6 blueprints for more effective presentations

The easiest way to get started with a Prezi presentation is to jump into a template. But when the time comes to create your own unique presentation, it can be hard to figure out how exactly to construct it. Which colors work well together? Which are the best fonts? Which images are most impactful?  

We’ve separated out some of the most important design elements for six common use cases to help you create your own masterpieces. Keep reading to discover six blueprints to more effective presentations, or jump directly to the one you need right now: 

• When you want to focus on the results
• When you want to highlight your visuals 
• When you want to share knowledge 
• When you want to show off your work
• When you want to be persuasive 
• When you want to get everyone on the same page

When you want to focus on the results

When you have results to share, whether it’s company financials, campaign learnings, or general feedback, the data is the most important part. To create the most effective report presentations, try to avoid distracting visuals by opting for a simple or abstract background image. 

This applies to your color scheme as well — use monochromatic and neutral tones as a base palette, then add brighter pop colors to direct focus to key information. You can further reinforce this by using pinpoint shapes for your topics. To keep the feel of your presentation consistent, you’ll want to use monotype fonts such as Liberation Mono, as they are often used in technical or data-heavy content. 

Here’s an example of a complete report presentation that combines these elements: 

When you want to highlight your visuals

For image-heavy presentations, such as newsletters, non-profit overviews, or personal albums, you’ll want to keep your visuals front and center. Use a background image with a flat color, and apply muted colors throughout to ensure your images stand out. 

Square topic shapes will not only convey a more editorial feeling for newsletters, they’ll also mirror the photographs you display throughout to maintain consistency. Finally, tie everything together with a condensed, bold, sans serif font such as League Gothic Italicized. 

Check out this example of a newsletter presentation for inspiration: 

When you want to share knowledge

Keeping your lessons engaging can be tricky — there needs to be a balance between fun and informative. To create a presentation that strikes that balance, start with a background image featuring a paper texture (or another writing surface). This will provide a subtle, neutral backdrop so that your topics will pop.

From there, use attention-grabbing primary colors, and pair those with playful topic shapes such as the chalk scribble. You can extend that playfulness to the font by choosing typefaces with a hand-drawn look. Two excellent ones to consider are Kaushan Script and From Where You Are. 

When you put it all together, you get this effective presentation for lesson plans: 

When you want to show off your work

After putting a lot of work into researching your project, you’ll want to make sure it catches attention when you present. Try to find a background image that’s fun and energetic (line patterns are a great way to achieve this). Keep your topic shapes basic, but add thick outlines to give them a more distinct look. 

While you want your presentation to have personality, hand-drawn fonts may end up being more distracting than helpful. Turn to rounded fonts such as Comfortaa or Sniglet to add a sense of lightheartedness without being overly whimsical. Make sure you add plenty of color throughout as well. We recommend a split-complementary color scheme to provide a cohesive theme without having the colors potentially clash. 

This is what a finished book report could look like: 

When you want to be persuasive

Persuading your audience requires a presentation that’s clear, informative, and credible. These can include business proposals, sales pitches, investor presentations, and more. Consider using a cityscape background image to symbolize growth and development. For the best clarity, use simple topic shapes such as circles. 

To elevate your presentation, you’ll want to use subdued and desaturated shades of bold colors. This will help your presentation feel sophisticated without being overpowering. Something else to keep in mind is that, in general, red is associated with confidence, and blue is associated with trustworthiness, so use these colors accordingly. For headlines and titles, use Playfair Display, as this font is professional-looking without being stuffy. Then, pair it with a sans serif typeface such as Source Sans Pro for body copy to give it more readability. 

See how these elements can be combined to create a professional business proposal: 

When you want to get everyone on the same page 

Rallying your team, such as during a sales kickoff or new-hire onboarding, requires a good mix of excitement and crucial information. An easy way to start is to lean into the teamwork metaphor by using a sports-themed background image. Apply warm and bold colors throughout to draw people in and keep their attention (hint: use Adobe’s color wheel to explore your options). 

Outside of the background image and color scheme, you’ll want your message to be clearly communicated. Avoid extra distraction by sticking with simple topic shapes such as circles. Then, help your content stand out with a bold, sans serif font like League Gothic. 

Here’s how all these elements can work together to form a winning sales kickoff:

Now it’s your turn! Apply these general design principles to create more effective presentations that nail the right look, tone, and feel for your intended audience. Get started today or check out some great examples from our Gallery for even more inspiration.