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PowerPoint Slide Design

Using Fonts

  • Use sans-serif fonts, like Helvetica, Arial, and Verdana. They are easier to read on screen, because the letter strokes are more uniform. In serif fonts, like Times New Roman, some of the strokes can be very thin. Fonts like Frutiger, Stone Sans, and Oceans Sans also work well.
  • Make sure the type is big enough to read--at least 18 points. Preferably, make your main points up to 48 points, and the general text 24-36 pt.
  • Use bold fonts to make type more readable. Bold makes letters thicker.
  • Remember that from where you're standing--at the front, close to the screen--everything will appear larger and easier to read. Try it out from the back of the room to see how it will appear to the people sitting there.

  • The 5 by 5 Rule of Slide Design

    Five lines per page, no more than five words per line.

    It's an excellent rule of thumb.
    Avoid fancy fonts for general use. They are hard to read on screen.
  • Use the shadow effect for nearly all text. It greatly enhances readability on screen. Make NOT using it the exception.
  • Try to stick to the standard Microsoft fonts, which come with nearly all Microsoft programs. These are the closest thing to standard fonts that you'll find.
  • Avoid fancy fonts especially if you plan to do the presentation on other people's computers. For those fonts to show, they must be present on the computer; they aren't embedded in the PowerPoint file. When PowerPoint can't find a particular font on a computer, it chooses a different one. That may totally mess up how a slide is supposed to look.
  • Don't use capital letters. It's easier to read a mixture of upper- and lower-case letters.
  • A common beginners' mistake: using Times New Roman (or Arial or Helvetica) for everything.

Filling the Screen

  • Don't fill the screen clear to the edge of the slides. A blank border creates a frame of sorts, which is a good thing. Plus, if you show the presentation in other settings, you may find that the screen is too small and some of your words get cut off.
  • You should be able to read the whole slide in seven seconds. So don't fill the slides with text (a common beginners' mistake).
  • Only put your main points on the slide--not everything you have to say. What's on the slide should just be an outline.
  • Avoid putting black text on white screens. That's okay with most other things--overhead transparencies, handouts, web pages--but it's not the best way to design PowerPoint slides. Most road signs use a dark background with white lettering. That's the model for PowerPoint slides.
  • Avoid the clip-art built into PowerPoint. Chances are at least some people in your audience have already seen those images. Invest in one of the clip-art collections that have hundreds of thousands of pictures.
  • Keep a consistent look to your clip art and photos. If you use clip-art, stick to the same style of art.
  • Every photo and piece of art should have a purpose, should add something to the presentation. Don't use artwork just because it's available.