Presentation Design: Everything You Need to Know! [+Tips]

Whether you're new or experienced in making slides, it's important to learn how to make a great presentation. You must keep your audience interested and listening.

In this guide, we're going to dive into everything about making great presentations. You'll get to know what presentation design is all about, and we'll show you how it's both an art and a bit like science too.

This article is like your go-to guide for all things about designing presentations. We'll explain different presentation styles, offer simple slide tips, and share the newest design ideas.

Presentation design is always changing and growing. This means that there's a lot of important information you need to know. By the time you're done reading, you'll have all the tricks up your sleeve to create presentations that look amazing and get your point across.

Table of Contents What is Presentation Design? Is Presentation Design Important? Types of Presentations 12 Simple Steps for Designing an Effective Presentation Presentation Design vs. Presentation Templates: What are the Differences? 10 Tips You Need To Know For Stunning Slide Design Exciting Presentation Design Trends That You'll Need in 2024 8 Important Presentation Rules To Know and Follow Presentation Design Prices: Choosing What's Better For You The Most-Acclaimed Presentation Design Agencies Across the World Is Your Presentation Design Holding You Back? FAQs

 

What is Presentation Design?

Presentation design is about making slides with pictures, words, and colors that help share your ideas.

You pick just the right mix of these things to make slides that teach people and look great. A good presentation provides a clear message while keeping people interested from start to finish.

A skilled presentation designer is integral to this process. They work to understand the core message and the target audience to create a cohesive set of slides. There are special design principles put in place to organize information so it's easy to understand and make an impact. A presentation designer's job is two-fold. He or she must simplify information and make it interesting in a presentation.

In a world where attention spans are short, effective presentation design is crucial. It's not only about aesthetics; it's a critical tool for communication. Presentation designers turn your spoken ideas into compelling graphical stories. This way, they make sure your presentation connects with people and sticks in their minds.

 

Is Presentation Design Important?

Yes, presentation design is essential for several reasons:

Clarity

Presentation design organises your thoughts and data visually, preventing confusion. It helps you simplify information into digestible pieces, ensures that your main points are easy to grasp, helping your audience understand your message quickly and accurately. This is especially helpful when you sit through business presentations or even financial presentations.

Engagement

Engaging presentation design goes beyond words; it uses visuals, diagrams, and animations to keep your audience interested. A visually stimulating PowerPoint slide design can transform a mundane talk into a dynamic experience, encouraging viewers to pay attention from start to finish.

Brand Consistency

Consistent branding in your PowerPoint design reinforces your identity. It allows every slide to resonate with your corporate colors, logos, and themes, fostering brand recognition and professionalism in the minds of your audience.

Professionalism

A polished presentation design speaks volumes about your attention to detail and dedication. It suggests you value your audience's time by providing a well-thought-out, aesthetically pleasing, and organised presentation.

Retention

Humans are visual creatures or rather, lean towards visual thinking. A PowerPoint design that uses compelling imagery and key points is memorable, helping your audience remember the presented information long after they've left the room.

Persuasion

In a pitch deck design, every slide is an opportunity to persuade. When you show data and ideas in a way that's clear and attractive, you have a better chance of convincing your audience.

Differentiation

Unique presentation design sets you apart. It shows you're not another voice in the crowd but an innovator who takes the time to present creative and effective ideas.

Emotion

Using various colors, pictures, and fonts in your slides can make people feel things, helping you connect with them better. This can help get your message across faster.

Efficiency

Presentation design conveys information fast. A well-designed chart or graph in your PowerPoint can simplify tricky data, giving you more time to talk and answer questions.

Storytelling

A great presentation tells a story. With a well-planned PowerPoint, you can take your audience on an adventure, telling your story in a way that sticks with them.

In summary, presentation design is an essential part of any presentation. Great presentation makes it easier to share what you want to say. It also makes your presentation more fun to watch. Plus, it makes your brand or business look professional. Taking time to make your PowerPoint or any presentation great is a smart move. Spending time on making your PowerPoint, pitch deck, or any presentation really good is worth it.

