The Biggest Slide Mistakes Researchers Make — and How to Fix Them

By Allyson Sim | Jade Phoenix Training & Consultancy

We’ve all been there: sitting through a research presentation where the slides are so dense, cluttered, or confusing that it becomes almost impossible to follow. Researchers don’t make bad slides because they lack intelligence — they make them because academic training rarely teaches anyone how to present information visually.

As a result, even brilliant research becomes hard to absorb.

After delivering presentation workshops to PhD candidates, postdocs, supervisors, and lecturers across institutions, I’ve noticed the same patterns again and again. The good news? Most slide problems are fixable with simple, intentional changes.

Below are the biggest slide mistakes researchers make — and what to do instead.

---

1. Overloading Slides With Text

This is the classic mistake: a wall of text that mirrors the speaker’s script.

Why it happens:

Academia teaches us to be comprehensive, not selective. So researchers try to prove thoroughness through text-heavy slides.

Why it’s a problem:

The audience can’t read and listen at the same time. When they try, they end up doing neither well.

Fix it:

• Reduce text to short, digestible points

• Keep only what supports your spoken message

• Use the “One Idea per Slide” rule

• Replace full sentences with keywords or short phrases

Your slides should guide attention, not compete with your voice.

---

2. Using Complex Figures Without Explanation

Plots, graphs, and diagrams are essential — but often dropped into slides without context.

Why it happens:

Researchers assume the audience has the same familiarity with the data.

Why it’s a problem:

A complex figure shown for 12 seconds communicates almost nothing.

Fix it:

• Introduce the purpose of the figure BEFORE showing it

• Highlight the key region, trend, or comparison

• Simplify: remove gridlines, excessive labels, unnecessary colours

• Add an arrow or circle to guide the audience

Your job is not to show everything — it’s to show what matters.

---

3. No Clear Visual Hierarchy

Even simple slides can feel chaotic if everything looks equally important.

Why it happens:Researchers rarely think of slides as visual communication — just as containers for information.

Why it’s a problem:

Without hierarchy, the audience struggles to know where to look first.

Fix it:

• Use size, spacing, and contrast strategically

• Make titles meaningful (“Method X outperforms Y by 20%”)

• Keep margins consistent

• Use bold sparingly to emphasize the right things

A clear visual structure reduces cognitive load and improves retention.

---

4. Inconsistent Slide Design

Different fonts, colours, layouts, and alignment make slides look messy.

Why it happens:

Slides are often made quickly, over weeks or months, without a system.

Why it’s a problem:

Inconsistency distracts the audience and reduces professionalism.

Fix it:

• Use a simple, clean template

• Stick to 1–2 fonts and 2–3 colours

• Align elements carefully

• Reuse layouts instead of reinventing each slide

Consistency builds trust and makes your message feel more intentional.

---

5. Slides Function as a Paper, Not a Presentation

Many researchers write slides like they’re writing a manuscript.

Why it happens: Researchers are trained to communicate through manuscripts, not slides. When preparing a talk, many default to the structure of a paper — Background → Methods → Results → Discussion — because it feels safe, familiar, and academically correct. They worry that simplifying might make the work seem less rigorous or less complete.

The result: slides become text-heavy summaries rather than visual explanations.

Why it’s a problem:

A talk is not a paper. A paper is for completeness; a talk is for clarity.

Fix it:

• Lead with the problem + why it matters

• Build a clear narrative around key messages

• Reduce data to what the story needs

• Use examples and analogies to support understanding

People remember stories, not paragraphs.

---

6. Forgetting the Audience’s Perspective

Researchers spend years on their topic. The audience has 20 minutes.

Why it happens:

Living inside a topic for months or years makes researchers lose the “beginner’s mind.” They underestimate how much foundational knowledge they’ve accumulated — and overestimate what the audience already knows. This is called the curse of knowledge.

It becomes difficult to imagine what it’s like to hear the content for the first time.

Why it’s a problem:

What feels obvious to you may be unfamiliar to them.

Fix it:

• Start with simple context: “Why this matters”

• Connect new concepts to familiar ones

• Avoid jargon unless you define it

• Ask: “If I were hearing this for the first time… what would I need?”

Clarity is a form of respect.

---

7. Too Many Backup Slides (or No Backup Slides at All)

Backup slides can add value — but only if used meaningfully.

Why it happens:

Some researchers fear they might be “caught off-guard” by questions, so they over-prepare and include dozens of backup slides. Others underestimate questions entirely and skip backup slides altogether. Both extremes come from uncertainty about what’s expected in Q&A.

Why it’s a problem:

Some researchers rely on them too heavily, or avoid them altogether.

Fix it:

• Prepare 3–5 purposeful backup slides

• Include details people may ask about

• Keep them clean and readable

• Use them only when relevant

Backup slides show preparedness without overwhelming the main talk.

---

Final Thoughts

Research deserves to be understood.

Your slides shouldn’t be an obstacle — they should be a bridge.

By focusing on clarity, structure, and story, researchers can turn their presentations into powerful tools for connection and impact. Small improvements in visuals and messaging can dramatically improve how your work is received.

If you’d like support designing effective slides or structuring presentations, I offer workshops that help researchers move from dense, text-heavy decks to clear, engaging, story-driven communication.

Contact me!