Criteria for PowerPoint Slides (Larry Winn)
Simplicity
What are simple slides?
- Easy to See. The people on the back row should be able easily to determine what every part of the slide is and to read everyword or number on the slide.
- Easy to Read. The people on the back row should be able to read every letter.
- Easy to Digest. Everyone shold be able to digest the point of the slide during the time the slide is visible. (Speeches require simpler visual aids than handouts, articles, books and other written works.)
- Easy on the Eyes. The eyes of no one in the audience should have to strain or become tired during the presentation.
How to Create Simple Slides:
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Keep each slide and the presentation as a whole consistent.
- On bulleted lists use parallel form (same wording structure, same verb tense, etc.
- Voice for verbs [active or passive], same number for verbs [singular or plural].
- Use same basic design throughout presentation.
- Use no more than 5 or 6 lines per slide.
- Use no more than 6 words per line. (Use phrases rather than sentences.)
- Stand back 6 or more feet from your computer screen (15-inch screen) to make sure you can see and read everything on the slide.
- Use sans serif font such as Arial, Arial Black, and Tahoma.
- Avoid italics and "script" typefaces (for example, Bradley Hand and Chiller).
- Use no smaller than 26-28 font size.
- Use no more than 2 typefaces and no more than 2 type sizes per slide.
- Avoid large blocks of all caps.
- To emphasize a word, use boldface type or color rather than underlining.
Use the 6 by 6 rule.
Use typefaces and type sizes that are easy to read and that don't tire the eyes.