Guidelines for Making PowerPoint

Golden Rule
No More Than One Topic
Per Slide

Keep Unity of Design
Use a master slide.
Same font or set of fonts
Same background, same colors
Consistent bullet style
All titles: same color, font, size, and position
Use contrasting background and type.
A dark background with light type (ideal)
A light background with dark type

Use Readable Typeface and Font
Use serif for titles.
Use san serif (no curly feet) for body text.
This is serif (Garamond) at 24 point.
This is serif (Times NR) at 24 point.
This is san serif (Helvetica) at 24 point.

Select Readable Font Size
The title above is 44 point.
This is 40 point.
36 point is the minimum for titles.
This is 32 point.
This is 24 point, no bold.

Adjust Lettering to Emphasize
This can be done using color.
This can be done using size.
Or this can be done using bold or italic.

Choose Complementary Colors
Colors should not clash.
Colors should be complementary (easy on the eyes!).
Colors should be consistent throughout the presentation.

Avoid Using “Text Boxes”
Use slide template for all standard text and bulleted and numbered lists
Use text boxes for specially placed text; for example, to label a figure.
Diagram of nuclear power plant

Avoid
Fancy
Animation
Effects

Consider the 6 x 6 Rule
Slides should have no more than 6 lines of text.
Slides should have no more than 6-10 words per line.
This is a guideline, not really a rule.
6
6

Use Bullets, Not Numbers
Bullets do not imply a specific order.
Use numbers only to show rank or sequence.

Use Parallel Structure
All parallel bullets on a slide should have the same grammatical structure.
All noun phrases or all verb phrases, e.g.
All complete sentences or all phrases or all clauses

Use Simple Tables to Present Numbers

Use Solids, Not Patterns, in Charts
Use labels large enough to read from a distance.

Avoid Overwhelming Detail in Charts and Graphs
Break up organizational charts into large, easy-to-read chunks.
For a large, complicated chart, think about providing a handout.
Ensure that all text in a chart is readable from the back of the room.

Use Readable Figure Size
Enlarge figures to make detail readable.

Photos and Illustrations
Allow plenty of room for borders and around illustrations.
Try not to crowd your illustration with text.

Speaking of Slides…
Avoid Reading Your Slides
Your slides are an outline of your talk.
Help audience focus
Point out what is important
Your slides are not your presentation.
Clues to help you remember
Plan on 1 slide per minute; no more than 3 slides per minute.