How do you apply the principles of visual hierarchy and contrast to improve your presentation slides?

1 What is visual hierarchy?

Visual hierarchy is the way you arrange and prioritize the elements on your slide according to their importance and relevance. It helps you create a logical flow and structure for your content, and it helps your audience follow your argument and understand your main ideas. You can use different methods to create visual hierarchy, such as size, color, alignment, spacing, and typography.

2 What is contrast?

Contrast is the difference between two or more elements on your slide that makes them stand out from each other. It helps you create interest and emphasis for your content, and it helps your audience focus on the most important or relevant information. You can use different types of contrast, such as color, shape, texture, and direction.

3 How to use size and color for visual hierarchy and contrast?

One of the simplest and most effective ways to create visual hierarchy and contrast on your slide is to use size and color. You can use size to show the relative importance and hierarchy of your elements, such as headings, subheadings, text, images, and graphs. You can use color to show the relationship and contrast of your elements, such as categories, groups, trends, and emotions. For example, you can use a large and bold font for your main heading, a smaller and lighter font for your subheadings, and a different color for your key points or call to action.

4 How to use alignment and spacing for visual hierarchy and contrast?

Another way to create visual hierarchy and contrast on your slide is to use alignment and spacing. You can use alignment to show the order and connection of your elements, such as left, right, center, or justify. You can use spacing to show the separation and balance of your elements, such as margins, padding, and white space. For example, you can use left alignment for your text and images to create a consistent and clear layout, and you can use enough spacing between your elements to avoid clutter and confusion.

5 How to use typography and shape for visual hierarchy and contrast?

A third way to create visual hierarchy and contrast on your slide is to use typography and shape. You can use typography to show the style and tone of your content, such as fonts, weights, styles, and cases. You can use shape to show the form and function of your content, such as circles, squares, triangles, and arrows. For example, you can use a serif font for your headings and a sans serif font for your body text to create a contrast and distinction, and you can use shapes to highlight or illustrate your data or concepts.

6 How to test and refine your visual hierarchy and contrast?

The final step to improve your presentation slides is to test and refine your visual hierarchy and contrast. You can use different methods to check and adjust your design elements, such as the squint test, the five-second test, the feedback test, and the accessibility test. These methods can help you evaluate how well your slide communicates your message, how easy it is to read and understand, how appealing it is to your audience, and how inclusive it is for different needs and preferences.