Powerpoint®
documents
Layout, structure and messages
November 2008
Objective : why this document ?
• We often have heard from clients that they were really impressed by consulting
reports and presentations : clear, direct, well structured and always very
professional looking.
• We hope that after reading this document, and after practicing you’ll be able to
design stunning powerpoint presentations
• Choose a very simple layout and be consistent all through your document.
• Do not use only bullet points : insert diagrams, charts, maps to support your
messages.
• Your presentation should be a logical series of headlines that tell the whole story
: organize your arguments to support your key-messages.
Use the same font all through your document (but you may include some
1 variations : bold, italic or underline). Choose a sans-serif font (ex : arial or
helvetica).
3 Try to use the same line spacing all along your document
4 Try to avoid cliparts (especially Powerpoint ones : everybody already saw them a
thousand times elsewhere)
• A simple and standard format will • The audience (or readers) will easily
provide you with a ready-made know where to look for particular
framework. kinds of information :
– In particular (Key) messages
– Explanations…
• It will help you structure your ideas in
an efficient and sharp manner.
• A simple and standard format will
disappear to the eyes of your audience
• It will suppress the necessity to make and let them concentrate on what is
decisions about format when important, the substance.
producing your document.
The
headline
A well written headline focus attention on the message the page conveys
Well-ordered
bullet-points
Examples
Diagrams
Content of
the page
Charts or
data tables
Maps
All these elements should help you design a content that explains clearly
very complex messages
1 2 3 4 5 6
Executive
Title page Objectives Body Summary Next steps
Summary
• The title page has to set the tone of the document and should give a
first idea of its objectives and key messages
Executive summary
• To trigger action
– What will trigger the action you want your audience to take ?
Arguments
and supporting evidences
Key ideas
Transforming the key ideas in key messages will be the first step of
effective communication
Key messages
Main supporting
arguments (major
sections of your
document)
Arguments
(with facts and
evidences on each
page)
Start Finish
Allows to visualise
each page of the
document
Storyboard
On the
computer
screen
Use the slides sorter on Powerpoint ☺
It has to be a real
A sentence that
sentence expresses an idea.
Headline
To be avoided To be written
• Context • Your company has been heavily impacted by the
downturn economy
-
• XXX is the leading laptop computer resseller
Inform Tell facts • Livestock farming is 1,5 times more polluting
than transporation
Level of involvement
- example-
Correlation :
salary vs
results/objectives
motivating enough
Results / objectives
• Layout : it has to be simple and consistent. Use diagrams, charts and maps.
• Structure : use storyboarding to help you structure your story. Any reader
should understand the story by reading the headlines only.
• Messages : your messages have to be explicit. Use short and direct sentences.
One can understand the main idea of the document from the title
Every element on each page is useful to understand the story (no useless elements)