4. Follow Best Practices for Slide Design and Visual Storytelling
Ah, slides—the double-edged sword of every presentation. Done poorly, they’re mind-numbing walls of text that make your audience regret attending. Done well, they’re crisp visual guides that clearly enhance your message and keep your audience engaged.
Here’s your straightforward guide to creating slides that support, rather than sabotage, your storytelling.
Why Slide Design Matters
Your slides should complement your words, not compete with them. Good slides clarify key points, reinforce your message, and help your audience visualize and remember your story clearly.
Step 1: Keep Slides Simple and Clean
Less is always more. Slides crowded with text overwhelm audiences and distract from your message. Aim for one clear idea per slide.
How to simplify clearly:
Limit each slide to a single idea or key message.
Use minimal text—short headlines and concise bullet points.
Include white space to avoid clutter and improve readability.
Step 2: Follow the 10-20-30 Rule
A helpful guideline from presentation expert Guy Kawasaki is the “10-20-30 rule”:
10 slides maximum for clarity.
20 minutes maximum to present effectively.
30-point font minimum to ensure readability.
This rule helps ensure your slides stay simple, readable, and impactful.
Step 3: Use Text Strategically
Your slides aren’t cue cards—they should support your speech, not duplicate it.
Strategic text use clearly means:
Headlines that summarize the slide clearly (e.g., “Sales Increased 20% Last Quarter”).
Bullet points that briefly capture main ideas.
No lengthy sentences or paragraphs.
Step 4: Choose Effective Visuals
Images, graphs, charts, and icons help convey complex ideas quickly and memorably. Choose visuals carefully to support your main points clearly.
Clear visual use examples:
Charts: To show comparisons or trends clearly (e.g., bar charts for sales data).
Images: To convey emotion or context clearly (e.g., a satisfied customer).
Icons: To illustrate simple concepts or steps clearly.
Step 5: Consistency Is Key
A consistent look throughout your slides conveys professionalism and improves clarity.
Consistency checklist:
Same fonts for titles and body text.
A limited, professional color scheme (2–4 colors maximum).
Consistent alignment, spacing, and layout style.
Step 6: Tell a Clear, Visual Story
Structure your slides logically—beginning, middle, and end—so your audience can easily follow your narrative.
Visual storytelling clearly means:
Intro Slide: Clearly introduce your topic and main message.
Middle Slides: Present data, stories, or examples clearly supporting your message.
Conclusion Slide: End with a clear summary or call to action.
Quick Checklist: Slide Design and Storytelling
Are my slides simple and visually clean?
Does each slide communicate one clear idea?
Am I following the 10-20-30 rule?
Are visuals clearly selected to support the message?
Have I kept colors, fonts, and layouts consistent?
Do my slides flow clearly to tell a visual story?
Real-World Example: Effective Slide Design Clearly in Action
Imagine you’re presenting quarterly sales growth:
Slide 1 (Intro):
“Q4 Sales Results”
Slide 2 (Middle):
A clear bar chart titled “Quarterly Sales Comparison,” highlighting Q4’s highest sales clearly.
Slide 3 (Middle):
Key bullet points:
“20% growth from Q3”
“Highest-performing product: Widget X”
Slide 4 (Conclusion):
“Action Steps: Expand Widget X marketing next quarter.”
Each slide clearly supports your narrative and makes your presentation memorable.
Final Thoughts: Mastering Slide Design and Visual Storytelling
Effective slide design doesn’t require artistic genius—just clear thinking, simplicity, and intentional choices. By keeping slides concise, visuals strategic, and storytelling clear, your presentations become engaging, memorable, and impactful.
Ready to continue sharpening your visual and nonverbal skills by adapting your cues based on audience feedback and environment? Excellent—let’s clearly keep moving forward!