The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint

I am trying to evangelize the 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint. It’s quite simple: a PowerPoint presentation should have ten slides, last no more than twenty minutes, and contain no font smaller than thirty points. While I’m in the venture capital business, this rule is applicable for any presentation to reach agreement: for example, raising capital, making a sale, forming a partnership, etc.

Kawasaki, Guy. How to Change the World (2005). Articles>Presentations>Information Design>Typography

Effective Trends and Techniques for Integrating Type and Images  

The integration of type and images can create a visual/verbal message for both print and on-line. To create this visual-verbal message, two problems must be resolved. First, visual organization is a problem, for two totally unlike systems of communication that must be merged into a cohesive whole. The second problem involves message making. These two unlike communication systems must come together to reinforce and extend one another. To effectively integrate type and images together it is essential to have a strong understanding of the elements and principles of design.

Miller, Susan G. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Typography

The Graphic Design of Text: A Review of Research  

Technical communicators can make reading easier by using type-design principles proven to enhance reading performance. This paper, based on the author’s master’s thesis of the same name, revealed research related to the graphic design of text and concluded that further research is needed to measure the impact of typography on readers (expert, intermediate, and novice) and the ways in which they read (to do, to read to learn, to read to assess, and to read to learn to do).

Matis, David W. STC Proceedings (1996). Presentations>Typography>Graphic Design

Intercultural Research in Page Design and Layout for Asian/Pacific Audiences  

We, Fuji Xerox, implemented an intercultural survey in page design and layout of customer documents for business machines such as copy machines and printers. The research covered the main regions in Asia/Pacific: Australia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. We studied their preferences in printed colors, typography, page layout, and pictographs. The results show Asia/Pacific audiences share a lot of preferences in page design and layout, though there are some uniqueness in printed colors and pictographs. It also became clear American English is not a serious problem for people who are Queen’s English natives.

Ichimura, Mitsuyuki. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Web Design>Typography>Asia

Using Type as a Design Element  

Designing with type follows the same visual guidelines that are used when designing with images. The computer has made more options available to the average user, but good design techniques are not always inherent within the variety of options present on the toolbar. The user needs to have some knowledge of what works and what doesn’t work. Emphasis and readability can be enhanced by adhering to the guidelines that a consistent with good visual design. Format options that include spacing, margins, size, and contrast can provide the user with the opportunity to create publications that are both interesting and readable.

Sadowski, Mary A. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Typography

To Hell with Web Safe Fonts

Get creative. Expand your font choice. Mix fonts. Use weights, font-styles, small-caps. Mind variations in size and legibility.

Schoors, Lennart. SlideShare (2009). Presentations>Web Design>Typography>Fonts

Holding the Center

If you look through a poster session at a scientific conference, I’ll bet over 98% of their titles are centered at the top of their posters. Why? There is no advantage in reading. Most word processors and other publishing programs start with text left aligned by default, which implies that people deliberately center the text all the time.

Better Posters (2009). Design>Presentations>Document Design>Typography