
Many people have commented on how ineffective PowerPoint can be as a presentation program. ( or it's more robust, better designed Mac brethren Keynote)
We don't share in that sentiment. David Byrne of Talking Heads helped to prove that PowerPoint, when applied properly, can be an effective communication tool. It's not the tool that's the problem, it's how the tool is used.
We're in the business of Communication Design- that is helping our clients communicate in whatever form is required. Sometimes that even involves designing presentations and tools to speak with different audiences.
Here are some of our beliefs:
1. It's called PowerPoint, not PowerPoints, for a reason- what is the one point you are trying to communicate?
2. Here's the key: The majority of what you put on each slide should be in the Notes section. Guy Kawasaki uses his 10/20/30 rule. The slide below is another way to combine key points and an engaging image that helps sell the point. If it reads like an eye chart your audience will tune it out. 
3. Don't read your slide. You are story telling. What's your story?
4. Use Visual imagery to communicate your point (once again, 'A Picture is Worth 100 Words'....are you getting our theme here? See post below - Visual Newspapers)
On that last point, here comes the science: Stephen M. Kosslyn, a Harvard cognitive scientist studies how brains process imagery.
He's got four ways to make your presentations more 'human brain compliant'. He uses 4 rules; The Goldilocks Rule, The Rudolph Rule, The Rule of Four, and the Birds of Feather Rules.
A good, simple read for anyone who presents as part of their job.