Top 10 Presentation Design Tips for Great Presentations

Your boss has asked you to design a presentation for a crucial upcoming meeting with new investors. The task feels overwhelming because you don’t necessarily see yourself as a designer or creative. Don’t panic!

Welcome, to knowledge sharing by Dolphin Branding.

We at Dolphin Branding understand how significant presentations are for business success. Though transforming a dull deck of slides into a compelling visual story may require fancy software or a degree in graphic design, even a layperson can design a great presentation if they follow some basic steps.

So, here are our clear, actionable, and easy top ten tips for presentation designs. These tips will help you create slides that look great and professional while communicating your message clearly and confidently.

1. Start with a clear structure

Creating a clear outline is 50% of the work when designing your presentation. A clear structure will guide your decisions about the number of slides, the text, and the number of infographics or visuals you would like to include.

• Use a simple structure: Beginning → Middle → End
• Introduction: What’s the topic, and why it matters?
• Main Body: Key points (3–5 main ideas max, 1 idea per slide).
• Conclusion: Recap, key takeaway, or call to action.

2. Use consistent layouts

Consistency creates visual harmony and lends an air of professionalism to your presentation.

• Pick one or two layout styles and stick with them.
• Always have your title at the top and content below.
• Use gridlines or guides to align content properly.
• When in doubt, refer to your business’ brand style guide

3. Limit fonts to a maximum of two

In line with consistency, clean designs are the most appealing.

• Stick to one font for headings and one for text body.
• A good formula is using Sans fonts for the body and Serif fonts for the heading. For example- Montserrat + Open Sans/ or Playfair Display + Roboto.
• Avoid Comic Sans or overly decorative fonts—keep it clean and readable.

4. Use a simple colour palette

• Pick 2–3 colours and use them consistently. Bonus points for incorporating your brand colours.
• You can use tools like Canva’s colour palette generator to help you choose complimentary colours.
• Stick to high contrast (dark text on a light background or vice versa).

5. Use high-quality images or none at all

• Low-resolution or generic stock images hurt your message.
• Use unsplash.com or pexels.com for free high-quality visuals.
• Make sure visuals support your message rather than distract from it.

6. Keep your text compact- One idea per slide

• Don’t overload your slides with text.
• Each slide should focus on one key point.
• Ensure your texts don’t spill over your visuals or the slide’s perimeter.
• If you have a list of subheadings, spread them across multiple slides.

7. Cut the clutter

Remember, when it comes to presentations, less is more.

• Remove unnecessary text, images, or graphics.
• Use whitespace generously because it gives your content room to breathe.
• Keep your slides as clean and organised as possible.

8. Visualise your data

Presentations are visual aids.

• Use charts, graphs, or icons instead of raw numbers or tables.
• Tools like Canva or PowerPoint’s SmartArt can simplify this process.
• Don’t crowd data.
• Aim to highlight primary insights.

9. Use hierarchy to guide attention

• Make important text larger, bolder, or a different colour.
• Ensure your audience knows where to look first.
• Size, colour, and placement help create a visual flow.

10. Get Feedback

Before finalising your presentation:

• Review your slides out loud.
• See if the slides are well connected and potentially tell a visual story.
• Ask a friend or colleague to review your slides and ask questions such as:

1. Are the visuals clear?
2. Is anything confusing?
3. Are the texts legible?

The best presentations are not flashy. They tell a story and communicate their message engagingly and clearly. You don’t have to be a designer to design well. There is a creative hiding within everyone. Once you get started, you’ll notice your creativity creep into your decisions.

Our key principles of consistency, clarity, and simplicity will guide you to create presentations that look professional and communicate powerfully.

Happy designing!