Effective Presentation Slide Design

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Effective Presentation Slide Design

• Elizabeth Auger Ashworth Nipissing University,
  North Bay, Ontario, Canada

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What is effective slide design?

• Grabs and keeps attention
• Information presented clearly
• Information accompanied by related images
• Uses good graphic design practices (e.g.,
  C.R.A.P. contrast, repetition, alignment,
  proximity)
• Balance between good design and good content

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Good slide design

• high contrast
• natural colors
• consistent font style
• limited number of
• bullets
• good amount of info
• image related to
• content
• good border width

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Poor slide design

• low contrast
• busy graphic
• graphic unrelated to
• content
• needs an image
• first two bullets have
• too much information

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Thesis question

• Does the inclusion of effective graphic design
  practices really matter with regard to making
  presentation slides memorable?

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Methodology

• 71 grade 10 media arts students (35 females, 36
  males, 3 with ADD)
• All shown digital slide presentation of history
  of the Internet and tested on content
• Presentation contained both well-designed slides
  and poorly-designed ones
• All students given survey of how each slide
  helped them to remember content
• ADD students were interviewed re retention of
  content

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Findings

• Females results showed low significance re
  quality of slide design
• Males results showed high significance re
  quality of slide design
• ADD students results showed opposite results to
  accepted theories re graphics
• All participants stated they liked few bullets,
  colorful designs, and images to help them remember

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Implications for teachers

• For female audiences, any choice of slide design
  is fine
• For male audiences, use dark backgrounds, light
  text, and images
• For ADD audiences, go bright with images
• Art teachers can educate their colleagues re
  good graphic design practices
• Apply these practices to other visual aids
• Focus on needs of audience, not the presenter

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Further research

• Similar study with other age groups (e.g.,
  students in post-secondary institutions)
• Similar study in other venues (e.g., business
  world)
• Similar study expanding variables (e.g., use more
  elements and principles, animations, sound,
  timing, etc.)

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References

• Anderson, W. Sommer, B. (1997). Computer-based
  lectures using PowerPoint. The technology source,
  Michigan Virtual University. November 1997.
• Duncan, E. (2005). Designing for memory
  Effective graphic design practices for digital
  slide presentations. North Bay, ON Nipissing
  University.
• Hood, J. Togo, D. (1994). Gender effects of
  graphics presentation. Journal of research on
  computing in education. Vol.26(2), pp.176-183.
• Nunley, K. (2003). Layered curriculum. Kearney,
  NE Morris Publishing.

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• Rabb, M. (1993). The presentation design book
  (2nd ed.). Chapel Hill, NC Ventana Press.
• Rose, D. Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every
  student in the digital age Universal design for
  learning. Alexandria, VA ASCD.
• Simkins, M. et al. (2002). Increasing student
  learning through multimedia projects. Alexandria,
  VA ASCD.
• Tufte, E. (1997). Visual explanations. Cheshire,
  CT Graphics Press.
• Williams, R. (1994). The non-designers design
  book. Berkeley, CA Peachpit Press.

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For more information

• www.nipissingu.ca/education/liza
• liza_at_nipissingu.ca
• 705-474-3461 x.4463