Imagine a world where everything is beautiful. No, not just butterflies and rainbows. I'm talking about the minutiae of menus, ads on your Instagram feed, baby announcements, parking garage information, mobile apps, user manuals, junk mail and branding. I’m talking going into a meeting and not wanting to scratch your eyes out when you see what the projector flickers on.
It's within reach! You too can ensure that your viewers will pay attention! Absorb! Enjoy! Retain!
Here's how:
1. Have compelling content.
Elegant, professional design can make compelling content soar, and it can even help mediocre content. But design should go beyond slapping lipstick on a pig, it should work hand-in-hand with captivating content.
2. Use fewer words on a slide.
I know, I know, easier said than done. Good thing you're subscribing to Get Me Rewrite and are learning how to edit well.
3. No, really, use fewer words on a slide.
I cannot stress this enough. Pick a punchy thought, display it in big type, and have the speaker (you) get into details or supporting information. (Bonus: This also makes you a better presenter.)
4. Break it up.
If you really need to deliver more information, parcel it out over multiple slides.
5. Use fonts that match your brand voice.
People like professional fonts that are easy on the eyes. Try mixing two fonts, one with a little personality for titles or big pull quotes and another for body text. If you’re making a Google Slides presentation, for example, a nice pairing is Oswald for titles and Montserrat for text. Bottom line: Pick fonts that are clean and legible.
6. Carry the visual theme throughout.
Select a palette of three colors and stick to it. No random pink on one slide if you're talking about females (for many reasons). If you’re going to use lines to separate text boxes, use it throughout the presentation to tie it all together.
7. Bring a little visual spark.
Add GOOD imagery. Do not use cheesy pictures of people giving a thumbs up to illustrate that your idea is “good.” People like authenticity, diversity and well-composed images. A quick web search for “free stock images” yields several resources. Add an interesting crop, and voila! You’re on your way.
8. Do not stretch graphics.
Do not use the image if it's going to be warped or, worse, pixelated.
9. Do not make icons bigger than they're supposed to be.
Most icons and logos are meant to be small. Refrain from using clip art (icons!) as an image.
10. Edit the visuals. Edit the words.
Are you relying on superfluous drop shadows, starburst shapes ... gobbledygook like that? Try removing that “piece” to see if your eyes follow a natural flow of the page, but you’re not bored. And spellcheck.
11. Don’t be afraid of charts and graphs.
Represent things in an unexpected way. If your plan was to drop in a bar chart from somewhere on the internet, understand the data and recreate it yourself using concentric circles, for example.
12. Use smooth transitions.
No one wants to see the slides and content zig-zag around the screen and explode into stars. Best practice is to use some of the slide animations and object animations to make your presentation interesting and professional, but use the conservative options.
Presentations that are designed simply and beautifully communicate your ideas, help hold the attention of your colleagues and clients and, more importantly, translate into results. Even if you feel that your “simple” presentation is boring, keep in mind that clean is better than distracting.
Editing is our specialty. See more at MHarris.com.