Design and evaluate presentations that communicate effectively. Use when designing a presentation, creating slides, getting presentation feedback, structuring a talk, or reviewing slides...
Design and evaluate presentations that communicate effectively. Provides frameworks for planning, visual design, cognitive load management, and evaluation. Applicable to any presentation tool (reveal.js, PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides).
Audience-centered design. Every decision should serve audience understanding, not presenter convenience.
| Problem | Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Wall of Text | Slides are paragraphs | Assertion-evidence structure |
| Bullet Point Disease | Lists instead of visuals | One concept + visual evidence |
| Kitchen Sink | Everything included | Essential vs. expandable content |
| Pretty but Empty | Design without substance | Message-first design |
| Cognitive Overload | Too much per slide | One key concept per slide |
Replace bullet points with:
Instead of:
Key findings:
• Data shows increase
• Users engaged more
• Revenue improved
Use:
"User engagement increased 43% after redesign"
[Graph showing the increase]
Each slide should answer: "What's the ONE thing I want them to take from this?"
Reveal information sequentially instead of all at once:
| Show on Slide | Speak Aloud |
|---|---|
| Key assertion | Elaboration |
| Visual evidence | Context and explanation |
| Critical data | Interpretation |
| Next step | Why it matters |
Horizontal slides: Main narrative flow Vertical slides: Supporting details (optional deep dives)
Example:
Mark content as:
| Criterion | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Content matches audience knowledge level | ||
| Clear value proposition for audience | ||
| Adaptable to time constraints | ||
| Navigation structure aids understanding |
Red Flags:
| Criterion | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Assertion-evidence structure used | ||
| Visual elements balance text | ||
| Visual hierarchy guides attention | ||
| Consistent design elements | ||
| Thoughtful whitespace |
Red Flags:
| Criterion | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| One key concept per slide | ||
| Appropriate text density | ||
| Judicious animations/transitions | ||
| Code properly formatted (if applicable) | ||
| Supporting details accessible, not distracting |
Red Flags:
| Criterion | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Works across display sizes | ||
| Sufficient color contrast | ||
| Inclusive imagery and language | ||
| Font sizes appropriate |
Red Flags:
After evaluation:
1. Critical Issues (Fix immediately):
2. Important Enhancements (Second priority):
3. Nice-to-Have Refinements:
Pattern: Every slide full of data, charts, and statistics without interpretation or hierarchy. Why it fails: Audiences can't process raw data in real-time. Without interpretation, they're left doing analysis instead of learning. Most data is forgotten immediately. Fix: One insight per slide with visual evidence supporting the insight. State the conclusion; show the proof. The audience should understand your point before seeing the data.
Pattern: Slides that contain the speaker's full script—bullet points that are really paragraphs. Why it fails: Audiences read faster than speakers talk. They read ahead, then tune out when you say what they already read. The slides become teleprompter, not communication tool. Fix: Slides show what you can't say; you say what you can't show. Visuals, diagrams, and key assertions on screen. Context, explanation, and elaboration spoken.
Pattern: Dropping content into a generic template without considering how the design serves the message. Why it fails: Design should support comprehension, not just look professional. Generic templates create generic communication. One-size-fits-all fits no one well. Fix: Design serves message. Ask: what visual structure helps this specific audience understand this specific content? Start from communication need, not template options.
Pattern: Transitions, builds, and effects everywhere—flying text, spinning images, fade after fade. Why it fails: Animation is attention. Every effect says "look at this." When everything animates, nothing stands out. Audiences become overwhelmed or numbed. Fix: Animation only for progressive disclosure (building complex ideas step by step) or emphasis (highlighting the key point). Default to no animation; add only with purpose.
Pattern: Slide after slide of bullet point lists—the default structure for everything. Why it fails: Bullet points are for documents, not presentations. They encourage equal weight for unequal ideas, text-heavy slides, and passive reading instead of active viewing. Fix: Use assertion-evidence structure. Replace bullet lists with clear assertions supported by visual evidence. If you need a list, question whether it needs to be a slide.
| Skill | What it provides |
|---|---|
| speech-adaptation | Spoken content structure to coordinate with visuals |
| story-sense | Narrative structure for presentation flow |
| (content expertise) | Subject matter to communicate |
| Skill | What this provides |
|---|---|
| (implementation) | Design principles for any presentation tool |
| (delivery) | Slides designed to support effective speaking |
| Skill | Relationship |
|---|---|
| speech-adaptation | Presentation-design handles visuals; speech-adaptation handles spoken content. Design together for coordination |
| voice-analysis | Understanding the presenter's voice helps design slides that match their natural delivery style |
