How to Design Slides That Make You Shine — Not Compete With You

When you’re on stage, your slides can either elevate or destroy your impact. At Dale Carnegie, we’re often asked: “How much is too much when it comes to slides?”
Here’s the answer: your visuals should support you, not steal the spotlight.
The goal is simple—keep the audience focused on you, not the screen. That means stripping your slides back to essentials.

Mini-Summary:
Your slides are your partner, not your rival. Less text, more you.

Forget paragraphs and long sentences. Instead, use bullet points, keywords, or bold images.
Follow the two-second rule: if the audience can’t grasp your message in two seconds, it’s too complex.
Apply the six-by-six rule: no more than six lines per slide and six words per line.
Font size matters—44-point titles and 32-point text keep your content visible even from the back row.

Mini-Summary:
Clarity beats cleverness. If it’s not instantly readable, it’s not effective.

Choose clean, readable sans serif fonts like Arial. Avoid all caps—it feels like you’re shouting.
Use bold, underline, or italics sparingly for emphasis only. Consistency in design calms the audience; inconsistency confuses them.
For builds and animations, reveal one idea at a time or show all at once—but don’t mix methods.

Mini-Summary:
Simple, consistent formatting reinforces authority and calm.

A single relevant image can express what three slides of text cannot.
When the audience instantly “gets” the image, you can explain its meaning.
Use the right visuals for data:

• Bar graphs for comparisons

• Line charts for change over time

• Pie charts for proportions
  And always keep it simple—too many data points kill clarity.

Mini-Summary:
One powerful image beats a wall of text. Let visuals illustrate, not overwhelm.

Most presenters overuse colour. Keep it professional with black, blue, or green.
Avoid red, orange, and grey—especially red, which often disappears under projection.
Contrast is your best friend; it ensures clarity and professionalism.
Mini-Summary:
Colour should enhance visibility, not distract from the message.

Professionals know that slide decks communicate before they speak.
Clean, minimalist visuals instantly signal credibility and preparation.
Cluttered, chaotic slides? They tell the audience you’re not ready.
Let’s not be in that camp—let’s keep it sharp, tight, and confident.

Mini-Summary:
Your slides introduce you before you speak. Make sure they say “pro.”

• Slides should support, not dominate, your presentation.

• Apply the two-second and six-by-six rules for instant clarity.

• Use readable fonts, consistent formats, and minimal colours.

• Let visuals reinforce your message—not replace it.

• Simplicity signals professionalism.

👉 Request a Free Consultation — Learn how Dale Carnegie Tokyo transforms presentations into visual storytelling experiences that engage audiences and elevate executive presence.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.