 

Types of Presentations

Various presentations exist, each designed with a distinct goal and approach. Here are a few of the most common types of presentations:

Demonstrative Presentations

These are hands-on, showing how things work. Crafting a presentation design that's detailed and clear, helps people better understand what you're showing them. This is especially useful during a product demo or a new launch.

Decision-driven Presentations

Here, presentation design helps lay out choices for a clear decision. For example, using an organized slide layout can guide a team during strategic business meetings.

Emotive Presentations

Emotive talks stir feelings with stories that resonate. When you design your slides to make people feel something, it can be really strong. Like when a charity uses slides with touching stories to help people want to give money.

Every kind of presentation has its special role in making your message click. When you get what each type does best, you can pick the perfect one to connect with your crowd and get your point across. Remember, the way you lay out your slides counts too. Nail that, and you'll whip up a presentation that’s both engaging and memorable. Want to see all the different kinds of presentations? Just hit the link.

 

12 Simple Steps for Designing an Effective Presentation

Creating an engaging and effective presentation is both an art and a science. It involves careful planning, thoughtful design, and strategic execution. You can split presentation design into steps. These steps help you from the start of your idea to when you finish your presentation. Whether you're crafting a PowerPoint presentation design for a business meeting or an educational seminar, following these steps can help you communicate your message with clarity and impact. Here's how you can design a presentation that captures attention and achieves your goals.

1. Establish Your Goal

   Start by explaining your presentation’s purpose. Knowing what you aim to achieve with your presentation design guides all subsequent decisions.

2. Understand Your Audience

   Tailor your presentation design to your audience’s needs. Consider their background, what they expect to learn, and what will engage them.

3. Draft Your Content

   Before you start working on your PowerPoint presentation, outline your main points. Keep it concise and focused on your objective.

4. Choose a Design Template

   Select a template that suits your message for your PowerPoint presentation design. Consistency in fonts, colors, and style is key.

5. Refine Your Slide Layouts

   For each slide, consider the layout carefully. Your PowerPoint presentation design should make the content clear and easily digestible.

6. Incorporate Visuals and Graphics

   Use images, charts, and infographics to complement your text. In presentation design, visuals can communicate complex information more effectively than words alone.

7. Review and Edit Your Slides

   Go through your slides and refine the content. Ensure your presentation design is seamless and each element aligns with your objective.

8. Practice Your Delivery

   How you present is as important as your PowerPoint presentation design. Rehearse to ensure your delivery is confident and your message clear.

9. Gather Feedback

   If possible, seek feedback on your presentation design from your peers. They may offer valuable insights to improve your presentation.

10. Make Final Adjustments

    Based on the feedback, tweak your presentation design. Check for errors, and ensure everything works as intended.

11. Prepare for Questions

    Anticipate questions and prepare answers. Your presentation design should include supporting data or slides that you can refer to during the Q&A session.

12. Set Up Ahead of Time

    Before your presentation, ensure all technical aspects are working. This includes checking your PowerPoint presentation design on the actual hardware you'll use.
    
    

Presentation Design vs. Presentation Templates: What are the Differences?

Two things are synonymous with presentations: presentation design and presentation templates. They may seem the same, but they do different things to make a great presentation. Understanding how they're different helps you make a presentation that people will remember. We'll show you what sets them apart and why that's important for a great presentation. We'll explain how these small differences can make your presentation stand out or not.

Presentation Design

Presentation design is about making a set of slides that help tell your message. You pick colors, fonts, and pictures that look good and explain the speaker's words.

Presentation Templates

On the other hand, presentation templates are pre-designed frameworks for slides. They help make your slides look the same with consistent colors and layouts. They have spots where you can easily add your words, pictures, and charts. Templates are like a ready-made start for your presentation.

Note: Keep in mind that Deck Sherpa makes custom templates you can use again later.

