84% of presenters spend over 8 hours designing a single deck. At the same time, studies show that your audience’s average attention span is only 47 seconds per slide. The problem? Most presentations are optimized for the presenter, not the audience. Research shows that presentations with clear design principles increase information retention by 55-78% and engagement rates by 30%. The good news is that with the right tricks, you can accomplish in 90 minutes what others need a whole day to do.
Imagine walking into a room full of people eagerly awaiting your presentation. Your heart is pounding, your hands are sweaty—and then it happens: you click on the first slide and the audience is… bored. Ouch! Sound familiar? Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be that way! By the way: If you want to work not only on the design but also on your nervousness, [our guide to overcoming presentation anxiety] (/en/articles/overcoming-stage-fright.html) can help. But now to the design: With a few simple tricks, you can turn your next presentation into a visual fireworks display that will blow your audience away. In this article, I’ll show you how to get your message across and inspire your audience with clever design. So, no more boring slides – let’s rock that presentation!
Less is more: the minimalism trick
Let’s be honest: Who among us hasn’t seen a presentation where every slide was crammed full like a supermarket flyer? Sure, you don’t want to forget anything. But let’s be honest, who’s supposed to read all that?
The trick is quite simple: Less is more! Instead of squeezing every thought onto the slide, focus on the essentials. Choose one main idea for each slide. The rest can go into your notes or come directly from your mouth.
How do I design minimalist presentation slides?
A minimalist presentation slide focuses on one main idea with a maximum of 6 words per line and 6 lines per slide. Generous white space allows content to breathe and increases comprehensibility. Several simple slides are better than one overloaded slide – your slides support your words, they don’t replace them.
Here are a few tips for tidy slides:
- Maximum 6 words per line
- No more than 6 lines per slide (that’s really the maximum!)
- Better to have several slides than one overloaded slide
- Generous white space lets your content breathe
Remember: your slides are the butter, not the whole sandwich. They should support your words, not replace them.
Colors that wow: The psychology booster
Colors are like the spices in your presentation kitchen. The right mix makes the difference between run-of-the-mill and the ultimate. But be careful: too much of a good thing and the soup is oversalted.
Research shows that strategic use of color can increase audience attention by up to 30%. Studies also show that colors can improve learning and memory by 55-78%. In other words, choosing the right colors is not a nice extra, but a crucial factor for success.
A proven trick is the 60-30-10 rule:
- 60% of your slide in a main color
- 30% in a contrasting color
- 10% in an accent color for important elements
Which colors are best suited for presentations?
For professional business presentations, blue (trust, seriousness), gray, and white are suitable as a basis. Combine these with an accent color that matches your message: orange for energy, green for sustainability, red for urgency. Use the 60-30-10 rule: 60% neutral main color, 30% brand color, 10% accent color. Ensure high contrast for readability.
You can learn more about color psychology and how different colors influence emotions in [our detailed article on colors in presentations] (/en/articles/power-of-colors.html).
The psychology behind colors
Dr. Andrew J. Elliot, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, explains: “Colors fundamentally influence our psychological functioning. Red increases heart rate and creates urgency, while blue builds trust and promotes concentration. The key lies in strategic application: adapt color psychology to your message, not to arbitrary aesthetic preferences.”
Here are the most important colors and their psychological effects:
- Red: Urgency, call to action, attention, passion (caution: can also signal danger)
- Blue: Trust, seriousness, concentration, stability (the most commonly used color in business presentations)
- Green: Growth, sustainability, calmness, health (ideal for environmental and health topics)
- Orange: Energy, creativity, friendliness, accessibility (less formal than red, but energizing)
- Purple: luxury, creativity, wisdom, innovation (often used in premium or tech industries)
- Yellow: optimism, attention, warmth (use sparingly—can be tiring if overused)
- Gray: professionalism, neutrality, balance (perfect neutral base)
- Black: elegance, authority, seriousness (has a strong effect, but can become gloomy if overused)
Consider cultural aspects
Caution is advised when giving international presentations: the meanings of colors vary between cultures. While white symbolizes purity in Western countries, in many Asian cultures it represents mourning. Red signifies good luck in China, but in other contexts it can signal danger. If you have a global audience, research the cultural connotations of colors for your target group.
