Michael Anderson
Former journalist turned tech writer with a passion for helping professionals enhance productivity through AI.
Introduction
TED speakers don’t just share cool ideas—they use pictures and words that make their message stronger, not confusing. Their slides are easy to understand, thoughtful, and hard to forget. They turn big, tough ideas into stories everyone gets.
In this post, we’ll show you how TED slides do it. Whether you’re giving a work presentation, teaching a group, or sharing something new, these tips will help you make slides that catch eyes, get people excited, and stay in their heads afterward.
Section 1: Keep It Simple
TED speakers understand that less is often better. They don’t cram their slides with text or images. Instead, each slide focuses on one main point. This keeps the audience locked in on the speaker’s story, not struggling to read a busy slide.
Remember Sir Ken Robinson’s legendary 2006 TED Talk on education? His slides weren’t cluttered with fancy graphics. Instead, he’d use one bold phrase or a hand-drawn sketch. That bare-bones style did something genius: it put the spotlight entirely on his words, keeping the audience hooked on every sentence.
Try This:
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Put only one key idea on each slide.
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Swap long sentences for short words or phrases.
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Leave empty space around text or images to make them stand out.
Section 2: Pick Images That Connect
A great picture can say more than a list of bullet points. TED speakers choose images that tug at your heart or make tricky ideas easier to grasp. For example, a speaker talking about ocean pollution might show a powerful photo of a fish tangled in plastic. That kind of image hits hard and sticks with you.
Stay away from boring stock photos (like people shaking hands or fake smiles). Go for real, vivid images that feel personal. If you’re explaining something step-by-step, try simple icons or a clear diagram to guide your audience.
Try This:
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Choose images that stir feelings like joy, wonder, or concern.
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Use a diagram or picture instead of wordy explanations.
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Make sure every image matches what you’re saying.
Section 3: Use Fonts That Are Easy to Read
Don’t underestimate fonts—they’re silent storytellers. TED Talks stick to no-nonsense fonts like Helvetica or Arial—simple, crisp, and easy to read from the back of a room. Throw in three different styles, though, and suddenly your slide feels chaotic—distracting people from what you’re saying. Stick to one trusted font (two max), and let your words do the talking.
The size and color of your text matter too. Make important words bigger—about 20–30% larger than the rest. For example, if your slide says, “80% of Success Is Showing Up,” make “80%” bold and colorful to grab attention.
Try This:
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Use no more than two fonts in your presentation.
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Highlight key words with bold text or a bright color.
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Keep the text short—aim for six lines or less per slide.
Section 4: Choose Colors With Purpose
Colors can change how your audience feels. TED speakers pick their colors carefully. Deep blues feel calm and trustworthy, bright reds scream energy, and soft greens hint at new ideas. A mental health talk might use gentle pastels to create a warm, safe vibe.
Don’t go wild with too many colors—it looks chaotic. Stick to a main color for most of your slides (about 60%), a second color for variety (30%), and a bold accent color for special moments (10%). This keeps everything looking sharp and professional.
Try This:
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Use a site like Autoppt to pick colors that work well together.
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Save bright colors for key facts or quotes you want people to remember.
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Test your slides on a projector to make sure colors stay clear.
Section 5: Make Data Fun to Look At
Numbers can bore people if you’re not careful. TED speakers turn data into stories with simple visuals. Instead of a dull table, they use a colorful bar chart to show growth or a fun infographic to explain something like how a disease spreads.
Take Hans Rosling’s epic TED Talk on global health. He used moving bubbles on a graph to show changes over time. It wasn’t just clear—it was exciting to watch.
Try This:
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Clean up charts by cutting out extra lines or labels.
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Add a short title to explain why the data matters (like “Sales Jumped 2x in 6 Months”).
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Use icons or colors to make numbers feel more human.
Section 6: Create a Smooth Flow
The best slides feel like part of your talk, not a distraction. TED speakers plan their slides to follow the flow of their story. For example, a talk about solving a problem might start with dark, moody slides, then shift to bright, hopeful ones as answers appear.
Skip fancy effects like spinning text or sparkles—they pull attention away from you. Stick to basic fades or no transitions at all. And don’t forget to practice! Rehearse with your slides so the timing feels natural.
Try This:
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Plan your talk first, then make slides that match its big moments.
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Add blank slides for pauses to let your audience soak in key points.
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Record a practice run to catch any clunky slide changes.
Conclusion
Creating slides like a TED speaker doesn’t require expensive software or design skills. It’s about keeping things clear, picking visuals that hit home, and making every font, color, and chart support your story.
Play around with these ideas and let your personality shine through. Your slides should feel like you, just with a TED-style polish. Ready to wow your audience? Use these tips for your next presentation and watch your ideas soar.
FAQ: Designing Slides Like a TED Talk Speaker
Q1: Why should I avoid putting too much text on a single slide?
A: Crowded slides force audiences to split their focus between reading and listening. TED speakers keep slides simple so viewers stay locked into the story, not squinting at paragraphs. Think of slides as a visual anchor—not a script.
Q2: Why do TED Talks rarely use flashy slide transitions?
A: Spins, zooms, or sparkles pull focus from your words. Simple fades or no transitions keep the audience’s attention on you. Save the drama for your storytelling, not the slide animations.
Q3: What if my slide looks boring with just one idea?
A: “Boring” often means “clear.” A single phrase or image paired with your passionate delivery is far more memorable than a cluttered slide. Take inspiration from Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk—his minimalist sketches amplified his humor and ideas.
Q4: How do I make data slides relatable?
A: Turn numbers into stories. Instead of saying “60% of employees feel stressed,” show an illustration of a person juggling tasks or use a thermometer graphic rising toward a “burnout zone.” Connect stats to real-life experiences.
Q5: Should I use dark or light slide backgrounds?
A: It depends on your setting. Dark backgrounds with light text work well in dim rooms, while light backgrounds are safer for well-lit spaces. Test your slides in the actual room beforehand if possible.
Q6: What’s the biggest mistake people make with TED-style slides?
A: Overcomplicating them. TED slides succeed because they’re supportive, not the star. If your slides steal the show, you’ve gone too far. Your voice and ideas should always lead.
Q7: How do I handle technical issues during a presentation?
A: Always have a backup (like a PDF copy). If slides freeze, keep talking—your audience came for you. Practice a line like, “Let’s imagine this slide shows…” to smoothly recover.
Q8: How do I know if my slides are “TED-ready”?
A: Ask yourself:
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Could someone grasp the main idea in 3 seconds?
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Do visuals enhance (not repeat) my speech?
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Would the slides make sense without me explaining them? If you answer “yes,” you’re on track.
Q9: What if I’m not a confident speaker?
A: Strong slides can boost your confidence. Use them as visual cues—like a bold statistic to pause on or a calming image to steady your nerves. Practice syncing your speech with slide changes until it feels natural.
Q10: How do I test if my colors look good on a projector?
A: Projectors often mute colors. Avoid light yellows or pastels that might wash out. Test in advance and increase contrast—for example, use dark blue text on a white background instead of gray.
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