01Fonts and sizes
- Use one font family, two at most.
- Titles 28 to 36 pt, body at least 18 pt, notes 12 pt at the very smallest.
- Left-align body text. Center only short titles.
02Alignment and spacing
- Turn on guides and the grid (View, Guides).
- Keep a consistent margin on every slide.
- Use Align and Distribute (Shape Format, Align) instead of nudging by eye.
03Color
- Choose one main color, one accent and neutrals.
- Check contrast: dark text on light, or the reverse, never mid-tones on mid-tones.
- Use the accent for the single thing you want noticed.
04Use the Slide Master
- View, Slide Master.
- Set fonts, colors, title position and logo once on the master.
- Add slides from the layouts so every slide inherits the same design.
Tip If you find yourself fixing the same thing on every slide, it belongs in the Slide Master.
05Charts and images
- One chart, one message. Put the message in the title.
- Remove gridlines, legends and decimals that do not help.
- Use full-bleed, high-resolution images or none. Avoid stretched or low-resolution pictures.
Q&AFAQ
Where do I get free templates?
Start from the templates built into PowerPoint, then restyle the Slide Master with your own fonts and colors so it does not look generic.
Can you redesign my slides?
Yes. Send the deck and your deadline and I will quote a fixed price. Most decks are returned the same day.
Rather have it done for you?
PowerPoint design service, from about us$16. Your content turned into a clear, consistent deck for class, project or pitch, usually the same day.