Choose colors that match your theme and brand. A presentation on sustainability? Green and brown tones convey naturalness. A tech startup? Blue and gray shades radiate innovation.
And one more thing: think about contrast! Black text on a dark blue background? Everyone will be rubbing their eyes. Light on dark or vice versa – that way, everything remains clearly legible.
Practical tools for choosing colors
Use these tools to create professional color palettes:
Free tools:
- Coolors.co: Generates harmonious color palettes at the touch of a button, exportable for PowerPoint
- Adobe Color: Color wheel with various harmony rules (complementary, triadic, analogous)
- Canva Color Palette Generator: Creates palettes from uploaded images
- WebAIM Contrast Checker: Checks whether your color contrast is sufficiently legible (important for accessibility)
Premium options:
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Comprehensive color tools with brand synchronization
- Pantone Connect: Professional color standards, important for corporate branding
- Brand.ai: Complete design system management including color palettes
2025 trends
Current design trends show increased use of color gradients and dark mode-optimized presentations. Nevertheless, the basic color principles remain timeless—trends come and go, but psychological effects and readability remain constant.
Typography tips: Fonts that make an impression
Fonts are like the voice of your presentation. So choose wisely! A good rule of thumb: One font for headings, one for the rest. That’s all you need.
Guy Kawasaki’s font size rule
Guy Kawasaki, former Apple Chief Evangelist and author of “The Art of the Start,” has developed a simple formula: “Divide the age of the oldest person in the room by two—that’s your minimum font size.” A 60-year-old in the audience? Then you shouldn’t go below 30 points. This rule is part of his famous 10/20/30 rule for presentations: 10 slides, maximum 20 minutes, no font smaller than 30 points.
What font size should I use for presentations?
Use at least 24-28 point for body text and 36-44 point for slide titles. Headings should be 28-32 point. This hierarchy ensures that all viewers—even those in the back row—can read effortlessly. Combine a maximum of two fonts and test readability from two meters away. For mobile or remote presentations, go even larger.
The professional font size hierarchy
| Text type | Recommended size | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Slide title | 36-44pt | Clear orientation, comprehensible at a glance |
| Headings/subheadings | 28-32pt | Structuring within the slide |
| Body text/bullet points | 24-28pt | Main content, easily readable from all rows |
| Footnotes/Sources | 18-20pt | Minimum size for secondary information |
This hierarchy creates visual order and guides your audience’s eye through the slide. Consistency is key here – don’t switch between sizes arbitrarily.
Fonts with impact
Here are a few fonts that always go down well:
- For headings: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Futura
- For body text: Calibri, Verdana, Open Sans
Combining fonts correctly
The secret to successful font combinations lies in contrast: combine a serif font (with serifs, such as Georgia or Times) with a sans serif font (without serifs, such as Arial or Helvetica). This combination creates visual interest without chaos.
Proven pairings:
- Georgia (headings) + Arial (body text) = classically elegant
- Playfair Display (headings) + Open Sans (body text) = modern and clear
- Montserrat (headings) + Source Sans Pro (body text) = contemporary and professional
Why a maximum of two fonts? More than that confuses the eye and looks unprofessional. You can achieve variation through size, weight (bold/normal), and color—not through additional fonts.
Accessibility and readability
Sans serif fonts such as Arial, Verdana, or Calibri are generally more readable on screens than serif fonts. The following are particularly recommended for people with dyslexia or reading difficulties:
- Verdana (large letter height, clear distinction between characters)
- Arial (clear letter shapes)
- Comic Sans (yes, really – despite its reputation for being unprofessional, it is actually dyslexia-friendly)
The Comic Sans balancing act: While Comic Sans is unsuitable in most business contexts, it does have its place in presentations for children, in educational contexts, or when accessibility is a top priority. For business presentations, it is better to use Verdana – similarly accessible, but more professional.
