Cultural adaptation of visual tools

The 10/20/30 Rule is a guideline proposed by Guy Kawasaki, a prominent entrepreneur and Apple advocate, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of PowerPoint presentations. This rule suggests three key elements: limit the presentation to ten slides, maintain a maximum length of twenty minutes, and use a minimum font size of thirty points.

This rule does not necessarily apply to all presentation situations. Its relevance and use depend on several factors, such as your personal preferences, the purpose of your presentation and the needs and interests of your audience. It is critical to evaluate whether this rule aligns with your style and approach before adopting it.

What is it?

The goal of the 10/20/30 Rule is to avoid boring, information-heavy presentations and instead deliver concise, engaging presentations. Below, we will explore each of the key elements of this rule.

Ten slides: The first part of the rule states that a presentation should have a maximum of ten slides. Limiting the number of slides forces the presenter to focus on the most important points and avoid the temptation to include unnecessary information.

Twenty minutes: The second part of the rule states that the presentation should have a maximum duration of twenty minutes. This time limit helps keep the audience's attention and prevents the presentation from becoming tedious. By having limited time, the presenter should focus on the most relevant aspects of his or her message.

Thirty points: The third part of the rule suggests that the font size used on the slides should be at least thirty points. This font size ensures that the text is legible to the audience, even in large conference rooms. Using a larger font also forces the presenter to summarize information and avoid excessive text on the slides.

Benefits: The 10/20/30 Rule has several benefits, including:

• By limiting the number of slides, it avoids information saturation and allows for better organization of concepts.

• By setting a maximum time limit of twenty minutes, a high level of expectation is maintained, without giving way to boredom or monotony.

• By using a minimum font size of thirty points, readability is improved and visual overload is avoided.

Font size: By using a minimum font size of thirty points on slides, the clarity and readability of the content is significantly improved. This translates into a sharper focus and a more assertive expression of the ideas presented. This is particularly important in face-to-face presentations, where attendees can view the slides directly.

The proper legibility of the text on the slides plays a key role in the ability of the audience to follow and understand. By opting for a sufficiently large font size, attendees are spared from having to make extra effort to read the information.

It is important to keep in mind that in online presentations or on smaller devices, such as laptops or tablets, the thirty-point font size may not provide a legible reading. In these cases, it is advisable to use a larger font size, such as thirty-six points, to ensure that all attendees can comfortably read the content of the presentation.

Therefore, we should adjust the font size according to the context and the specific needs of the