gh-krishagel-geoffrey/skills/presentation-master/principles/masters.md

Presentation Masters - Best Practices

Codified wisdom from the world's best presenters and presentation designers.

Core Universal Principles

1. Simplicity Above All

Garr Reynolds (Presentation Zen)

"Restraint in preparation, simplicity in design, naturalness in delivery"

Seth Godin

• Maximum 6 words per slide
• No bullet points
• No transitions/animations

TED Guidelines

• Eliminate headlines and bullet points
• Image-rich, minimal text
• Rather than one complex slide, show several slides with each containing one idea

Steve Jobs

• Sometimes just 19 total words in entire presentations
• Single image or thought per slide

Universal Rule: Less is always more. Every element must earn its place.

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2. Visual Over Textual

Garr Reynolds

"Narration with pictures is better than narration alone"

Richard Mayer (Multimedia Principle)

"People learn better from words and pictures than from words alone"

Universal Rule: Show, don't write. Slides support speech, they don't replace it.

Application:

• Use full-bleed images
• Minimal text overlays
• Let visuals carry 80% of the message

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3. Audience as Hero

Nancy Duarte

"The audience is the hero, the speaker is the mentor"

Application:

• Focus on transformation, not information
• What will the audience be able to do after?
• Their journey, not your expertise

Universal Rule: The presentation is about the audience's journey, not your content.

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4. Story Structure Matters

Nancy Duarte's Sparkline

• Alternate "what is" (current reality) with "what could be" (aspiration)
• Build tension through contrast
• End with transformation

Steve Jobs' Rule of Three

• Every presentation in three parts
• Three key features per product
• More dramatic than two, easier to remember than six

TED Structure

• Hook (first 30 seconds)
• Personal connection
• Core idea with evidence
• Call to action
• Strong close (never end with Q&A)

Universal Rule: Structure creates meaning. Random facts don't stick; stories do.

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5. One Idea Per Slide

TED

"Rather than one complex slide, show several slides with each containing one idea"

Guy Kawasaki

• 10 slides maximum for hour presentation
• One concept per slide

Seth Godin

• 6 words maximum = one focused thought

Universal Rule: Cognitive load is real. One slide, one concept, one moment.

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6. Rehearsal Is Non-Negotiable

Steve Jobs

• Rehearsed weeks in advance
• Every gesture choreographed
• Nothing left to chance

TED

"Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse"

Universal Rule: Natural delivery requires unnatural preparation.

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Design Principles

Typography

Font Size Minimums:

• TED: 42 points minimum
• Guy Kawasaki: 30 points minimum (the "30" in 10/20/30 rule)
• Our Standard: 30pt minimum, 36pt+ preferred

Font Choice:

• TED: Sans serif (Helvetica, Verdana) over serif for readability
• 2025 Trends: Bold serifs and character-filled sans-serifs as design elements
• Limit to 1-2 font families maximum

Text Limits:

• Seth Godin: 6 words maximum per slide
• TED: 1-2 lines ideal, 6 lines absolute maximum
• No paragraphs, ever

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Color & Contrast

High Contrast Essential:

• Minimum 4.5:1 ratio (WCAG AA standard)
• Aim for 7:1+ ratio (WCAG AAA standard)
• Test in bright room conditions

Steve Jobs Approach:

• Large white fonts on dark gradient backgrounds
• Simple, bold color palette

Consistency:

• Use same color palette throughout
• Colors should reinforce brand and message

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Layout & Spacing

Visual Hierarchy (Garr Reynolds):

• Make most important information the focal point
• Use size, color, position to guide eye

Reading Patterns:

• Z-pattern for Western audiences (top-left → top-right → bottom-left → bottom-right)
• F-pattern for text-heavy slides (avoid these!)

Whitespace (Essential):

• Creates hierarchy by isolating key points
• Essential for emphasis
• Don't fear empty space

CRAP Principles:

• Contrast: Make different elements very different
• Repetition: Repeat design elements for unity
• Alignment: Every element should align with something
• Proximity: Related items should be grouped

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Images

Quality Requirements:

• High-resolution only (TED requirement)
• Must own or have permission
• Avoid generic stock photos
• Images must enhance message, not decorate

Types of Images:

• Data visualizations (charts, graphs)
• Conceptual illustrations
• Real-world photography
• Diagrams and infographics

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Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/30 Rule

Originally for VC Pitches, Applicable to All Presentations:

10 Slides Maximum

• Audiences can't comprehend more than 10 concepts in one sitting
• Forces you to identify truly important points

20 Minutes Maximum

• Shorter is better
• Leaves time for discussion
• Respects audience attention span

30-Point Font Minimum

• If you need smaller fonts, you have too much content
• Forces simplicity
• Ensures readability from back of room

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Edward Tufte's Data Visualization Principles

Graphical Integrity

Lie Factor: Visual representation must tell the truth

• Formula: (Size of effect shown in graphic) / (Size of effect in data)
• Acceptable range: 0.95 to 1.05
• Outside this range = distortion

Rules:

• Don't use area to show one-dimensional data
• Use consistent scales
• Representations of numbers should be proportional to numerical quantities