Additional accessibility tips:
- Avoid long blocks of text in CAPITAL LETTERS – they are more difficult to read
- Increase the line spacing to 1.5 for longer texts
- Sufficient letter spacing (kerning) improves readability
2025 reality: Mobile and remote presentations
Many presentations today are no longer shown only in conference rooms, but via Zoom, Teams, or are viewed later on laptops and tablets. This means: Go even bigger with your font size than you think. Test your slides on the smallest device they are likely to be viewed on. What looks perfect on your 27-inch monitor may be barely legible on a 13-inch laptop.
Common font mistakes to avoid
- ❌ Too many fonts: More than two looks chaotic and unprofessional
- ❌ Font too small: Less than 24pt for body text will lose readers in the back rows
- ❌ Poor contrast: Light gray font on a white background is barely legible
- ❌ Decorative fonts for body text: Script or display fonts should only be used for titles, never for longer texts
- ❌ Inconsistent sizes: Jumping between 24pt and 18pt and back again is confusing
When it comes to font size, it’s better to be too big than too small. 24pt for body text is a good starting point. Test your slides by standing two meters away from the screen. Can you read everything? Great! If not, adjust the size.
For more information on fonts, see [our comprehensive article on fonts in presentations] (/en/articles/best-fonts-for-presentations.html) .
Pictures say more than 1000 words: The wow effect
Images are the magic potion of your presentation. They evoke emotions, explain complex issues, and stick in the memory.
Why images are so powerful
Neuroscientific research shows that the human brain processes visual information in just a quarter of a second and assigns meaning to it. Studies show that presentations with strong visual elements can increase engagement rates by up to 80%. Even more impressive: three days after a presentation, people remember 65% of the visual content, but only 10% of the text-only information.
How do I choose the right images for my presentation?
Choose high-quality images with a resolution of at least 1920x1080 pixels that directly support your message. Avoid overused stock photos and use authentic visuals instead. One large, meaningful image is better than five mediocre ones. Use royalty-free sources such as Unsplash or Pexels and pay attention to copyright notices.
The right image types for different purposes
1. High-quality photos
- When to use them: To build emotional connections, show authenticity, create context
- Example scenario: For a presentation on corporate culture, show real employees at work instead of generic “business handshake” stock photos
- Tip: Authentic images beat familiar stock photos—invest 10 minutes in searching and compare 3-5 options
2. Infographics and data visualizations
- When to use: Simplify complex data, illustrate processes, visualize comparisons
- Example scenario: Instead of a table with quarterly figures, create a clear bar chart with trend arrows
- Tip: Maximum of 5 data points per graphic – more is overwhelming
3. Icons to illustrate concepts
- When to use: Make abstract ideas tangible, label categories, draw attention
- Example scenario: For a list of advantages, use icons (check marks, light bulbs, rockets) instead of just bullet points
- Tip: Use a consistent icon style within a presentation – don’t mix flat design, 3D, and line styles
4. Screenshots and screen recordings
- When to use: Demonstrate software, show user interfaces, explain technical processes
- Example scenario: Instead of describing “Click on the button at the top right,” show a screenshot with a marker.
- Tip: Zoom in on relevant areas, hide unimportant elements, or blur them.
5. Short video sequences (if relevant to the topic)
- When to use: Showing movement sequences, product demos, emotional stories
- Example scenario: Product presentation with a 15-second clip of the application instead of static images
- Tip: Maximum 15-30 seconds per clip, start automatically muted, only use if there is real added value
Quality criteria – your image check
✓ Resolution: At least 1920x1080 pixels for Full HD projections (4K if possible: 3840x2160) ✓ File format: JPG for photos (smaller file size), PNG for icons/graphics with transparency ✓ File size: Compress to less than 1-2 MB for smooth presentations (tools: TinyPNG, Squoosh) ✓ Relevance: Each image must directly support your message – omit decorative images ✓ Emotional impact: Choose images that trigger the desired emotion ✓ Contrast and color: Images should harmonize with your color palette, not compete with it
Copyright & image sources – Legal and professional
Free, royalty-free sources:
- Unsplash.com – High-quality photographs, commercially usable, huge community
- Pexels.com – Large selection of photos and videos, all under CC0 license
- Pixabay.com – Over 4.3 million free images, illustrations, and videos
- Google Images → Tools → “Creative Commons licenses” for pre-filtered results
Important: Even with “license-free” content, you should ideally name the author (in presentation notes or on a credits slide). Read the respective license terms – some require attribution.
