Slide presentations are a mainstay of our professional life and a popular tool to get a message across to an audience. They have evolved over the years, and they vary as greatly as those who use them, but there are some fundamental principles upon which good presentations can be created. A slide presentation is merely a tool, but one that must not merely be used well, but designed and built well.
The most important component of any presentation is still the message, not the medium. Design is always important, but now we must consider the visual components of our communications. A good slide deck can propel a good message, but it cannot make up for a poor one. It can amplify a good presenter but cannot rescue a weak one. On the other hand, a poor slide deck can still ruin the best message and the most capable presenter.
