Effective Presentation Slide Design

1. Effective Presentation Slide Design Elizabeth Auger Ashworth – Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada

2. 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

3. 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

4. Poor slide design: • low contrast • “busy” graphic • graphic unrelated to • content • needs an image • first two bullets have • too much information

5. Thesis question: Does the inclusion of effective graphic design practices really matter with regard to making presentation slides memorable?

6. 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

7. 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

9. 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

10. 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.)

11. 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.

12. 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-designer’s design book. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.

13. For more information: www.nipissingu.ca/education/liza liza@nipissingu.ca 705-474-3461 x.4463