According to Diane DiResta, using the right colour in a presentation could make a greater impact in the delivery. This is because colour creates associations in the minds of the audience members. It adds drama, affects moods and changes perceptions and motivations.

DiResta suggested that we should consider the purpose of the presentation when choosing the background and graphic colours.

Red stimulates emotions. It works well for sales and marketing presentations. Red means passion, desire, competition, danger, stop, error, downturn. Bright red may be too intense for some people. Burgundy is an alternative. Red is the appropriate colour to show a loss. “The company is in the red.” Red is a good choice for persuading or moving people to action.

Green inspires involvement or interaction. It’s a good colour for training sessions or other presentations when you want people to participate. Green also means social, intelligent, open, growth, money, readiness, spring, new beginnings. A green arrow on a slide would signal an upturn or growth.

Gray communicates a lack of commitment or neutrality. A gray background would not be the best colour for persuasive presentations. Instead, gray is best used as a bridge between different segments. If your sales module is in red and your marketing segment contains green backgrounds, a gray slide between the two subtopics would work well.

Blue is a clam, conservative colour. It suggests trust, stability, loyalty, tradition. Many corporate logos are blue. Where red has a stimulating effect, blue lowers the listener’s blood pressure and heart rate. To increase your credibility, use blue.

Yellow is associated with cheerfulness and hope for the future. It also signifies restlessness and change, and it can create feelings of anxiety. Yellow is too bright and stimulating for a background colour. It reflects the most light and will produce a glare in the eyes of the audience. It’s best to use yellow in headings.

Purple has a mystical quality. It may represent fantasy or take on a childlike quality. Purple is not a good colour for business information because it may not be perceived as important. Purple backgrounds are better suited for fun, humorous, or light topics.

Brown is perceived as passive, searching for something solid. So it’s best not to use brown for business backgrounds. It will be seen as unstable and less credible than other colours.

Black signifies power and sophistication. Black absorbs all light, making objects appear closer to the eye. A red square on a black background will look larger than it will on a white background. If colour can stimulate emotion, black represents the absence of emotion. A black background is ideal for things that have happened or situations in which the audience has no choice but to accept the data. Unchanging financial data or information that is a done deal will work well on a black background. Black removes emotion.

Source: “Knockout Presentations – How to deliver your message with …..” by Diane DiResta. Published by Raffles, an imprint of SNP Editions Pte Ltd