PowerPoint or other similar presentation tools are built for images and, as you’ve read, visual images are key to audience engagement, retention, and acceptance of information. 

• Try to keep one main image per slide, in keeping with the concept of one main idea per slide.
• Only include more than one image if the concept logically supports more than one image.  If using more than one image, make sure the images are consistent. Note that the slide below uses three images to enhance the idea that many students benefit from prior learning assessment.  All of the faces in the images are approximately the same size.
• Although you may not want to use standard PowerPoint or other templates that create a very structured look for your presentation, you may want to use design ideas (e.g., under the design tab in PowerPoint) for other layout options for particular slides.

Many presenters use a large image and then insert text to provide the key points that the image presents.  Decide which approach makes sense for your particular slides, with the understanding that you do not have to apply one approach consistently throughout the presentation.

Note that when you are composing a PowerPoint slide, you see faint lines and boxes to help you align your information and visuals.  These lines provide good guidelines.  Although you can manipulate and over-ride these suggestions, be careful about placing visuals or text too far right, left, top, or bottom, if you want your audience to be able to absorb the slide’s information easily.

Colour creates a significant impact on your slides, as it can provide emphasis, foster understanding, and imply feeling.  Follow these colour tips:

• Black text on a white background is usually very easy to absorb, as long as the text is large enough.
• Texts other than black need to contrast carefully with their backgrounds for maximum readability.
• Use complementary colours and contrasting colours.
• Do not use colours indiscriminately; choose an overall colour palette and maintain that throughout.  Too many colours make your slides “busy” and therefore more difficult to comprehend.

Layout distribution and format take into consideration:

• Proximity
• White Space
• Alignment
• Contrast
• Repetition

Understand that there are no penultimate rules for all slides, except the overall expectation that their information can be easily absorbed and understood. Your purpose, audience, context, and other communication variables dictate your approach each time, for each presentation.

I hope these tips help in your next presentation events, please let me know if you have any other tips on presentation layouts in the comments section.