For JSI's June Designstorm, Tahmid Chowdhury from the Center for Health Information, Monitoring, and Evaluation presented tips and tricks for formatted elegant slidedecks, including tips on using icons, colors, photos, fonts, and more.

1. VISUALIZING
QUALITATIVE
INFORMATION
IN POWERPOINT
June Design-Storm
Tahmid Chowdhury | John Snow, Inc.

2. Research shows
that we process
visual information
more easily than
text, and it stays
with us longer.

3. But how do you
visualize information
when what you’re
presenting is largely
qualitative?

4. Photos

5. When to
Use Them
Photos can add
context to your
presentation as well
as aesthetic appeal.

6. When to
Use
Them
Curry, a dish with origins in South and Southeast
Asia, is a delicious treat for people of all ages.
Before

7. When to
Use Them
Curry, a dish with origins in South
and Southeast Asia, is a delicious
treat for people of all ages.
After

8. PowerPoint
Tip
Then “Color”:
You can change
an image’s color
by clicking “Format”:

9. When to
Use Them
Curry, a dish with
origins in South
and Southeast
Asia, is a delicious
treat for people
of all ages.
After

10. PowerPoint
Tip
Then “Crop”:
You can crop an
image by clicking
“Format”:

11. When to
Use Them
What people are saying about curry:
“I love curry because there are so many kinds,
and they’re all tasty!”
“My favorite curry is called Khao Soi and it’s
from the northern part of Thailand.”
“My mother’s curry is the best. I’m always
excited to see her because I know she’ll have
delicious food ready for me!”
Before

12. “I love curry because there are so many
kinds, and they’re all tasty!”
“My mother’s curry is the best. I’m always
excited to see her because I know she’ll
have delicious food ready for me!”
“My favorite curry is called Khao Soi and
it’s from the northern part of Thailand.”
What people are saying about curry:
After

13. PowerPoint
Tip
Then “Crop” and selecting
“Crop to Shape”:
You can crop an image’s
dimensions or crop to a
shape by clicking “Format”:

14. Icons

15. When to
Use Them
Icons are a simple
visual tool to
convey a category
or concept while
still adding visual
interest.

16. When to
Use Them
• The common feature of curry is the
incorporation of complex combinations of
spices and herbs, usually including hot
chilies.
• Some limit the use of the term curry to dishes
prepared in a sauce, but curries can be “wet”
or dry”.
• A curry dish may be spiced with leaves from
the curry tree, but most are not.
Before

17. The common feature of curry is the use
of a complex combination of spices and
herbs, usually including hot chilies.
A curry dish may be spiced with leaves
from the curry tree, but most are not.
Some limit the use of the term curry to
dishes prepared in a sauce, but curries
can be “wet” or dry”.
After

18. The basic process for making curry:
1. Chop up your vegetables and other ingredients.
2. Temper your spices to bring out their flavor.
3. Fry your dry ingredients.
4. Add broth or other liquids and simmer.
Before

19. After
Curry-making Basics

20. Tools&
Resources
Websites to search for icons:
thenounproject.com
Free with attribution, paid per
icon, or monthly subscription
flaticon.com
Free with attribution
bing.com
Option available to search for
free licenses

21. Powerpoint
Tip
Then “Color” and choosing
from “Recolor”:
You can change an icon’s
color by clicking “Format”:

22. Text

23. When to
Use Them
Blocks of text can be
enhanced by adding
color and/or bold for
emphasis and visual
appeal.

24. The etymology of curry:
Curry was adopted and anglicized from the Tamil
word kari meaning 'sauce', which is usually
understood to mean vegetables and/or meat
cooked with spices with or without a gravy.
According to this theory, kari was first encountered
in the mid-17th century by members of the British
East India Company trading with Indian merchants
along the Coromandel Coast of southeast India.
Before

25. The etymology of curry:
Curry was anglicized from the Tamil word kari
meaning 'sauce', usually understood to mean
vegetables and/or meat cooked with spices
with or without a gravy.
Kari was first encountered in the mid-17th
century by members of the British East India
Company trading with Indian merchants.
After

26. Colors

27. When to
Use Them
Incorporating colors
is the simplest way
to add visual appeal.
Use JSI’s or your
project’s branded
colors.

28. Powerpoint
Tip
Easily access branded colors by
creating a custom Theme Colors
palette. Click on “Design”:
Then “Colors” and select
“Create New Theme Colors”:

29. Fonts

30. When to
Use Them
Fonts communicate
a feeling or idea to
your audience.
Don’t be afraid to
explore other font
options.

31. Tools&
Resources
Websites to search for fonts:
dafont.com
fontsquirrel.com
1001freefonts.com

32. Powerpoint
Tip
To ensure custom fonts can be
viewed on other PCs, in the
“Save As” dialogue box, click
“Save Option” under “Tools”:
Then select “Embed fonts in
the file” and click save:

33. THANK YOU!