Here are the key differences laid out:

Creation vs. Usage

• Presentation design is about creating a unique visual narrative for a specific message.
• People use presentation templates to apply a standardized design across different presentations.

Customization

• You can customize your presentation design according to your message and audience.
• You can't change presentation templates since they are pre-designed.

Time and Effort

• Designing an effective presentation from scratch requires more time and design skills.
• Using templates saves time and effort, as the basic design elements are already in place.

Originality

• Presentation design is original and can be as creative and unique as you want it to be.
• A lot of people use presentation templates to save time. While it helps, it's important to understand these pre-designed slides are not original.

Functionality

• A well-designed presentation considers the following
  - the flow of information,
  - the importance of visuals
  - the way slides transition
• Templates provide a basic setup, but they might not be optimal for the flow of information

In short, presentation design helps you make slides that tell a story your way. Presentation templates help you make consistent-looking slides fast. Below you’ll find some amazing tips that could be of tremendous help in your slide design.

 

10 Tips You Need to Know for Stunning Slide Design

Creating a great presentation is part art, part smart thinking. Think of each slide as a piece of your story's puzzle. You might want to teach, inspire, or persuade your audience. No matter what, how your slides look is crucial for success.

Here are 10 top tips to polish your presentation and make your slides pop. They'll help make sure your next pitch or talk is both eye-catching and memorable.

1. Embrace White Space

   In presentation design, less is often more. White space, the empty area around your slide's elements, isn't wasted space. Use it a lot to prevent clutter and help focus on key points in your presentation.

2. Use High-Quality Images

   Clear, sharp pictures can make your slides look better and more professional. They also help people trust what you're saying. The cool thing? They help people remember your main ideas. So, pick pictures that match your topic and don't distract from your main points.

3. Consistent Theme

   Keeping your slides looking the same from start to finish helps. Pick a style and use it for every slide. This makes everything look together and keeps people watching. Using the same colors, fonts, and designs also helps to make your story strong and clear.

4. Contrast for Clarity

   Using different colors for the text and background makes your slides easier to read. High contrast between elements can make your slides easier to read, even from a distance. Dark text on a light background or vice versa is usually the most effective combination.

5. Limit Text Quantity

   When it comes to slide design, think of text as a tweet; keep it short and sweet. Slides overloaded with text overwhelm viewers. Instead, keep your message in short bullet points or sentences. They should help what you say, not cover it up.

6. Readable Fonts

   In presentation design, readability trumps fancy fonts. Select clean, easy-to-read typefaces and make sure the size is large enough to be read from the back of the room. Generally, sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica are a good choice for slide text.

7. Use Charts and Graphs

   Use charts and graphs in your slide design to visually represent data. It makes complex information easier to digest and can highlight trends or comparisons better than text. Make sure everything in your chart is easy to see and helps explain your data better.

8. Use Color Wisely

   Colors can stir up feelings and set the tone of your presentation design. Choose a color scheme that aligns with your message; for instance, blue can convey trust and stability. Be mindful of color theory and use contrasting colors for emphasis.

9. Animate with Purpose

   Animation in slide design should enhance your presentation, not distract from it. Use subtle animations to transition between points or to emphasize a message. Avoid overusing them, as it can make your presentation feel chaotic and unprofessional.

10. End with a Strong Close

    Your last slide's design is as crucial as your first. It should reinforce your main message and guide your audience to take action. Finish your presentation with a slide that does the following three things
    - summarises everything
    - asks a big question
    - makes a strong statement

These tips can make your slides go from okay to amazing, helping people remember your message. Keeping the above points in mind, let’s learn what 2024’s presentation design trends look like.

 

Exciting Presentation Design Trends That You'll Need in 2024

Back in 2023, we shared a list of amazing trends in presentation design that we hoped you used as much as you could. As 2024 is getting closer, the way we make presentations is changing. It's mixing new technology with cool design ideas. Some exciting new trends are coming up, and we've listed them for you. Let's see how you can use these to make your presentations stand out.

