Guidelines for Using

Visuals
 Less is Best

Instead use:
Avoid bullet points
Sentences single words
visuals
 Less is Best

Ten Second Rule

View and understand within

ten seconds
 Less is Best

Six by Six Rule

Six words or less per line

1 2 3 4 5 6
 Less is Best

1. Six
2. Lines
3. Or
4. Less
5. Per
6. Visual
Eye-Friendly Fonts

44 Title
32 Text

Large font
 Eye-Friendly Fonts

Arial
San Serif fonts for easy reading

Times
Seriffontscanbedistracting
 Eye-Friendly Fonts

DONT
SHOUT
Use Upper and Lower Case
 Eye-Friendly Fonts

To increase visibility:

Avoid underline and italics.

Use bold
 Transitions and Animations

Reveal one concept at a time

Stay consistent and simple
Wipe in the direction people read
Indent only once per visual
 Visual Appeal

A picture is worth 1,000 words

 Visual Appeal

Bar graphs for comparing items

 Visual Appeal

Line charts for changes

over time
 Visual Appeal

Pie charts for parts of a whole

Lighting Factors

Dim room lighting

 Lighting Factors

Disable bulbs directly over the screen

Lighting Factors

Bright room:
Use light background
and dark text
Lighting Factors

Dark room:
Use dark background
with light text
Choose Colors with Care

Greatest visibility:

Black
Blue
Green
Choose Colors with Care

Good contrast:

Black and Blue

Green and Black
 Choose Colors
Choose Colors with
with Care
Care

Red
can be hard to read
Choose Colors with Care

Avoid using too many

Colors
 General Tips

Check visuals in
presentation mode
 General Tips

Document formatting sometimes

changes on different computers
 General Tips

Avoid creating competition with

irrelevant or distracting visuals
 General Tips

Have electronic backup of your

presentation and equipment
Stay Connected

Maintain eye contact

 Stay Connected

The computer monitor is your screen

 Stay Connected

Paraphrase rather than

read aloud
 Stay Connected

Dont get trapped behind

a lectern
 Room Factors

Check out your meeting room the day

before
 Room Factors

Place the screen in the corner of the room

 Room Factors

Check audience for lines of sight

 Room Factors

Use a microphone for 30+ people

 Minimize Distractions

Turn the projector off or to black

Minimize Distractions

Dont be a shadow puppet

 Minimize Distractions

Eliminate items in your hands

or pockets
Minimize Distractions

Dont let visuals

become
your message
 Equipment

Check the power supply

 Equipment

Be ready to present even

if the power fails
 Equipment

Test your equipment immediately

before presenting
 Equipment

Use a remote to advance the visuals.

Minimize the laser pointer
 Keep Listener Focus

Keep the power position, front

center of the room
Keep Listener Focus

Set up what people are

about to see
Keep Listener Focus

Read the audience

 Be Conversational

Maintain congruent and expressive voice,

face, and body language
 Be Conversational

Gesture and walk with purpose