When they have read the slide and you need the to return to you, audience’s attention blank your screen so that they are not experiencing multiple and perhaps conflicting inputs and if you want to create memorable sound bites, put more text on a slide than you don’t would as a T-shirt slogan. Think through your design and review your slides If necessary, prepare more slides than you will use and then be brave enough to cull … them aggressively. Look at your slides critically and ask: 1. Do they work Are they clear, readable and appealing? – 2. Do they flow Is it clear where the slide starts and finishes? – 3. Do they offer contrast Is it possible to distinguish the main points from the – the key 5% from the 95%? 4. Do they show hierarchy Is the relationship between elements clear? – 5. Do they provide congruence and continuity Does the information connect and fit – together to create a whole? 6. Do they demonstrate proximity Is the information well positioned on the slide in – relation to other content? Is information clustered? Go the extra mile interpret the data – Remember, data slides are not only about showing that you have gathered your information; they are about interpreting and explaining the meaning of the data. If you or the audience need to drill down to specifics, isolate and illustrate those components in your slides and if necessary, produce a separate handout. Good practice When creating your slide content, think about using: the corporate template that works best to support your message Slide Master (see Appendix V) to ensure consistency of logos, strap line and bullet size an appropriate, good sized, readable and consistent font too much variety will look – like a ransom note! animation and sound, only when they help to amplify key points Crossing cultures If you intend to communicate outside of your own culture whether defined by – organisational or geographical boundaries, gender or age, you must: avoid jargon or complex text
When they have read the slide and you need the audience’s attention to return to you, blank your screen so that they are not experiencing multiple and perhaps conflicting inputs and if you want to create memorable sound bites, don’t put more text on a slide than you would as a T-shirt slogan. Think through your design and review your slides If necessary, prepare more slides than you will use … and then be brave enough to cull them aggressively. Look at your slides critically and ask: 1. Do they work – Are they clear, readable and appealing? 2. Do they flow – Is it clear where the slide starts and finishes? 3. Do they offer contrast – Is it possible to distinguish the main points from the the key 5% from the 95%? 4. Do they show hierarchy – Is the relationship between elements clear? 5. Do they provide congruence and continuity – Does the information connect and fit together to create a whole? 6. Do they demonstrate proximity – Is the information well positioned on the slide in relation to other content? Is information clustered? Go the extra mile – interpret the data Remember, data slides are not only about showing that you have gathered your information; they are about interpreting and explaining the meaning of the data. If you or the audience need to drill down to specifics, isolate and illustrate those components in your slides and if necessary, produce a separate handout. Good practice When creating your slide content, think about using: the corporate template that works best to support your message Slide Master (see Appendix V) to ensure consistency of logos, strap line and bullet size an appropriate, good sized, readable and consistent font – too much variety will look like a ransom note! animation and sound, only when they help to amplify key points Crossing cultures If you intend to communicate outside of your own culture – whether defined by organisational or geographical boundaries, gender or age, you must: avoid jargon or complex text