Minimalist Presentation Design

It’s no secret that most people today prefer to follow the less-is-more philosophy. You'll see slides that are simple and not too busy, with lots of space. This helps keep the focus on the main point. It makes your stories come alive and keeps your audience hooked all the way through.

Immersive Storytelling

PowerPoint’s animations and transitions capabilities are set to become more advanced. They'll liven up stories, keeping the audience interested and involved in the presentation. You can make your PowerPoint presentations easier and way more interesting.

AI-Enhanced Presentations

We're leaning into Artificial Intelligence (AI) more than ever these days. This technology is set to give our presentations a personal touch like never before. Imagine getting smart design tips from AI or having your slides tweak themselves automatically after sensing the audience's reactions. You’ll be able to streamline your PowerPoint designs, making them not only easier to create but also more engaging and impactful.

Bold Typography

Big, bold fonts are the most popular way to catch your audience's attention and make your point. As a bonus, bold fonts also make your slides instantly readable and more effective.

Data Visualisation

People are going to use cool, interactive data visualisation in the form of infographics, tables, charts, etc. a lot more. They make hard information easy and clear to remember. This helps your audience understand and remember the important information.

Inclusive Presentation Design

Making slides easy for everyone to see and understand will be important. This means creating accessible presentations so all kinds of people can follow, no matter their abilities.

Using the newest trends to design presentations can make your slides way better. They'll look great, be clear, grab attention, and include everyone. A well-made presentation is awesome for connecting with your audience. Staying up-to-date with these new ideas can make your connection even stronger in 2024.

8 Important Presentation Rules To Know and Follow

When it comes to presentation design, various rules can guide you to create effective and engaging slides. Here are some key ones:

1. The 10/20/30 Rule

   This rule, made up by Guy Kawasaki, says your PowerPoint should have up to 10 slides, last no more than 20 minutes, and the words should be big (at least 30-point font). This rule is all about keeping it simple and clear so your audience can understand your message with ease. We’ve covered the 10/20/30 rule in more detail so click the link and check it out.

2. The 5/5/5 Rule

   This rule suggests having no more than 5 words per line, 5 lines per slide, and 5 text-heavy slides in a row. This helps make your PowerPoint design neat and easy to understand. In turn, people can focus on the main things without getting confused by too much information. To understand the 5/5/5 rule better, read our article on the website.

3. The Rule of Thirds

   Borrowed from photography and visual arts, this rule involves dividing your slide into three parts, both up and down and side to side, and putting the most important information where these lines meet. It makes the presentation design more balanced and visually appealing.

4. The 6x6 Rule

   This one advises no more than six words per line and six lines per slide. It's about brevity and impact - ensuring that your presentation design doesn't become a wall of text that's hard to follow.

5. The Contrast Rule

   High contrast between your text and background in your presentation design makes your content stand out and easy to read. It's crucial in any PPT layout design to ensure legibility from anywhere in the room.

6. The Picture Superiority Effect

   This rule suggests that people are more likely to remember images rather than words. Including relevant and high-quality images in your presentation design can make your message more memorable.

7. The Font Consistency Rule

   Stick to one or two consistent fonts throughout your presentation. This creates a cohesive look in your PPT layout design, making your presentation appear more professional and easier to follow.

8. The 7x7 Rule

   Similar to the 5/5/5 and 6x6 rules, this one suggests no more than 7 words per line and 7 lines per slide. It's a bit more flexible but still keeps the focus on simplicity and readability in presentation design.

Each of these rules serves as a guideline to make your presentation design more effective. While it’s important to know these rules, remember that the best PPT layout design is one that effectively communicates your message and engages your audience.

Presentation Design Prices: Choosing What's Better For You

When you look at prices for presentation design, they're different all over the world. In India, the prices are usually between $100 and $500 for packages. It's cheaper because living in India costs less. This lets the agencies offer good work at lower prices. But for really tough projects, they might charge more.

But in Western countries like the USA or UK, the prices for presentation design packages are higher. They often start at $500 and can go up to a few thousand dollars for really detailed or special designs. That's because living and working there costs more. People who choose these agencies often pay extra for their special knowledge about local styles or new design ideas.

