This document provides guidance on using effective design and color in PowerPoint presentations. It recommends that colors have meaning and influence learning. Contrast is important, with blue or purple backgrounds and white text easy to read. While black and white works, adding some color can enhance graphic impact. Further research on how color influences people in different cultures is suggested.

1. Design & Color:
A Sample PowerPoint for
Informative Presentations
Heather Freya Abenti
Coastal Carolina Community College
1

2. Basics
šColors have meaning (O’Hair et al., 2018)
šGood design fosters learning (Schwabish,
2016)
šMake presentation stand out by not using
default colors (Schwabish, 2016) 2

3. Details
šContrast is key (Paradi, 2020)
šBlue or purple backgrounds, white words
• easy to read
• positive emotional connotation (Paradi, 2020)
3

4. Graphic Impact
š Black and white works, but a little color can help (Schwabish, 2016)
4
Photo Credit: Schwabish, 2016, p. 30

5. Further Study
šHow shades of color influence people differently
šResearch link: color and culture
5

6. References
O’Hair, D., Stewart, R., & Rubenstein, H. (2018). A speaker’s guidebook (7th ed.). Macmillan
Learning.
Paradi, D. (2020). Choosing colors for your presentation slides. Think Outside the Slide.
https://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/choosing-colors-for-your-presentation-slides/
Schwabish, J. (2016). Better presentations: A guide for scholars, researchers, and wonks
[eBook edition]. Columbia University Press. https://ebookcentral-proquest-
com.proxy042.nclive.org/lib /coastalcarolina-
ebooks/reader.action?docID=4723060&ppg=44
6