CH5: Employ Fundamental Graphic Content and Design Principles

This section focuses specifically on the content and design principles that you should follow whenever creating data or text charts for leadership presentations.

Conveying Messages Clearly & Effectively

• Keep charts simple but meaningful.
• Include only one main message per chart or slide.
• Make sure your chart title captures the "so what?"

Selecting the Most Effective Colors

• Keep them simple and select colors that work well together.
• Ensure the colors are easy to see when placed against each other
• Check text color, in particular, to see that it contrasts with background colors sufficiently to be clearly legible
• Make sure the colors support the image you want to project and the message you want to convey.

Selecting the Most Effective Fonts

• Go for contrast in the background and fonts and in Autoshapes or any objects or text placed next to each other.
• Use a dark background (dark blue or black) for computer-projected presentations.
• Use a white, cream, yellow, or light gold font on these dark backgrounds.
• Use only a sans serif font, such as Arial, in computer- or overhead-projected presentations.
• Make your font at least 20 points for text and 28 points for titles (depending on the size of the room)
• Do not use the following:
• All caps in titles or text
• Initial caps expect in titles
• Underlining
• Red font on blue backgrounds