Tip 117: Use simple slides
PowerPoint's features are sometimes used as a crutch by speakers who are afraid of communicating. Those who have little of substance to say, those who have presentations that are boring or irrelevant, and those who are afraid that their arguments are not convincing will see slide decorations and flashy animations and transitions as ways to distract from the fact that there are problems with their content.
Do not make your audience think this about you, and do not try to hide the inadequacy of your presentation by hyping up the packaging!
Your slides should be visually uncluttered. The less clutter you have on your slide, the more powerful your visual message will become. The fewer distractions you have the better. Usually you will have a hard enough time convincing your audience of your message. The last thing you want is for anything to get in the way of your message.
Don't let your message and your ability to tell your story get derailed by slides that are unnecessarily complicated, busy or full of superfluous decoration. Have the discipline to ask yourself “What does this add to my message?” and “How does this help promote my message or mission?” and “Are any elements in this slide non-essential?”
If something does not help you, then be firm and remove it from your presentation. Stripping down as much as you can often will make a huge, refreshing difference. Keep your slides clean, simple and efficient.
« Previous: Tip 116: What is the point of this slide?
Import citation into 
