If you’re like me, you’ve sat through more presentations than you can count—each slide packed with dense blocks of text, practically reading the entire script for the presenter. In this blog post, I’ll show you how I transformed one of those text-heavy slides using my free starter 10% doughnut chart series. Here’s how I upgraded the slide for a more engaging and animated presentation:
Slide Makeover Steps
1. Add a Background Image
A visually relevant background adds context and breaks the monotony of a plain white slide.
2. Pair Two Professional Fonts
Title Font: Merriweather Sans Bold in a strong blue tone
Body Text: Lato for clean, easy-to-read content
3. Replace Bullet Points with Visual Grouping
Removed default bullet formatting
Created two clear takeaway points per region
Separated each pair with a thin line for visual distinction
4. Insert Animated Doughnut Charts
Showcase data in a way that’s both dynamic and digestible.
5. Time the Animation Sequence
Use PowerPoint’s Animation Pane to control the flow:
Start with a Fade In for the first doughnut chart
Add a Play animation set to Start After Previous
Animate the matching text block to Start With Previous and Delay by 0.5 seconds to allow a slight pause before the text appears
Repeat the sequence for the remaining charts and text
6. Use “Start After Previous” for Smooth Playback
This ensures everything flows automatically without clicking through each item.
This approach turns a flat slide into a visually appealing, timed sequence that guides your audience’s attention exactly where you want it.