Seven Deadly Sins for Multimedia Presentations Ross Rogers

Seven Deadly Sins for Multimedia Presentations Ross Rogers ross@uen. org 801 585 7905

Sin # 1 fonts are too ornate, too many different fonts, styles and font colors in a single presentation n Letter

Sin # 1 Solution Select one simple, easy to read font and keep it consistent throughout presentation

Sin # 2 • Font sizes and/or graphics are too small

Sin # 2 Solution Limit text and make it BIG

Sin # 2 Solution

Sin # 3 The background is too “busy” and/or the background and text color combinations do not have enough contrast for legibility.

Sin # 3 Solution The importance is text, so focus on it. n Make backgrounds light and text dark or vice versa. n Avoid red! n

Sin #4 Crowding too much information onto a single screen or transparency.

Sin # 4 Solution – Keep things simple and clear. – 6 x 6 rule. – Give more information as you speak! – Do NOT, for any reason, decrease the font!

Sin # 5 • Leaving a screen unchanged for too long or not leaving a screen up long enough for the audience to take notes.

Sin # 5 Solution – Create suspense – Layer your presentation – Provide basic handouts

Sin # 6 Overusing special effects

Sin # 6 Solution e consistent with text flying in B Don’t use too many effects Maintain focus on content, not effects

Sin # 7 Presentation is all text, no pictures!

Sin # 7 Solution This is a VISUAL media, use it! Use pictures, charts, graphs and cartoons to illustrate…. . make sure they are relevant!

Bibliography l “Avoiding Seven Deadly Multimedia Design and Presentation Sins” l by Thomas H. Cunningham, Ph. D