Premium sources for the highest standards:
- Adobe Stock – Highest quality, exclusive content, seamless integration with Adobe programs
- Shutterstock – Huge selection (450+ million assets), subscription models
- iStock – Good value for money, flexible credit packages
Basic legal rule: Only use images for which you have explicit usage rights. If in doubt: don’t use them or contact the copyright holder. For more in-depth information on copyright and image licensing, I recommend the resources of the Creative Commons Organization (creativecommons.org) or legal portals such as iRights.info.
Image composition according to the rule of thirds
Professionals use the “rule of thirds”: Mentally divide your slide into a 3x3 grid. Position your main subject along these third lines or at their intersections—not in the center. This composition creates dynamic tension and guides the eye more naturally through the image. Centered images often appear static and less interesting.
Nancy Duarte’s golden rule
Nancy Duarte, the designer behind Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” presentation, sums it up: “Better one large, meaningful image than five mediocre ones. Your slides are billboards, not documents – they should be comprehensible in three seconds.” A full-screen photo with a single key message beats any slide full of mini images.
Quality over quantity. Better one large, meaningful image than five mediocre ones.
The 2025 trend: AI-generated images – opportunities and pitfalls
Tools such as DALL-E 3, Midjourney, and Microsoft Designer enable customized visualizations that cannot be purchased anywhere else. According to recent studies, 28% of designers already use AI tools for presentation content – and the trend is rising sharply.
The advantages:
- Unique visualizations that perfectly match your message
- Fast iteration and adaptation
- No licensing costs for most tools
- Visualize concepts for which no photos exist
The warning signs – what you MUST pay attention to:
⚠️ Transparency requirement: Label AI-generated images as such, especially in professional or academic contexts. Lack of transparency damages your credibility.
⚠️ Quality control mandatory: AI often produces unrealistic details (strange hands, impossible perspectives, text artifacts). Critically check each image for errors.
⚠️ Avoid stereotypes: AI models sometimes reproduce biases and stereotypes from training data. Make sure your representations are balanced and inclusive.
⚠️ Not suitable for everything: Real photos and screenshots remain indispensable for data, facts, real people, or documentary purposes.
⚠️ Be aware of the legal situation: The legal situation regarding AI-generated content is still evolving. Find out about the current regulations in your industry.
Conclusion on the use of AI: AI image generation is a powerful tool for creative, conceptual visualizations—but it is no substitute for critical thinking and quality control. Use the technology consciously and responsibly.
The common thread: consistency is king
Imagine you are reading a book and suddenly the font changes in the middle of a chapter. Irritating, right? It’s the same with presentations. Consistency is the secret star of design.
How do I ensure consistent presentation design?
Create a set of sample slides with defined colors, fonts, and layouts that you use consistently. Consistent design makes it easier for your audience to follow your argument and looks professional. Use presentation program layouts as a starting point, but optimize them for a balanced text-graphic ratio and generous white space.
To create a common thread throughout your presentation, there are several important aspects to consider. First, it is crucial that you use the same colors throughout. This creates visual consistency and helps the audience recognize the connection between the content. It is equally important to stick to your chosen fonts. Changing fonts can be distracting and disrupt the flow of the presentation.
Pro tip: Create your own set of template slides. Feel free to use the layouts offered by presentation programs as a starting point, but optimize them for your specific needs. This allows you to better adapt the often text-heavy standard layouts to your content, achieve a balanced mix of text, graphics, and white space, and maintain a consistent look and feel. This saves time and gives your presentation a professional, customized look.
Incidentally, the importance of consistency goes far beyond colors and fonts—it permeates your entire presentation, from structure to message. Read more about this in [our detailed article on consistency in presentations] (/en/articles/importance-of-consistency.html).
Animations: Less circus, more sense
Animations can breathe life into your presentation—or turn it into a carnival attraction. The trick? Use them sparingly!
