Modified from webinar notes prepared for "Effective Church Leadership" course at Trinity Theological College in Auckland, New Zealand. The focus of the webinar was to instruct non-visual designer clergy in best practices for designing onscreen media to accompany their sermons. The principles can be applied across the wider spectrum of public speaking using visual aids.

1. Design Guidelines
for Screen Presentations
Modified from presentation prepared
for Trinity College, New Zealand

2. 1. Simplify, simplify, simplify.

3. 1. Simplify, simplify, simplify.
What is your Core Message?

4. 2. Communicate clearly.
If your message is not clear,
it will not be understood.

5. 2. Communicate clearly.
• One point per slide, period.
• Distill each message to 6 words.

8. 2. Communicate clearly.
• Don’t say it if you can show it.
• Slides are not your notes.
• Keywords and visual hooks engage.

11. 2. Communicate clearly.
Use metaphor when possible.

12. Is your message getting lost in your medium?

13. 2. Communicate clearly.
Use surprise as a visual hook.

14. We deliver unexpected results.

15. 2. Communicate clearly.
Humor helps convey your message.

16. Is your online
information safe?

17. 2. Communicate clearly.
As does drama (tension).

18. Is your online
information safe?

19. 3. Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 Rule
10 slides for a
20 minute presentation using
30 pt. minimum font size
(This text is set in 36 pt.)

20. 4. C.R.A.P. Design Method
Contrast
Repetition
Alignment
Proximity

21. 4. C.R.A.P. — Contrast
Elements that are not the same
should be very different so that
they stand out. When two elements
differ only slightly, the viewer is
confused into seeing a relationship
that does not really exist.

22. 4. C.R.A.P. — Contrast
One main focal point
Draw attention to what is most
important, use the other elements
to support it.

23. 4. C.R.A.P. — Contrast
Large objects vs. small objects
The larger an object appears on the
page, the more important it will be
perceived to be.

25. 4. C.R.A.P. — Contrast
• Warm and saturated colors advance.
• Cool and desaturated colors recede.

26. Warm colors Saturated Desaturated
Cool colors

29. 4. C.R.A.P. — Contrast
• No more than two fonts (generally)
• Use varying styles. (serif vs. sans)
• Use varying weights. (reg vs bold)
• Use varying sizes. (large vs. small)

31. A word on font usage
• Use variation to establish hierarchy.
• Use fonts that complement.
• Use display fonts sparingly (if at all).

32. 5. C.R.A.P. — Repetition
Repeating visual elements and
styles helps to develop clarity,
organization and strengthens the
unity of a presentation.

33. 5. C.R.A.P. — Repetition
• Color, shape, texture, background
• Headings, subheadings, body text
• Graphics, images, logos

34. 5. C.R.A.P. — Repetition
You have been looking at an
example of repetition during this
presentation. The text appears at
the same place on each page, with
headings in bold text and body copy
in normal text.

35. 5. C.R.A.P. — Alignment
No element should be placed on the
page randomly. Each element should
have a visual relationship to every
other element on the same page.

36. 5. C.R.A.P. — Alignment
• Unity of elements on the same slide
• Layout ordered by invisible lines
• Grid based design
• Rule of thirds (simple grid)

37. RULE OF THIRDS GRID
Place your focal points where lines intersect

38. This image is static and boring.
Let’s make it more interesting.

39. This is better.
If you add text to
the image, place it
behind the figure so
it does not block his
path (unless doing
so helps to reinforce
your message.)

40. 5. C.R.A.P. — Proximity
Related elements should be grouped
together. Elements intended to be
viewed as separate should have
enough space between them to
clearly communicate that they are
supposed to be different.

41. Bad proximity
(and alignment.)
Each group relates to
like shapes. The two
groups also relate.
These groups do not
relate as well as above
because of proximity.

42. Caption 3Caption 2Caption 1
In this layout, the elements are evenly spaced, and the
proximity of the captions helps the viewer relate them
to their corresponding images more clearly.

43. Put it all together
Let’s apply these principles to
a sample sermon presentation.