Business Writing Center

Tools

Inside Business

Visual Aid Guidelines

Prepare one slide for each idea. For example, a basic presentation might have the following slides:

 

Title Main points and examples
Attention-getter Review or summary
Purpose Action step
Road map Conclusion
Benefit for audience Contact Information

 

2. Limit your slides based on the length of your speech. One per minute is a general rule.

3. Word Charts. List only key points. Use strong verbs and parallel construction. 

4. Choose an appropriate font. There are two basic types: serif (the letters have little feet) and sans serif. Serif is traditional and easier to read. Sans serif is more contemporary.

 

Examples of serif:             Bookman Old Style      Courier             GC Times Examples of Sans serif:             Arial             Universe

 

5.  Capitalize. For best readability, use a mix of upper and lower case for major words in the title or headline of your slides. Use an upper case letter for only the first word in bulleted lists under your title or headline.

6.   Be consistent on all of these points:

  • Background. Select a template for the entire presentation.
  • Font. Use a minimum 28pt. for body and 36 pt. for titles limited to two font styles –one for headlines and another for body copy.
  • Illustrations. Use photographs, graphs and charts, and clip art that are the same size, but they do not have to be at the same location on each slide.

7.  Illustrate your data with pictures, graphs, or charts. Illustrations should give your audience the idea, not the detail. Save detailed data for handouts.

8.   Use color.Use high contrast between your background and your text for visibility in a lighted room. Select colors that complement your company logo or that symbolize your message.

9.  Leave some white (empty) space. Artistically design your slides for attractiveness and readability by skipping a space between your title and bullet points and between each bullet. If any of your bullet points require more than one line, skip more space between the bullets than within each bullet. Arrange illustrations to enhance the message in your bullet points.

10. Avoid wordiness. After you have designed your visual aids, edit for clarity and succinctness. The less information on a slide, the better your audience will remember it.

Remember:

  • Organize your presentation first.

  • Less of everything is always more impressive.

  • Pictures are more persuasive than numbers and words.

  • Be consistent with each individual component.

Adapted from CrossTalk by Kenton & Valentine, Prentice Hall, 1997.