How do you balance your slides?

1 Why balance matters

Balancing your slides helps you achieve three important goals: clarity, consistency, and credibility. Clarity means that your slides communicate your main points and support your arguments without overwhelming or confusing your audience. Consistency means that your slides follow a logical structure and use a coherent style throughout your presentation. Credibility means that your slides look professional and polished and reflect your expertise and authority on the topic. By balancing your slides, you can enhance your presentation skills and make a positive impression on your audience.

2 How to use contrast

Contrast is one of the most powerful tools for creating balance and visual interest in your slides. Contrast means using different colors, sizes, shapes, fonts, or alignments to highlight the differences or similarities between the elements of your slide. For example, you can use contrast to emphasize a key word, a data point, or a call to action. You can also use contrast to create hierarchy, grouping, or separation between your elements. Contrast helps you draw attention to what matters and guide your audience's eyes through your slide.

3 How to use alignment

Alignment is another key principle for balancing your slides. Alignment means placing the elements of your slide along a common edge, center, or grid. For example, you can align your text to the left, right, center, or justify it. You can also align your images, charts, or graphics to the top, bottom, middle, or sides of your slide. Alignment helps you create order, harmony, and symmetry in your slides. It also helps you avoid gaps, overlaps, or misalignments that can make your slides look messy or unprofessional.

5 How to use repetition

Repetition is the use of the same or similar elements throughout your slides. For example, you can use repetition to create a consistent color scheme, font style, or layout for your slides. You can also use repetition to reinforce a theme, a message, or a brand identity for your presentation. Repetition helps you create balance, unity, and coherence in your slides. It also helps you avoid confusion, variation, or inconsistency that can make your slides look disjointed or amateurish.