Universal PPT Design Rules
1. Contrast & Readability First
- Background: White, off-white, or dark charcoal only
- Text: Black/dark gray on light, or white on dark—no exceptions
- Minimum contrast ratio: 4.5:1
2. Typography System
- One sans-serif font family (Inter, Helvetica, Arial, Calibri)
- Title: 36-44pt, bold
- Body: 28-32pt, regular
- Labels/captions: 20-24pt
- Never go below 18pt for anything
3. Color Palette
- 3 colors total: 1 neutral (text) + 1 primary accent + 1 secondary accent
- Use accent color only for: key data, CTAs, critical emphasis
- Avoid red/green combinations
4. Content Density
- One idea per slide
- Max 6 lines, max 6 words per line
- If you need more text, you need more slides
5. Visual Hierarchy
- Left-align body text
- Top-left to bottom-right flow (natural reading pattern)
- 30-40% white space minimum—if slide feels "empty," it's probably right
6. Imagery & Data
- Photos: High-res only, no watermarks, no clip art
- Charts: One chart per slide, clear labels, minimal gridlines
- Animation: None, unless movement explains a concept
7. The 50% Test
View slide at 50% zoom. If anything is hard to read or unclear, fix it.
The single rule behind all rules: If it doesn't help the audience understand faster, remove it.