February 5 — Design principles and slide design
Week 3 · Thursday
Key takeaways
- Every visual choice (hierarchy, space, balance, contrast) is a strategic tool to guide a viewer’s eye and convey a message.
- Presentation slides are visual aids for a speaker (minimal text, 6x6 rule), while “read-ahead” decks are standalone documents — never read presentation slides aloud.
- To fix a stuck slide design, try making a key image “big as hell” (dramatic focal point) or “a million tiny ones” (pattern/texture).
Topics covered
Hierarchy
Guides the eye to the most important information first, using size, prominence, and color. If everything is the same size, nothing is important.
Space (whitespace)
Creates focus and a clean, modern feel. Don’t fill every inch of the canvas — let elements breathe.
Balance and symmetry
Creates a sense of order. Can be symmetrical (formal, stable) or asymmetrical (dynamic, interesting).
Contrast
Creates visual interest and emphasizes differences. Light vs. dark, big vs. small, serif vs. sans-serif.
Rhythm and repetition
Creates movement or unity through recurring elements (motifs). A repeating visual element ties a design together.
Slide design best practices
- 6x6 rule: no more than 6 words per line, 6 lines per slide
- Use presenter notes for detail — the slide is the visual aid, not the script
- Avoid GIFs in professional presentations
- When stuck on layout, troubleshoot with scale: make one thing huge or repeat one thing many times
Homework
Alien propaganda poster — design an 8.5” x 11” vertical poster for an alien society using these principles (due Feb 10).