Great content can get lost in poor design. We see it all the time: thoughtful ideas trapped in cluttered slides, overwhelmed by too many fonts, or buried beneath confusing animations. If you want your next presentation to land with clarity and confidence, it’s time to fix the most common design pitfalls.
Here are 7 presentation design mistakes our design team sees all the time—and how you can avoid them:
1. Cluttered Slides Hurt Your Message
Presentation design mistake: Too much content per slide
When there’s too much on a slide, your audience doesn’t know where to look. Paragraphs of text, lengthy bullet lists, and multiple visuals competing for attention are common culprits of confusion. Instead, aim for simplicity: one idea per slide. Use short phrases, visuals that support your message, and generous whitespace to guide the eye.
2. Inconsistent Visual Style Breaks Trust
Presentation design mistake: Mismatched colors and styles
If your slides look like they were each made by a different person, it’s a problem. Mismatched icons, color schemes, or illustration styles create visual dissonance. Consistency builds trust and makes your message feel intentional. Stick to a set style guide—or build one if you don’t have it yet.
3. Too Many Fonts in Your Slides
Presentation design mistake: Poor font discipline
Using five fonts doesn’t make your deck look creative—it makes it look chaotic. Stick to two fonts: one for headers and one for body text. Bonus points if they’re part of your brand toolkit.
4. Bullet Point Overload in Presentations
Presentation design mistake: Overuse of text-based lists
Bullet points aren’t evil—but they are overused. Especially when they’re long, repetitive, or take over slide after slide. Try breaking your points into visuals, timelines, or grouped icons. The more you can show instead of tell, the more your message will stick.
5. Slides Without a Clear Focal Point
Presentation design mistake: No visual hierarchy
Every slide should have one thing your audience can intuitively focus on. If everything is bold, nothing is. Use size, color and placement to highlight the key message or data point you want them to remember.
6. Too Much Animation Hurts Presentation Flow
Presentation design mistake: Overusing transitions and motion
Animations can help guide attention—but too much movement can distract and annoy. Use animation with intention, and always test your deck to ensure it runs smoothly on different devices or in new spaces.
7. Poor Contrast and Alignment in Slide Design
Presentation design mistake: Low readability and visual imbalance
If your audience can’t read your text, they can’t follow your message. Avoid putting light text on light backgrounds, dark text on dark backgrounds, or text directly over busy images. And don’t underestimate the power of clean alignment—snapping elements to a grid or margin instantly levels up your professionalism.
Final Thoughts on Avoiding Presentation Design Mistakes
Your slides don’t need to be flashy. They need to be clear. With just a few design tweaks, you can take a messy deck and turn it into something impactful that your audience truly enjoys viewing.
And if you’re ever unsure, simpler is usually better. Need help keeping it simple? Reach out to us, we’d love to help!
