The document outlines techniques for creating more effective presentation slides. It discusses the problems with traditional slide designs, such as using slides as teleprompters that force audiences to choose between listening and reading. The document recommends using visual techniques like limiting text, choosing a consistent color scheme, and adding visual elements to engage audiences and emphasize key points. It also provides templates and examples of better slide design practices.

1. Better Slides
for Better Talks
Ann Fandrey @annfandrey

3. Me Visual techniques for more effective
slides
The problem(s)
with traditional
slide design
A makeover ?sMe
Today!
5 min 10 min 20 min
Visual techniques for more effective
slides
10 min
The problem(s)
with traditional
slide design
A makeover ?s
5 min

4. z.umn.edu/betterSlidesBetterTalks
Ann Fandrey | @annfandrey | fandrey@umn.edu

5. Me Visual techniques for more effective
slides
The problem(s)
with traditional
Slide design
A makeover ?s
Today!
5 min 10 min 20 min 10 min
The problem(s)
with traditional
slide design
5 min

8. Bitcoin
● Worldwide cryptocurrency and digital payment system
● Works without a central repository or single administrator
● Invented by an unknown computer programmer (or group of?)
● Released as open source software in 2009
● Peer-to-peer: transactions take place between users directly, without
an intermediary
● Transactions are verified by network nodes and recorded in a public
distributed ledger called blockchain
● Can be exchanged with other currencies, products and services in
legal or black markets

9. Bitcoin transactions are
recorded in a public
ledger known as a
blockchain

10. We can’t physically
listen and read
at the same time.

11. Teleprompter Handouts Visual aids
Slides that try to do 3 things at once
...end up doing none of them well.

12. Teleprompter Handouts Visual aids
Archival
resource

13. Outline-y thinking
Topic
● About this thing
● About this thing
● About this thing
Topic
● About this thing
● About this thing
● About this thing
today

14. time passes

15. more time passes

16. Bus?topic
● About this thing
● About this thing
● About this thing
● About this thing
● About this thing
the future

17. Presentation thinking
today

18. time

19. more time

20. the future

21. Better slides lead to better talks.

22. ABT template
AND BUT
THEREFORE
setup details conflict
solution

23. Name this story
AND AND
THEREFORE
Rose was a rich
young firecracker
unhappily engaged
to a steel tycoon
Jack was a poor
guy with a big
heart and a sense
of adventure they fell in love
Rose lived a full life while
always keeping Jack in her
heart and the ocean in her
pocket.
BUT
the boat sank and
Jack died

24. An ABT for this talk
AND BUT
THEREFORE
It’s basically
expected these days
that presentations
will be accompanied
by slides
People are used to
their slides serving
as a teleprompter
instead of a visual
aid
People can’t read
and listen at the
same time
You must learn a different way of making slides
if you would like your audience to understand
and remember what you said during your talk.

26. Me Visual techniques for more effective
slides
The problem(s)
with traditional
slide design
A makeover ?s
Today!
5 min 10 min 20 min
Visual techniques for more effective
slides
10 min 5 min

27. Strive for
instant comprehensibility

28. Decide whether you actually need a slide

29. What does it mean to powerfully
point?

30. Do you need a slide?
▶ Does it clarify a concept?
NO
NO Does it sustain interest
(or other affective function)?
Does it
help them
remember? NO
STOP!
Your slide is probably
functioning as
teleprompter
YES
YES
YES
PROCEED!
@annfandrey

31. Choose 1 main point per slide

32. AND BUT
THEREFORE
Lorem ipsum dolor
sit amet,
consectetur
adipiscing elit.
Lorem ipsum dolor
sit amet,
consectetur
adipiscing elit.
Lorem ipsum dolor
sit amet,
consectetur
adipiscing elit.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,
consectetur adipiscing elit.
SLIDE SLIDE SLIDE SLIDE
SLIDE
SLIDE
SLIDE

33. ( It’s OK to use text as a slide design )

34. A traditional slide design
● If you use an outline like this, beware that
words on a slide is like an eye
● magnet and that your audience will
immediately start reading them rather than
listening to you.
● And if you have brilliance to share
● the train left the station the minute
● you put all this text in front of the people who
are here to see you.
A traditional slide design
● If you use an outline like this, beware that
words on a slide is like an eye
● magnet and that your audience will
immediately start reading them rather than
listening to you.
● And if you have brilliance to share
● the train left the station the minute
● you put all this text in front of the people who
are here to see you.