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Maximize Data-Ink Ratio

Data-Ink Ratio = Data-ink / Total ink used in graphic

Eliminate:

• Chartjunk (unnecessary decoration)
• 3D effects
• Unnecessary grid lines
• Excessive borders
• Non-data backgrounds

Maximize:

• Data points
• Trend lines
• Comparisons
• Actual information

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Small Multiples

Instead of one complex chart, use series of small charts with same axes to show:

• Changes over time
• Comparisons across categories
• Pattern recognition

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Mayer's 12 Principles of Multimedia Learning

Reducing Extraneous Processing

1. Coherence: Remove extraneous material
2. Signaling: Highlight organization and essential material
3. Redundancy: Don't show text + say same text verbatim
4. Spatial Contiguity: Put related elements near each other
5. Temporal Contiguity: Present related elements simultaneously

Managing Essential Processing

6. Segmentation: Break into logical chunks
7. Pretraining: Introduce key concepts early
8. Modality: Graphics + narration better than graphics + on-screen text

Fostering Generative Processing

9. Multimedia: Use words + pictures together
10. Personalization: Use conversational style
11. Voice: Informal voice over formal
12. Image: Speaker image not required (focus on content)

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Steve Jobs Presentation Techniques

Create Moments

The Surprise:

• MacBook Air pulled from envelope
• "One more thing..."
• Rehearsed spontaneity

The Demo:

• Live product demonstrations
• Make it real and tangible
• Show, don't just tell

The Analogy:

• "1,000 songs in your pocket" (not "5GB MP3 player")
• Make it relatable
• Connect to audience experience

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The Rule of Three

Three Acts:

• Setup → Conflict → Resolution
• Past → Present → Future
• Problem → Journey → Solution

Three Features:

• Never showed more than 3 key features
• Each feature given dedicated focus
• Memorable and digestible

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Critical Errors

1. Reading from slides - Slides support, don't replace you
2. Too much text - Paragraphs and long bullets
3. Poor contrast - Can't read from back of room
4. Information overload - Trying to fit too much
5. Default templates - Generic and forgettable
6. Ending with Q&A - Always end strong with your message

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Design Flaws

1. Chart junk - 3D effects, unnecessary decoration
2. Inconsistent styling - Random fonts, colors
3. Low-res images - Pixelated, stretched photos
4. Excessive transitions - Distracting animations
5. Bullet point addiction - Lazy content organization

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Content Issues

1. Not tailoring to audience - One size fits all approach
2. No emotional connection - Just facts and figures
3. Missing story arc - Disjointed information
4. Too many concepts - Violating 10-concept rule
5. Insufficient rehearsal - "Winging it"

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Presentation Type Guidelines

Board/Executive Update

Characteristics:

• Data-driven
• Professional tone
• Clear recommendations
• Time-efficient

Best Practices:

• 8-10 slides maximum
• Heavy use of data visualizations
• Clear "What/So What/Now What" structure
• Executive summary up front

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Keynote/TED-Style

Characteristics:

• Story-driven
• Emotional connection
• Inspirational
• Transformative

Best Practices:

• 12-15 slides
• Minimal text (<3 words often)
• Personal stories
• Strong emotional arc
• Surprise moments

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Training/Educational

Characteristics:

• Process-focused
• Step-by-step
• Retention-optimized
• Practice-oriented

Best Practices:

• 15-20 slides
• Clear progression
• Mayer's principles critical
• Examples and exercises
• Summaries and reviews

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Pitch/Sales

Characteristics:

• Problem-solution focused
• Evidence-based
• ROI-driven
• Competitive positioning

Best Practices:

• 10 slides (Kawasaki rule)
• Clear problem statement
• Unique value proposition
• Market validation
• Call to action

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Quality Assessment Questions

Before presenting, ask:

Content:

• Can I explain the core message in one sentence?
• Is there exactly one idea per slide?
• Does each slide support the overall story?
• Is the audience positioned as the hero?

Design:

• Can I read all text from 10 feet away?
• Have I eliminated all non-essential elements?
• Is the visual hierarchy clear?
• Are related elements grouped together?

Data (if applicable):

• Is my lie factor between 0.95-1.05?
• Have I maximized data-ink ratio?
• Are all charts clearly labeled?
• Can I explain the "so what" for each visualization?

Story:

• Does my presentation have clear beginning/middle/end?
• Is there tension and resolution?
• Will the audience remember the key message?
• Have I included a surprise or memorable moment?

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Sources & Further Reading

Books:

• Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds
• Resonate by Nancy Duarte
• slide:ology by Nancy Duarte
• The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward Tufte
• Multimedia Learning by Richard Mayer

Articles:

• Guy Kawasaki: The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint
• Seth Godin: Really Bad PowerPoint
• TED: How to Create Slides for Your TED Talk

Websites:

• presentationzen.com
• duarte.com
• ted.com/participate/organize-a-local-tedx-event/tedx-organizer-guide/speakers-program/prepare-your-speaker

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Remember: These principles are not rigid rules—they're wisdom distilled from thousands of successful presentations. Adapt them to your context, but respect the underlying truths they represent.