The 7 golden rules for professional PowerPoint design

Rule 1: Use the same font consistently

Always use the same font throughout your presentation. Use the font specified in your Corporate Identity Guidelines to ensure CI compliance and maintain a consistent brand image.

Note: Your Corporate Identity Guidelines might specify different fonts for headings and body text. That’s fine—just ensure you use them consistently across every slide.

Rule 2: Consistent layout on every slide

Use a consistent layout for every slide: heading, subheading, body text, page number, and logo. This structure makes your presentations easier to read.

Rule 3: Use superscripts instead of asterisks

Avoid using asterisks for footer annotations. Use superscripts instead.

Rule 4: Visual hierarchies through color

Use different colors for footers and source attributions than for the main body and headings. If your main text is black, dark gray works well for footers. This hierarchy helps the reader focus on core content.

Rule 5: No jumping content

Content must not "jump" between slides. Headings, subheadings, body text, logos, page numbers, and footnotes must stay in the exact same position on every slide.

Rule 6: Limit to 2-3 font sizes

Limit your presentation to a maximum of 2-3 font sizes where possible. Headings should always be the same size. Structure your content so that two sizes suffice for the body text.

Rule 7: Max two-line headings

Keep headings to a maximum of two lines. If they run longer, shorten the text or reduce the font size.

Summary

As mentioned, these rules aren't mandatory. However, they have become the quality standard in corporate, consulting, and investment banking sectors over the last decades. Following them ensures your presentations meet professional standards.