Whatever your next presentation is for — whether it’s a strategic plan, the launch of an innovative product, a review of a clinical trial, or a deep dive into the benefits and pitfalls of a new piece of tech —you’re going to want to make it the best it can be.
Of course, you can spend countless hours finessing your storyboard, designing what you hope are pitch-perfect slides, and rehearsing your script. But there’s a lesser-known but no less vital element to all the very best presentations: the proper use of color.
Top-tier custom presentation experts understand the importance of color — and now you can, too. Read on to learn how to incorporate color in your next presentation effectively and why it’s important you take the matter seriously.
How Many Colors Should You Use?
In most cases, the base colors of your presentation are likely dictated by your brand guidelines. In the instance that you don’t have colors to draw from, or you’d like to add a tone that goes beyond your company’s color palette, two to three colors are ideal for a presentation (with a fourth as an absolute maximum).
Some Colors Can Make Your Presentation More Accessible
It’s estimated that there are approximately 300 million people across the globe who are color-blind. There are varying degrees of colour blindness, the most common being ‘red/green color blindness.’ In this case, people can mix up colors with some green or red as a part of the whole composition. So, for example, a person with this type of color blindness would confuse blue and purple because they cannot see the red component of the color purple.
Keeping in mind these visual barriers will help you create a visually appealing presentation that’s easier to access for all.
Color Draws an Emotional Response
Color can be used to compel emotion in audiences. For example:
- Brown can evoke a feeling of warmth and honesty.
- Yellow is usually used to inspire positivity and joy.
- Green can inspire a sense of growth and stability.
Color can also be used to re-iterate a message that empowers your brand. Using the same colors above:
- Brown can imply prestige, longevity, and tradition.
- Yellow can lead audience members to view your company, or pitch, as a low-cost option.
- Green can help viewers believe you’re an eco-friendly option.
Contrast Can Highlight a Point
Using strategically chosen colors for your presentation can effectively highlight important points. A bright color that pops can highlight a big win, for example.
Using contrasting colors also lessens the chances of using shades which are too close together. For example, colors of a similar elk — orange and yellow — can blur together onscreen, making the content hard to distinguish — especially for audience members in the backrow.
A bright color that’s partnered with a lesser competing color is ideal. This will also help mitigate any glare that could wash your slide out. Remember to use a free contrast checker online to ensure your fonts are legible on your backgrounds and that you’re being as accessible as possible.
The Bottom Line
The subject of color in presentations runs deep; it’s a multi-faceted consideration that shouldn’t be an afterthought. Keep color in mind when creating your next corporate presentation, and you may see some striking results.
