Say It with Presentations, Second Edition, Revised & Expanded, 2nd Edition

The 10 Commandments of Successful Presentations

Creating Visuals

I Thou shalt keep the design of visuals simple. Omit footnotes and sources for charts; limit the number of words on text visuals to 30.

II Thou shalt ensure legibility to the person sitting the farthest from the screen. Take a look at the detailed table included in the section on legibility.

III Thou shalt use color with purpose, not for decoration. Use color to emphasize, to identify a recurring theme, to distinguish, or to symbolize.

IV Thou shalt keep special effects (e.g., animations) to a minimum and let content drive their use.

V Thou shalt provide reasonable production deadlines. As more elements, such as video and sound, are added, presentations are more time-consuming ...