35. A traditional slide design
● If you use an outline like this, beware that
words on a slide is like an eye
● magnet and that your audience will
immediately start reading them rather than
listening to you.
● And if you have brilliance to share
● the train left the station the minute
● you put all this text in front of the people who
are here to see you.

36. Traditional slide designs force
your audience to choose
between listening and reading.

37. Traditional slide designs force
your audience to choose
between listening and reading.

38. A traditional slide design
● Outline: beware eye magnet
● audience reading immediately
● brilliance
● the train left the station
● text

39. A traditional slide design
● Outline: beware eye magnet
● audience reading immediately
● brilliance
● the train left the station
● text

40. Slides are an eye magnet.
Plan accordingly.

41. We read the shapes of words first.

42. ALL CAPS DEPRIVE THE EYE OF THESE
CLUES.

43. Slides are an eye magnet.
Plan accordingly.

44. Remove decoration

45. Bitcoin
● Worldwide cryptocurrency and digital payment system
● Works without a central repository or single administrator
● Invented by an unknown computer programmer (or group of?)
● Released as open source software in 2009
● Peer-to-peer: transactions take place between users directly, without
an intermediary
● Transactions are verified by network nodes and recorded in a public
distributed ledger called blockchain
● Can be exchanged with other currencies, products and services in
legal or black markets

46. Bitcoin transactions are
recorded in a public
ledger known as a
blockchain

47. A traditional slide with decoration
● If you use an outline like this, beware that
words on a slide is like an eye
● magnet and that your audience will
immediately start reading them
rather than listening to you.
● And if you have brilliance to
share
● the train left the station the minute
● you put all this text in front of the people who
are here to see you.

48. A traditional slide w/ 2 columns
● If you use an outline like
this, beware that words on a
slide is like an eye
● magnet and that your
audience will immediately
start reading them
rather than listening to you.
● And if you have brilliance to
share
● the train left the station the
minute
● you put all this text in front of
the people who are here to
see you.

49. How to write accessible code

50. Walking is good for youUse pics for visual variety

51. Walking is
good for you
So are
plants
and fresh air
and the
night sky
Imagine
ranch dressing

53. ...or to evoke emotion

55. Create a visual code

56. Consistent slides = Cohesive deck

57. text
background pop!
emphasis
Oswald (bold, emphasis)
Droid Sans (regular, body text)
fast
(not
gradual)
My style guide for this deck

58. Section headings are made from the
agenda

59. Makeovers are presented as a slide-
within-a-slide
A traditional slide design
● Outline: beware eye magnet
● audience reading immediately
● brilliance
● the train left the station
● text

60. Main points are white text on teal
background
Main point

62. Black
#000000
R: 0 G: 0 B: 0
Text
Maroon
#0d7eb4
R: 13 G: 126 B: 180
Accent 1
Gold
#f82a68
R: 248 G: 42 B: 104
Accent 2
Choose 4 colors and stick with them
White
#ffffff
R: 255 G: 255 B: 255
Background

65. Contrast

66. Contrast

67. Add a highlight box
behind text to create
contrast over images

68. Add a highlight box
behind text to create
contrast over images

69. Me Visual techniques for more effective
slides
The problem(s)
with traditional
slide design
A makeover ?s
Today!
5 min 10 min 20 min 10 min
A makeover
5 min

