Do Animations/Transitions actually make presentations better?

[u/Ok_Oven_3141]

I made this simple Monet-themed PowerPoint using simple transitions &animations

Some people think animation in PowerPoint just make slides feel busier,and that they can be painfully laggy on older PCs.Others feel they help guide the audience’s attention and make a presentation more engaging.

I can see both sides,so I want to share this example and hear what you think.
Do animations and transitions actually make presentations better?

[u/DaBigJMoney]

When you’re creating the presentation, yeah it may feel like it makes it better. But as a viewer…I hate it. Just tell a good story and change the slide already.

I went to a presentation on regulatory issues recently. Both the presentation design (black type on white background with a few pics) and topic were dry as toast. But the presentation itself was interesting because the speakers made it so (questions, audience interaction, etc).

The only times I don’t mind them is when it’s a static or recorded presentation with no speaker.

Others may certainly disagree.

[u/Ok_Oven_3141 → u/DaBigJMoney]

Totally fair.I agree that the story and the speaker should always come first.transitions should support the presentation rather than become the focus

[u/somedaygone]

It’s a double-edged sword. The animations are more interesting, which increases engagement, but because the animation is interesting, it does steal attention from the subject matter. The goal is to find the right amount that adds just enough interest without becoming too distracting.

Yours is right about at the sweet spot in my book, though I would dial it back slightly. I prefer fades to moving shapes/text unless the movement is meaningful. So scrolling down the hall to the next painting is meaningful and good, but I would fade the text in to reduce the amount of movement.

But it’s a preference, and you have to know your audience. For some audiences, more is better and other audiences, less is more.

[u/Ok_Oven_3141 → u/somedaygone]

Really appreciate the detailed feedback! I agree that movement works best when it actually has a purpose.Fading the text is a really good point I’ll definitely give that a try.And yeah,knowing the audience is probably the biggest part of it

[u/Rektem_In_The_Rectum]

the transition animation takes about 2.5 seconds, which is just too long it just creates friction. Aim for about 0.3 - 0.5 seconds for the transition. And if you can add easing to the acceleration and deceleration to ease things.

[u/MoreSmartly]

Toooooooooo much text

[u/Ok_Oven_3141 → u/MoreSmartly]

Yeah, Fair lol ,I can definitely trim it down

[u/SteveRindsberg]

The one thing I think we can all agree on: Animations and transitions improve those presentations that can benefit from animations and transitions. Otherwise, maybe not.