Which animations should I use in presentations?
Use animations specifically for gradually revealing list items, highlighting important elements, and visualizing processes. Prefer simple effects such as fading in or appearing. Avoid distracting effects such as rotations or explosions—these appear unprofessional. Use a maximum of one or two eye-catching animations per presentation.
Animations can enhance the impact of a presentation when used appropriately. There are several areas where they are particularly useful:
- Gradually revealing list items draws the audience’s attention and prevents listeners from rushing ahead or becoming overwhelmed by the amount of information.
- Highlighting important elements with animations emphasizes critical information and ensures that it is not overlooked. This is particularly useful for complex diagrams or graphics.
- Animations are ideal for visualizing processes or procedures. They make abstract concepts more tangible and help the audience better understand connections, whether in business processes, scientific reactions, or historical developments.
As a rule, avoid wild effects such as spins or explosions, as these are distracting and make your presentation appear unprofessional. If you do use such effects, use them sparingly to highlight particularly important points, and limit yourself to a maximum of one or two instances per presentation.
AI tools for presentations in 2025: What really helps
Artificial intelligence is dramatically changing the way we create presentations. Recent studies show that 28% of designers already use AI for stakeholder presentations, and 79% use AI for content and text creation. The time savings are impressive: what used to take 8-12 hours can now often be done in 1-2 hours.
Which AI tools are revolutionizing presentation design in 2025?
AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gamma.app, Beautiful.ai, and Canva AI automate time-consuming tasks such as structuring, text formulation, and design customization. They reduce creation time by up to 80% (from 8+ hours to 90 minutes). Important: AI supports the creative process, but does not replace human quality control – fact-checking and final adjustments remain indispensable.
The game changers for 2025
Microsoft Copilot in PowerPoint
- What it does: Creates complete presentations from text prompts, suggests design variations based on your message, automatically generates speaker notes
- Best for: Business presentations, quarterly reports, status updates, team meetings
- Cost: Included in the Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription (approximately $35/month in addition to M365)
- Practical tip: Enter specific prompts such as “Create a 10-slide presentation on product launch with a focus on ROI”
ChatGPT & GPT-4 for content structure
- What it does: Develops presentation storylines in seconds, concisely rephrases slide texts, generates speaker scripts and chains of argumentation
- Best for: Brainstorming, content optimization, speech text development
- Cost: Free (GPT-3.5) to $20/month (GPT-4/ChatGPT Plus)
- Prompt tip: “Create a 10-slide structure for [topic] with a maximum of 6 words per slide. Target audience: [description]”
Gamma.app – AI presentations in minutes
- What it does: Creates complete slide decks from notes or documents, automatically adjusts design, integrates interactive elements
- Best for: Startup pitches, creative presentations, quick prototypes
- Cost: Free version available (unlimited presentations with watermark), Pro from $10/month
- Special feature: Very modern, web-based, ideal for non-designers
Beautiful.ai – Smart templates with intelligence
- What it does: AI automatically adapts layouts to your content, prevents design errors with smart rules, and automatically optimizes spacing and alignment
- Best for: Marketing decks, sales presentations, investor pitches
- Cost: Starting at $12/month, team licenses available
- Advantage: Impossible to create “ugly” slides—AI enforces good design
Canva AI—The versatile all-rounder
- What it does: “Magic Design” generates presentations from prompts, huge template library, integrated AI image generation (via DALL-E), automatic resizing for different formats
- Best for: All types of presentations, especially visually oriented decks, social media presentations
- Cost: Free version available, Pro from $11.99/month, Teams from $14.99/month per person
- Bonus: Can also be used for infographics, social posts, documents – one tool for everything
The golden rule of AI use
AI tools support your creative process from concept to revision – but quality control must always remain in human hands. Think of AI as a highly skilled assistant, not a replacement for your expertise.