So, when picking an agency, it depends on how much money you want to spend and what you need. Indian agencies are good for great work at lower prices. Agencies from the USA or UK might have more knowledge about local styles or new design methods. It's all about what you value more: saving money, local know-how, or a mix of both. That's why we've made a list of the best presentation design agencies from around the world for you to see.

 

The Most-Acclaimed Presentation Design Agencies Across the World

Lately, the presentation design industry has been booming and getting more creative. Using high-quality images and strong communication is crucial in the corporate and educational world. That's why more people are looking for expert help with their presentations. Today presentation design agencies create presentations from scratch, enhance corporate pitches, and even transform educational materials, turning simple slides into powerful narratives. We understand how necessary awesome presentations are, so we've gathered a list of top-notch presentation design agencies from everywhere. Each brings something unique to the table with their skills, covering all types of presentation needs. Let’s take a look at these standout presentation design experts.

Deck Sherpa

Deck Sherpa creates custom slides that fit right in with what your business wants to say. They're all about making presentations that not only look good but also get your message across clearly, whatever your business needs.

SlideGenius

SlideGenius is a presentation design agency based in the United States. Their goal is to inspire audience action through engaging, meaningful, and memorable presentations.

Buffalo 7

Buffalo 7 in the UK turns plain slides into something exciting. They're good at turning your ideas into nice-looking presentations that tell a story.

BrightCarbon

BrightCarbon works on both slide design and instructional design for eLearning content and training. They focus on using visual aids and animations to simplify complex topics, making them engaging for the audience.

Stinson Design

Stinson Design specializes in custom, professional presentations for all industries, focusing on effective storytelling and visuals. They focus on effective communication using storytelling and visual techniques.

24Slides

24Slides offers quick presentation design services from custom templates to slide redesigns. Their focus is on providing accessible, high-quality designs to a diverse range of clients.

 

Is Your Presentation Design Holding You Back?

As we said before, making a great presentation is a mix of art and science. Deck Sherpa is excellent at turning your ideas into beautiful slides, making us the top choice for presentation design. We're in India and work with all kinds of companies, here and across the globe. Our team knows how to make presentations that different audiences will like and engage with.

Why pick Deck Sherpa? We know every presentation is special. Our designers and storytellers work with you to make sure your presentation is not only seen, but also felt and remembered. It could be for business, a big idea, or a class. We focus on the small things, are creative, and keep up with new styles to make sure your presentation is right.

Plus, our rates are reasonable and you get awesome designs without spending a lot. In short, we're great for anyone who wants to impress their audience without breaking the bank.

If you want to make your next presentation better, come to Deck Sherpa. We'll be your team to make presentations that catch people's eyes and stick in their minds. Check out our website to see our work and find out more. You can call, email, or message us to get started. Please find the details below.

Call: 1800 121 5955 (India)
Email: contact@decksherpa.com
WhatsApp
Contact Form

 

FAQs

1. What is Presentation Design?

   Presentation design means making slides that share your ideas. It's also more than making them look nice. It's about arranging your thoughts, picking the right colors and pictures, and making your points interesting. It's like telling a story with pictures and words, where each slide helps explain your message well.

2. How Can I be a Good Presentation Designer?

   To be a good presentation designer, start by understanding your audience and what you want to communicate. Keep up with design trends, but also stick to basics like simplicity and clarity. Learn to use colors, fonts, and visuals effectively. Practice is key – try designing different types of presentations to build your skills. And always, always ask for feedback and be open to learning from it.

3. What are the 3 Rules of Presentation Design?

   There are three important rules for making presentations: First, keep it simple. Don't put too much text or too many pictures on your slides. Second, be consistent. Use the same kind of fonts, colors, and designs on all slides. Third, make it look attractive. Use high-quality pictures and smart designs to keep people engaged. These rules help ensure your presentation is clear, professional, and memorable.