Imagine sitting for a row of presentations. As soon as the lights dim and the first presenter clicks the button, the slide appears. However, you find yourself getting confused and realize that it is because the background is extremely cluttered. It has overpowering visuals, texture, graphics, and unrelated colors.
The next presenter commences, and as soon as her slides start rolling, you see yourself focusing again. This time, the backdrop is neat, has a subtle color, and has extremely limited and relevant elements. It makes the texts pop, and you fathom information in a much better manner.
Well, now that both presentations have ended, which one are you more likely to recommend? Whose information will you retain better? It would definitely be the second one because of its simple yet mesmerizing presentation design.
Thus, this is the power of having an intriguing and minimal background. In this article, we will take you through the key concepts of designing and using presentation backdrops. We have divided the article into three parts-
- Importance of Great Presentation Backgrounds
- Tips to Craft the Most Stunning Slide Backgrounds
- Things to Keep in Mind While Designing Your Presentation’s Background
Importance of Great Presentation Backgrounds
1. Gets the Audience’s Attention Quickly
Grabbing and holding the audience’s attention is one of the most challenging tasks ever. The first few seconds of your presentation can determine whether your audience will stay engaged or tune out.
Thus, a visually captivating slide background can make a significant difference in this aspect. Remember that when it comes to backdrops, less is always more.
Let us understand further with the example of Apple and how its slides are the perfect example of this. In one of its advertisements, the company has used a gradient blue as its base, with a clean and minimalist approach to bringing the viewer’s attention to its product. Thus, it not only reflects the brand’s design philosophy but also allows it to present the product in a much more meaningful manner.
2. Fosters Brand Identity
Let me ask you something – think of a brand with the colors red and white. The first few names that pop into your head are YouTube or Coca-Cola, isn’t it?
Well, this is the power of branding! It creates a strong market presence and allows your target audience to resonate with certain colors, fonts, and designs. Such consistent palettes immediately make them think of you, even when they haven’t used your products or services in a long time.
Let us have a look at Coca-Cola’s example, the company that always uses a blend of red and white to promote its beverage. Have a look at the image below. In one of its witty ad campaigns, the brand decided not to put up the Coke bottle and just leave the audience with a red canvas and typography. However, here is the twist- even though there is no particular shape in this image, you can still relate it to the Coca-Cola bottle.
This is the result of consistent branding with specific shades – it allows the world to recognize a product even when it is not there!
3. Ignites the Intended Emotions
Your audience connects with you right at the moment when you put up the first slide. The background plays an extremely crucial role in determining the mood and the tone of the presentation. It can evoke specific emotions and align them with the theme or message you want to convey.
For instance, in this presentation by Nike, the sports company features an intense portrait that aligns with its brand’s core themes of athleticism, determination, and empowerment. By using action shots of athletes in motion, Nike effectively communicates its brand’s essence and inspires its audience to embrace a similar mindset.
4. Increases Information Retention
One of the primary goals of any presentation is to ensure that the audience retains the information presented. A well-designed background can aid in this process by complementing the content and reinforcing the message. When the background visuals are relevant to the subject matter, they provide additional context and make the content more memorable.
Tips to Craft the Most Stunning Slide Backgrounds
a). Be Mindful of Colors
Color psychology plays a pivotal role in influencing perceptions. When selecting colors for your backgrounds, consider the nature of your content and pick a palette accordingly. Make sure to avoid overwhelming the audience by choosing irrelevant colors and contrasts.
Suppose you are delivering a presentation on the environment. Here, you can go for a combination of blue and green to showcase nature, earth, flora, and fauna.
b). Embrace Minimalism
A busy or untidy background reflects unprofessionalism and distracts your audience. It can snatch away their focus and make your efforts go in vain.
To avoid this, it is vital to harness the power of aesthetics and minimal backdrops to ensure that your message is being conveyed clearly and effectively.
For example, if you are presenting a product launch to potential investors, opt for a simple background with a subtle texture or neutral tones that go well with your product images and key statistics. By keeping the design clean, you create a professional and sleek look, allowing the investors to concentrate on the product’s value and market potential.
c). Harness the Power of Templates
We all know that crafting slides with amazing backgrounds from scratch is quite a burden and a time-consuming task. It can leave your presentation looking unprofessional if not done correctly.
Thus, you can use expert-designed presentation templates that can be easily customized.
Let us have a look at some background template examples here that you can use for different purposes-
1. For presentations related to nature
You can make your presentations on deforestation, air pollution, global warming, environmental issues, sustainability, natural resources, etc., more lively and intriguing using nature and green leaves background templates. You can use an ocean theme template depicting aquatic flora and fauna to talk about oceans, marine resources, threats to marine ecosystems, etc., in a visually engaging manner. Similarly, you can go for a pre-designed mountain background theme to deliver presentations on the types and characteristics of mountains, the world’s beautiful mountains for trekkers, etc.
2. For educational presentations
Don’t let your educational presentations be boring; make them interactive for students/learners by using subject-specific backgrounds. For example, by incorporating a science background into your slides, you can explain the concepts related to genetics, chemistry, physics, and biology in an understandable manner. Likewise, you can make mathematical theorems, formulas, algebraic equations, and concepts related to trigonometry and geometry more meaningful for students by using the math background template.
3. For presentations focused on future innovations and developments
You can complement textual information about futuristic concepts, innovative products, technological advancements, and future trends with a futuristic background template.
For adding vibrancy to your presentations related to trends in clothing and fashion accessories, you can use neon background slides.
4. For presentations related to seasons
Educate your audience about the importance, climatic conditions, and festivals of winter, autumn, and rainy seasons by leveraging snowflake background, fall background, and clouds background templates. The use of the right color patterns and design elements will draw the audience’s attention, helping you communicate your information impressively.
5. For IT-related presentations
Professionals from Information Technology can use templates with an IT background, computer background, big data network pattern background, and security background to communicate messages about the latest trends in the industry, evolving technologies, cybersecurity, etc. By utilizing these backgrounds, you can ensure that your presentation has a cohesive and user-friendly look, making it easier for your audience to follow.
Things to Keep in Mind While Designing Your Presentation’s Background
(i). Consider the Audience and Event
One of the most critical factors to remember is your audience and their backgrounds. Consider their age, profession, and knowledge level. Are they students or professionals? Do they have experience in the field, or are they beginners? What are their expectations from your presentation?
Answering such questions will let you tailor your backdrops for the audience, making the presentation more interactive and engaging.
For instance, if you are presenting to a younger group of students, consider using vibrant backgrounds that denote liveliness and joy. However, if your audience is a crew of corporate employees, opt for a monochromatic or solid color to keep it formal.
(ii). Ensure Readability and Accessibility
No matter how visually appealing your background is, it should not compromise readability and accessibility. Your audience must be able to easily read the text and understand the content of your presentation.
Thus, keep a decent contrast between the background and the text colors. Choose a clear, bold font that can be read even by those sitting at the back.
(iii). Limit the Number of Animations
While animations can add visual interest to your presentation, excessive or distracting animations in the background can backfire, making your entire effort fall flat.
If you include animations, opt for subtle and smooth effects that complement your content rather than overshadow it. Avoid using auto-advancing backgrounds that may distract or confuse your audience.
Conclusion
Slide backgrounds play a vital role in determining the success of your presentation. If crafted skillfully, they can reinforce your brand image and let you convey your message impressively and in a memorable way.
As mentioned above, most global brands strategically utilize background design to create impactful and memorable presentations. Thus, it is time for you to tickle your creative nerves and use backgrounds that make an impact.
I hope this article helps you in your next presentation endeavors.