Use AI for: ✅ Initial structure and outline (saves 60% of concept time) ✅ Text shortening and refinement (from 100 to 10 words) ✅ Design suggestions and variants (5 options in seconds) ✅ Image and icon generation (custom visuals) ✅ Narrator note creation (automatic script development)
Not suitable for: ❌ Final approval without human review (AI makes mistakes) ❌ Technically critical content without fact-checking (hallucinations possible) ❌ Final design without customization (generic without AI refinement) ❌ Sensitive or legally relevant content (liability issues) ❌ Replacing your personal stories and expertise
Practical workflow for AI-supported presentations
How to efficiently integrate AI into your presentation process:
Step 1: Concept (5-10 minutes) → ChatGPT for structure and storyline: “Develop a chain of arguments for [topic] with 8-10 key points.”
Step 2: Content creation (15-20 minutes) → Copilot/Gamma for initial deck: Let AI create the first draft.
Step 3: Refinement (30-45 minutes) → Human revision: Fact-checking, improving storytelling, adding examples, strengthening brand message.
Step 4: Design optimization (10-15 minutes) → Canva AI or Beautiful.ai for visual perfection: finalize colors, images, layout
Step 5: Finalization (10-15 minutes) → Personal touch: branding, final checks, trial run
Total time: ~90 minutes instead of 8+ hours = 80% time savings!
A critical look: What AI can’t (yet) do
Let’s be honest—AI is impressive, but it’s not omnipotent. The following remains (for now) the domain of humans:
- Incorporate your personal story: AI does not know your experiences, failures, successes
- Perfectly match the tone specific to your target audience: nuances such as humor, cultural sensitivity, industry jargon
- Create emotional depth and authenticity: the connection to the audience remains human
- Ensure technical accuracy: AI can sound convincingly wrong—you need to check
- Make ethical considerations: What should be said vs. what can be said
The outlook
AI will not replace human presenters—but presenters who use AI will outperform those who don’t. The future belongs to hybrid competence: human creativity and expertise, enhanced by AI efficiency.
Use technology for what it is: a powerful tool that helps you convey your message even better. The magic happens when you combine AI speed with human wisdom.
The finishing touch: test, test, test
You know how it is: everything looks great in your head, but then reality sets in. That’s why the last step is so important: test your presentation!
How do I test my presentation before the talk?
Ask a colleague to review your presentation for a fresh perspective. Check the presentation on different devices and screen sizes. If possible, do a trial run in the actual presentation room and check the readability from the back row. Test all technical elements such as videos, animations, and links in advance.
There are a few important steps to consider when putting the finishing touches on your presentation. First, it is advisable to ask a colleague to review it. A fresh pair of eyes can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improvement.
Technical aspects should not be neglected either. Check your presentation on different devices to ensure that it works flawlessly and looks good everywhere. This is especially important for online presentations or if the presentations will be shared later.
If possible, do a trial run in the actual presentation room. Especially important: check whether everything can be seen clearly from the back row. Nothing is more annoying than a presentation where half the audience is squinting.
Conclusion: Your slides, your masterpiece
Now that’s what I call a well-stocked toolbox! But don’t worry, Rome wasn’t built in a day either. With a little practice, you’ll become a real presentation pro!
Remember: a good presentation is like a tailor-made suit. It has to suit you, your topic, and your audience. Experiment, find your style, and above all, have fun!
And if you want to avoid typical beginner’s mistakes from the outset, take a look at [our article on the 10 most common presentation “fails”] (/en/articles/10-presentation-fails.html). There, we show you the pitfalls that even experienced presenters sometimes overlook.
And who knows? Maybe at your next presentation, you’ll be the one everyone else thinks, “Wow, I want to be able to present like that too!”
One last valuable tip: Feel free to take a look around our website! There you’ll find a wealth of additional information, as well as tips and tricks on the topic of presentations. It’s worth checking back regularly, as we are constantly adding new content and the latest trends in presentation design.
Design is just the beginning—find out how to really captivate your audience, reach them emotionally, and inspire them in the long term in our comprehensive guide to captivating your audience.
So what are you waiting for? Open your presentation program and start making your next presentation a real hit! Good luck and have fun designing!
About this guide
This article combines current research in design psychology with proven principles from presentation experts such as Nancy Duarte and Guy Kawasaki.
Goal: Practical knowledge that can be implemented immediately and is based on scientific findings—not trends or opinions.