Microsoft PowerPoint: Design for Non-Designers
PowerPoint Training Series | Level 3
Course Details
Duration: 1 day (9 am – 4 pm)
Microsoft® PowerPoint® Versions: 2016 | 2019 | 2021 | 365 (Windows)
Delivery Methods (Instructor-led): In-person (Live classroom) | Virtual classroom
Course Dates: June 16, 2025 (Online in virtual classroom or In-person) | View schedule 
Course Fee: $295 CAD per person + HST (Virtual classroom), $325 CAD per person + HST (Bring your own device for live classroom courses) or $345 CAD per person + HST (Avantix Learning provides device for live classroom courses)*
Timing: Public scheduled courses run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (Eastern Time).
Virtual classroom courses: Our instructor-led virtual classroom courses are delivered in a virtual classroom environment. Students will be sent a virtual classroom invitation prior to the course.
In-person classroom courses: Our instructor-led, live classroom (in-person) courses are held in downtown Toronto at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Some courses are also held at an alternate downtown Toronto location.
Custom training: This course may be delivered at your site or ours as an instructor-led in-person or virtual classroom solution. Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca for more information including savings for custom group training.
Some public courses and / or formats and may be subject to a minimum enrollment requirement.
Course Overview
Learn how to make your presentations stand out using design techniques in your PowerPoint slides. During this hands-on course, students will learn about typography, color, layout, hierarchy and techniques for using pictures, shapes and overlays to create better, more impactful presentations. Key concepts will be introduced to help you create PowerPoint decks that will engage your audience. Themes, masters and templates will also be created and applied to various presentations in different ways. Learn to add animations to help guide the audience and to visualize data using charts and infographics. Throughout this course, the instructor will include numerous tips, tricks and shortcuts. Each student will also receive a full course manual.
Prerequisite: Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced or equivalent knowledge and skills
Location and timing: Public scheduled courses are held online in virtual classroom format or in downtown Toronto and run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (Eastern Time).
Related training: View all Microsoft PowerPoint courses >
INCLUDED IN THIS COURSE
- Comprehensive course manual
- Keyboard shortcuts quick reference
- Sample and exercise files
- Refreshments (for classes conducted in Avantix Learning classrooms)
- Certificate of completion
- Follow-up email support
Course Topics
Key PowerPoint Concepts
- Common mistakes in PowerPoint presentations
- Engaging the audience in different ways
- PowerPoint best practices – using slide masters, layouts and themes
- Editing the default slide master and layouts for consistency
- Themes and their effects on masters and PowerPoint objects
- Resetting layouts
Typography
- Importance of typography/font choices in PowerPoint design
- Ensuring consistent fonts throughout a presentation
- Choosing fonts and sizes
- Controlling spacing
- Using text as an image
Choosing Colors
- Tips for choosing colors
- Using the RGB color model (or HEX in new versions)
- Issues with color
- Ensuring sufficient contrast
- Applying, editing and creating color themes
- Picking up colors from images and applying them to shapes (2013 and later versions)
Basic Design Concepts for PowerPoint
- Hierarchy of elements
- Contrast
- Negative space
- Framing
- Adding lines
Working with Images
- Key recommendations for choosing images
- Placing images in different ways
- Using creative cropping techniques
- Quickly resizing pictures to be the same size
- Making the background of an image transparent
- Removing backgrounds
- Combining black and white and color in images
- Using blurred images to create interesting design effects
- Placing images in different types of placeholders
- Tips for inserting images in masters and layouts
- Creating different types of picture layouts
Using Gradient Overlays
- Creating gradient overlays to create contrast or consistency
- Customizing gradients
Masking Shapes, Pictures and Text
- Subtracting a shape from another shape to create a focal point effect
- Cutting a shape out of a picture to create an image mask
- Creating a text mask
Working with SmartArt
- Inserting different types of SmartArt
- Converting multiple images into SmartArt
- Using custom layouts as an alternative to SmartArt
Enhancing Engagement with Animation and Video
- Engaging audiences with different types of animations
- Recommended animations
- Using video in different ways to increase engagement
Using Data Visualization Techniques
- Visualizing data using PowerPoint charts
- How themes affect charts
- Considerations when choosing chart types and colors
- Common charting issues
- Formatting charts to focus attention
- Alternatives to charts
Using PowerPoint Designer*
- Turning PowerPoint Designer off and on
- Changing slide composition using Design Ideas
- Creating timelines using the Designer
Applying the Morph Transition*
- Applying the Morph transition between two slides
- Using Morph with shapes, pictures or text
- Using Morph with pictures
- Morphing between different types of objects
Adding Interactivity Using Zoom & Link*
- Using PowerPoint's Zoom feature
- Linking to individual slides using Slide Zoom
- Creating a table of contents slide using Summary Zoom
- Linking to sections using Section Zoom
*Prices subject to change. Some features are only available in new versions which include 2019, 2021 and 365.
Our instructor-led courses are delivered in virtual classroom format or at our downtown Toronto location at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (some in-person classroom courses may also be delivered at an alternate downtown Toronto location). Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca if you'd like to arrange custom instructor-led virtual classroom or onsite training on a date that's convenient for you.
Copyright 2025 Avantix® Learning
Custom training (Onsite or Online in Virtual Classroom)
Register now for a public course or contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca for more information about any of our courses or to discuss custom training options (virtual classroom or in-person in live classroom).
Related courses
Microsoft PowerPoint: Animations Bootcamp
Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft PowerPoint: Introduction
Microsoft PowerPoint: Accessible PowerPoint Presentations
Microsoft Word: Intermediate / Advanced
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