLOGY
THE KEY TO KEEPING SLIDES SIMPLE
Figure/Ground
Jane Austen was an English novel-ist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature.
GROUND
FIGURE
Signal to Noise Ratio
Maximize Signal Minimize Noise
Avoid complicated shapes behind text
Avoid strong colors in the backgroundUnless your type contrasts
Avoid bright colors on white(ESPECIALLY IF YOUR TYPE IS SMALL AND/OR THERE IS A LOT OF IT)
Use less contrasty patterns like this one
or use sizeWHICH CAN (SORT OF, MOST OF THE TIME) OVERCOME A CONTRASTY BACKGROUND
Line stuff up and don’t mix alignments
Avoid ‘panel-itis’
Don’t ‘sprinkle’
CREATEFOCUS
Hierarchy
Hierarchy helps the audience read in the right orderSo they will understand your main point
THIS SLIDE IS FOR THE FOUCAULT THEORISTS
or making things bigger
Making things
brighter
Create hierarchy by placing stuff at the top of the page or…
Negative space does not need to be filled
It creates visual ‘breathing space’
WORKING WITH
type/image/color
Images have ‘negative space’ too
Serif OR Sans Serif (and typefaces who can’t decide)
typefaces communicate
People disagree least with: Baskerville
SOURCE: ERROL MORRIS, NEW YORK TIMES 2012
People disagree the most with: Comic Sans
SOURCE: ERROL MORRIS, NEW YORK TIMES 2012
Contrast between thick and thin strokes is hard to read
Minimal contrast is easier to read
Gill Sans Ultra Bold
Comic SansOptima
Papyrus
FuturaBrushScript
Times New Roman
Do not compress or extend type(YES, EVEN TO FIT STUFF ON THE SLIDE!)
Use weight for emphasis rather than changing the typeface
Don’t use more than three typeface changeson
one single SLIDE
Be careful with justified type.
Especially when in a box
Animations can be distracting(USE THEM SPARINGLY)
Transition noises can be cheesy (THEY CHEAPEN THE TONE)
Avoid clip art and cheap looking cartoons
use high quality images
Don’t distort images
Size images so they can be aligned
This is not ‘more interesting’ it’s just messy
Avoid Visual Clichés
SOURCE: NANCY DUARTE IN SLIDEOLOGY
COLOR HAS CULTURAL AND PERSONAL MEANING
Red = Death? Life + Creativity? Happiness? Danger?
(BUT IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE, CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT)
THERE ARE ONLY 5 WAYS TO ORGANIZE INFORMATION
LATCH
LOCATIONALPHABETICALT IMECATEGORYHIERARCHY
Arrange data by the ‘story’ you want to tell:
Location / data flow about distance/geography
Arrange data by the ‘story’ you want to tell:
Location / data flow about distance/geography
Alphabetical / good for non-linear/‘miscellaneous’ information
Arrange data by the ‘story’ you want to tell:
Location / data flow about distance/geography
Alphabetical / good for non-linear/‘miscellaneous’ information
Time / sequence/change over time
Arrange data by the ‘story’ you want to tell:
Location / data flow about distance/geography
Alphabetical / good for non-linear/‘miscellaneous’ information
Time / sequence/change over time
Category / arrange by similarity or relatedness
Arrange data by the ‘story’ you want to tell:
Location / data flow about distance/geography
Alphabetical / good for non-linear/‘miscellaneous’ information
Time / sequence/change over time
Category / arrange by similarity or relatedness
Hierarchy / common measure (highest to lowest, best to worst)
NANCY DUARTE’S RULES ABOUT SHOWING DATA
Tell the Truth
SOURCE: NANCY DUARTE IN SLIDEOLOGY
NANCY DUARTE’S RULES ABOUT SHOWING DATA
Tell the TruthGet to the Point
SOURCE: NANCY DUARTE IN SLIDEOLOGY
NANCY DUARTE’S RULES ABOUT SHOWING DATA
Tell the TruthGet to the Point
Pick the right tool for the job
SOURCE: NANCY DUARTE IN SLIDEOLOGY
NANCY DUARTE’S RULES ABOUT SHOWING DATA
Tell the TruthGet to the Point
Pick the right tool for the jobHighlight what’s important
SOURCE: NANCY DUARTE IN SLIDEOLOGY
NANCY DUARTE’S RULES ABOUT SHOWING DATA
Tell the TruthGet to the Point
Pick the right tool for the jobHighlight what’s important
Keep it simple
SOURCE: NANCY DUARTE IN SLIDEOLOGY
Pick the Right Tool for the Job
Bar Charts / compare items
Pick the Right Tool for the Job
Bar Charts / compare items
Line Graphs / show trends over time
Pick the Right Tool for the Job
Bar Charts / compare items
Line Graphs / show trends over time
Pie Charts / emphasize proportions
Pick the Right Tool for the Job
Bar Charts / compare items
Line Graphs / show trends over time
Pie Charts / emphasize proportions
Flowcharts / show process and connectedness
Scale 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Skill Development 86% 77% 90% 96% 92% 89% 92%
Goals and Expectations 75% 80% 83% 88% 92% 87% 88%
Examination 74% 62% 72% 77% 79% 80% 78%
Supervision 64% 65% 70% 80% 74% 72% 75%
Infrastructure 52% 44% 60% 68% 67% 65% 74%
Intellectual Climate 45% 34% 49% 54% 56% 55% 59%
Overall Satisfaction 68% 69% 73% 87% 85% 78% 75%
Highlight what’s important
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
%
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS
EXAMINATION
SUPERVISIONINFRASTRUCTURE
INTELLECTUAL CLIMATE
OVERALL SATISFACTION
Remember: Signal to Noise
Nancy Duarte’s book: Slideologyslideology.com
Really Bad Powerpoint by Seth Godin: sethgodin.com/freeprize/reallybad-1.pdf
presentationzen.com
Typeface Research:opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/
2012/08/08/hear-all-ye-people-hearken-o-earth/
Any Questions?