The best tips for using fonts in presentations

Which typography is the most suitable for a presentation? One that is 100% legible for your audience. Always prioritize the use of fonts that are easy to read from a certain distance, as it is essential that everyone can see the main content of your presentation without much effort.

When you are editing a Google Slides or PowerPoint presentation, try to put yourself in the shoes of your audience. Ask yourself, "Will this font look right when I put the projector on?”. If you have doubts, discard it and look for another alternative. 

Always use common sense. If you are going to present in class or at work, this is not the time to be creative by using fonts with unusual strokes, which are designed for other uses. 

In order to give coherence to your design, don’t incorporate more than three different fonts in the same presentation! Using too many different fonts will distract the listener, who will not know how you are organizing the content and which parts you want to emphasize.

With your favorite presentation editor already open, during the design process, assign each font a specific use. For example, if you like three different styles, you can use one for titles, one for subtitles, and one for body text.

Typographies generate a great visual impact. They have the power to highlight the most valuable content, which means that they give strength to one message over another. 

When we look at a slide, our eyes scan the information following the order and coherence that has been previously established through the use of different font combinations. For a cleaner design, you shouldn't use fonts that are too similar to each other, but rather combinations that contrast and at the same time complement each other.

Apply the combination of Sans Serif + Serif

Don't know which typographies generate a good balance? There is a combination of typographic styles that is a hit: a Sans Serif font with a Serif font.

Serif typographies are characterized by being more formal and elegant. You can recognize serif fonts by the small endings at the ends of each letter. Some examples of this type of font are Times New Roman or Georgia.

On the other hand, we have the opposite side: Sans Serif typographies. They are casual, informal, and more modern. These fonts have simpler lines, which makes them more legible. Within this category, we would highlight Helvetica, Optima, or Futura fonts, as they are more widely used.

Although these two styles are very different from each other, they go great together! Try the contrast generated by introducing them in the same slide.

Does all the content of a presentation have the same importance? Of course not! In a single slide, you can find many types of text according to their function, such as section headings, subheadings, numerical data, definitions, clarifying data, results, reflections, quotations, and many other options.

Make use of different font sizes to make some text extracts more emphasized by making their size larger. A skillful application of varied font sizes can draw attention to important text elements, guiding readers through your content hierarchy. However, it's not just about size – the spacing between letters, known as kerning, also plays a vital role in optimizing legibility and visual appeal. Discover more about the art of kerning and its impact on typography in our comprehensive guide: What is kerning and how to apply to typography.

If you want to learn more about visual hierarchy, here is a post about composition tips to design your slides.

What is the point of using the perfect typographies if you use a color that cannot be seen in the background? As we have previously indicated, a presentation must be seen at a reasonable distance and under the expected level of illumination.

The different colors applied must meet the following requirements:

• They must be in line with the design of the template. Apply colors that match your brand or that fit with the basic structure of your presentation. If the template is minimalist and has darker tones, it would not make much sense to use very vivid and colorful tones and in the opposite case, where the design is more colorful, we should not go out of the pre-established schemes.

• Contrast is necessary. What color is the text written on? The content must have a color that stands out from afar. On a grey background, it is not a good idea to use white text. However, don't overdo it with shades that are too different, either, as they can be quite jarring.

• Keep in mind where you will be presenting. The lighting, the location of the projector or the size of the room can work against you. Try to reduce risks by opting for clear color combinations.

Both PowerPoint and Google Slides have many tools to set the perfect text format to use. We recommend you modify the weight of your text to highlight keywords or concepts.

Remember that all information is not essential. You must be able to synthesize your content to avoid overloading the slides with a lot of text. Show the essential points and point out the concepts you want your listeners to retain. 

Before you start designing your presentation or choosing a template, ask yourself several questions: Who am I speaking to? What is the central theme of my presentation? These two ideas will help you focus on the design as a whole.

All the elements of a presentation must be adapted to the target audience. If your main target is a university class, your choice of fonts and colors will be different than if you are giving a lesson in front of elementary school children.

In addition, the main topic of your presentation already limits the fonts to be used, as you would not use some combinations, for example, for a formal presentation in front of investors for your company.