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The traditional design of presentation slides calls for a phrase headline supported by a bulleted list. Recently, many critics have challenged the effectiveness of this design. This article argues for a significantly different design that offers numerous advantages in most communication contexts but that is particularly well suited to technical presentations. Originating at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and refined in more than 400 critique sessions at Virginia Tech, this alternative design is characterized by a succinct sentence headline supported by visual evidence. What distinguishes this design from other visual -evidence designs are its specific layout and typography guidelines, which were chosen to make the communication efficient, memorable, and persuasive. Although more difficult to construct than the traditional design, the alternative design shows much promise as a more effective means of conveying technical information to various audiences. This article outlines the key advantages and challenges of using this design, and concludes by assessing attempts to disseminate this design through lectures, workshops, and the Web.
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Rethinking the Design of Presentation Slides: A Case for Sentence Headlines and Visual Evidence
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/stc/tc/2005/00000052/00000004/art00002
 access restricted (by the publisher) to members/subscribers/customers only
 peer-reviewed
Alley, Michael and Kathryn A. Neeley
Technical Communication Online
2005
Abstract: The traditional design of presentation slides calls for a phrase headline supported by a bulleted list. Recently, many critics have challenged the effectiveness of this design. This article argues for a significantly different design that offers numerous advantages in most communication contexts but that is particularly well suited to technical presentations. Originating at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and refined in more than 400 critique sessions at Virginia Tech, this alternative design is characterized by a succinct sentence headline supported by visual evidence. What distinguishes this design from other visual -evidence designs are its specific layout and typography guidelines, which were chosen to make the communication efficient, memorable, and persuasive. Although more difficult to construct than the traditional design, the alternative design shows much promise as a more effective means of conveying technical information to various audiences. This article outlines the key advantages and challenges of using this design, and concludes by assessing attempts to disseminate this design through lectures, workshops, and the Web.
| Reviews | | naresh | noby
i need to learn step by step. how to prepare slides to present my content.... i need procedure in general form..... please provid it if possible | | Frank Vassell | Citation to support many critics challenge..
The statement that "many critics have challenged the effectiveness of this design," was expected to have evidence of who the critics are. As a researcher I evaluate a statement's effectiveness by the references bearing on it. At least an indication that citation is available at a link so and so would suffice. | | Stephanie | Senior Technical Writer-Editor
poor; disagree with thesis. and waaaay too academic. Complete sentences unnecessary; action verb and succinct statement. Yes, include images/graphics/photos/dwgs with the slide. the picture tells the story. don't overdo the slide with all the images. again, too much to absorb during the presentation. that's why there are slides: break up the air, time, presentation. Heads: don't need complete sentence: too many words to digest; brevity. subject enough. agree: slides loaded with text boring and loose the audience. keep 1-2 thoughts per slide. too much to absorb. presenter speaks in complete sentences; the slide does not. and i don't want presenter to talk the slide. snore snore. |
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