70. The controversy in hunting
wolves
NR 8107
20 September 2017

71. Pros
• Wolves feed on livestock for food contributing
to economic losses
• Wolf populations have been increasing in
many areas of the US
• Wolves have been actively hunted since
12,000 to 13,000 years ago
• All wolves are the same species so having
wolves only in certain areas of the country

72. Cons
• Packs are often broken up into smaller groups
if they’re hunted
• Alpha wolves may be more likely to be killed
• Smaller packs may resort to feeding on
livestock for food
• The loss of key members of the pack with
specific skills leaves gaps in the pack

73. Efforts
• After the gray wolf was removed from the endangered species list
for the western great lakes region in January 2012, the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources instituted a hunting season to
manage the population.
– Season ran from November 3, 2012 through the 18th, 2012 in some
regions and continued November 24, 2012 and ran through January 31,
2013 or until the tag limit was reached.
– That limit was set at a target of 400 wolves across the state.
– The total number of wolves harvested in this inaugural season was 412
wolves.
• On December 19, 2014 a US Federal Court ordered a stop to the
hunting of wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and in Michigan.

74. Conclusions
• People need to understand both sides
• Stakeholders:
– Environmental groups
– Farmers and ranchers
– State and federal agencies
– Others

75. 1. Pros
2. Cons
3. Efforts
4. Conclusions
Matt’s Argument
AND
AND
AND
(SO WHAT?)

76. ABT template
AND BUT
THEREFORE
setup details conflict
solution

77. ABT template
AND BUT
THEREFORE
Wolf populations
have been
increasing in their
population
the gray wolf was
removed from the
endangered species
list for the western
great lakes in 2012
scientists have found
that packs are often
broken up into
smaller groups if
they’re hunted
In 2014 a US Federal
Court ordered a stop to
the hunting of wolves
in the western Great
Lakes.

78. visual makeover below

79. The controversy in hunting
wolves
NR 8107
20 September 2017

80. The controversy in hunting
wolves
NR 8107
20 September 2017

81. The controversy in hunting
wolves
NR 810720 | September 2017

82. hunting wolves
NR 810720 | September 2017 | Matthew Russell, Ph.D.
The controversy in

83. Pros
• Wolves feed on livestock for food contributing
to economic losses
• Wolf populations have been increasing in
many areas of the US
• Wolves have been actively hunted since
12,000 to 13,000 years ago
• All wolves are the same species so having
wolves only in certain areas of the country

84. Wolf populations have been increasing in their
population every year since 2012.

85. Wolf populations have been increasing in their
population every year since 2012.

86. Wolf populations have been increasing in their
population every year since 2012.

87. Cons
• Packs are often broken up into smaller groups
if they’re hunted
• Alpha wolves may be more likely to be killed
• Smaller packs may resort to feeding on
livestock for food
• The loss of key members of the pack with
specific skills leaves gaps in the pack

88. ( instance of slides-as-teleprompter )

89. Efforts
• After the gray wolf was removed from the endangered species list
for the western great lakes region in January 2012, the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources instituted a hunting season to
manage the population.
– Season ran from November 3, 2012 through the 18th, 2012 in some
regions and continued November 24, 2012 and ran through January 31,
2013 or until the tag limit was reached.
– That limit was set at a target of 400 wolves across the state.
– The total number of wolves harvested in this inaugural season was 412
wolves.
• On December 19, 2014 a US Federal Court ordered a stop to the
hunting of wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and in Michigan.

90. Conclusions
• People need to understand both sides
• Stakeholders:
– Environmental groups
– Farmers and ranchers
– State and federal agencies
– Others

91. Stakeholders must be
helped to understand both
sides of a complex
environmental equation

92. Stakeholders must be helped
to understand both sides
of a complex environmental equation.

93. z.umn.edu/betterSlidesBetterTalks
Ann Fandrey | @annfandrey | fandrey@umn.edu