4 common mistakes to avoid when designing your next presentation
Are you making these common presentation design mistakes? Here I outline how to identify and fix them for your next presentation.
1. Choosing unsuitable colours
Make sure your text is easy to read by choosing a high-contrast colour scheme.
Avoid using too many colours. Try 3-5 maximum.
2. Choosing inappropriate fonts
Make sure your text is easy to read by choosing a legible font. The font needs to match the tone of your presentation. For a professional presentation avoid using fonts that are decorative and hard to read from a distance.
For example, avoid: Mistral, Comic Sans, Bradley Hand
Try clear, easy-to-read sans serif fonts like: Open Sans, Poppins, Verdana
3. Overloading your slides
Avoid putting too much text or graphics on a single slide. This can make it difficult for your audience to read or understand your message. Instead, use bullet points or short phrases to convey your main points. Remember, your slides should be visual aids that support your message. You want your audience to be listening to you, rather than reading your slides.
4 Ignoring your audience
Remember who your audience is and what they are expecting from your presentation.
Who will be attending your presentation?
What are their interests, needs, and knowledge level?
Tailor your content and delivery to resonate with your audience. Use language and visuals that are relevant and relatable to ensure maximum engagement and understanding.
Successful presentation design considerations include:
Choosing high contrast colours that align with your brand or presentation topic
Choosing legible fonts
Designing your slide content so there is plenty of white space and not too much information
Researching your audience and tailoring your content and the design to their needs
If you’re needing help with your next presentation, get in touch zoe@onformat.co.nz.
