When designing PowerPoint slides, pay heed to this advice from a graphic designer.
Right and wrong do not exist in graphic design.
There is only effective and non-effective communication.
Match Design to Purpose. Do you want to inform, motivate, alert, or provoke? Is this to be a light-hearted conversation with students or a formal presentation? However you answer those questions, try to keep colors, templates, and artwork consistent with your intentions.
Keep It Simple. Avoid information overload. Cut the clutter. Highlight and emphasize key points. Use software bells and whistles only occasionally, if at all. Too much on the slide will make it difficult for students to focus on your main message. More than 3-4 graphic images are probably too many. More than two different fonts can make the slide hard to read.
Be Consistent. Repeating design elements throughout the PowerPoint presentation helps the readers/audience follow you more effortlessly. If truly important points are always in a particular color or font or layout, that will help.
Adapted from Before You Create a PowerPoint Presentation
by Jacci Howard Bear
Slide Transitions and Sound Effects. These bells and whistles are fun to play with when designing the slides but they rarely enhance the message. And you must focus on your message.
Standard Clipart. Though easy to use, the standard versions now appear tired and lackluster. Using your own scanned pictures or drawing your own stick figures may be a better choice.
Presentation Templates. Again, we have seen some of the templates so often that we recognize them immediately. Design your own. Use your institution or department logo. Pay close attention to background colors that are effective when projected on the screen.
Text-Heavy Slides. With only rare exceptions, avoid paragraphs or even complete sentences. You really want the students to pay attention to what you are saying. You don’t want them to tune you out while they try to read that teeny-tiny print on the screen.
Size matters. The font or the image must be seen from the back of the room. Aim for a minimum of 40-point font. That will also help you avoid those text-heavy slides.
Reading. Reading the slides will make you seem unprepared and boring. Only a few very talented readers can pull this off. Just don’t do it.
Faith in Technology. Be prepared for equipment failures. You may need to present whether the technology is working correctly or not. You may have to present without the technology at all. Will you be ready?
Adapted from The Seven Deadly Sins of PowerPoint Presentations
by Joseph Sommerville