Learn how to bring sexy back to your PowerPoint charts with this step-by-step guide that would even make Justin Timberlake proud. Featuring data from the recent #hashtag video with Jimmy Fallon. More tips & details at http://martafy.com/blog/2013/9/26/how-to-make-sexy-charts-in-powerpoint

1. (or the board of directors).

2. CHARTSare a staple of PowerPoint presentations.

3. UNFORTUNATELYmost of them are harder on the eyes than a Nick Nolte mug shot.

4. PRESENTATIONS WITH NO CHARTS
PRESENTATIONS WITH VISUALLY APPEALING CHARTS
PRESENTATIONS WITH CHARTS
SO HEINOUS, THEY SHOULD BE ILLEGAL

5. TAKE FOR EXAMPLEthis monstrosity:
(Courtesy of the default bar chart design built into PowerPoint 2011 for Mac)

6. YOU WOULD THINKthat a graphic depicting Jimmy Fallon & Justin
Timberlake’s hilarious video poking fun of #hashtags
c o ul d b e a b i t e a s i e r o n t h e ey e s .

7. PERHAPS
MORE
LIKE
THIS?

8. HOW TO MAKE YOUR
CHARTS SEXY ENOUGH
FORJUSTINTIMBERLAKE
(or the board of directors).
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO:

9. STEP 1.REMOVE ALL THE “NOISE.”

10. Bye bye, gridlines.
STEP 1: REMOVE ALL THE “NOISE.”

11. Bye bye, gridlines. Later, labels.
STEP 1: REMOVE ALL THE “NOISE.”

12. Later, labels. Adios, axes.Bye bye, gridlines.
STEP 1: REMOVE ALL THE “NOISE.”

13. STEP 2.ADD A BACKGROUND IMAGE*.
*Note: Not every chart needs or warrants a background image. This one, IMHO, dœs.
Sometimes a pure, clean white background is all that's required. Other times, a texture that
hints at the chart's meaning or even a color gradient that adds "pop!" will do the trick.
This is where we move more into the territory of Art > Science, so feel free to experiment.

14. Google > Images > Download
STEP 2: ADD A BACKGROUND IMAGE.

15. Google > Images > Download Paste your image.
STEP 2: ADD A BACKGROUND IMAGE.

16. Paste your image. Reorder > Send to Back.
STEP 2: ADD A BACKGROUND IMAGE.
Google > Images > Download

17. STEP 3.RESIZE, RECOLOR, REPOSITION.

18. Select image > Shift + drag corner to resize > Crop excess
STEP 3: RESIZE, RECOLOR, REPOSITION.

19. Select image > Shift + drag corner to resize > Crop excess Format > Recolor > Grayscale > 50% Transparent
STEP 3: RESIZE, RECOLOR, REPOSITION.

20. Format > Recolor > Grayscale > 50% Transparent Select chart > Fill > Black > Drag to bottom edge
STEP 3: RESIZE, RECOLOR, REPOSITION.
Select image > Shift + drag corner to resize > Crop excess

21. STEP 4.AWESOME FONTS, NOT AWFUL ONES.

22. Go to FontSquirrel.com or MyFonts.com.
STEP 4: AWESOME FONTS, NOT AWFUL ONES.

23. Go to FontSquirrel.com or MyFonts.com. Install your awesome font > Restart PPT.
STEP 4: AWESOME FONTS, NOT AWFUL ONES.

24. Install your awesome font > Restart PPT. Replace awful font with awesome font.
STEP 4: AWESOME FONTS, NOT AWFUL ONES.
Go to FontSquirrel.com or MyFonts.com.

25. STEP 5.ADD SOME LABELS.

26. STEP 5: ADD SOME LABELS.
New text box > White > Awesome font.

27. STEP 5: ADD SOME LABELS.
New text box > White > Awesome font. Rotate 90 degrees left > Right-align text > Position at
top right edge of first bar.

28. STEP 5: ADD SOME LABELS.
Copy/paste text box 6x > Align to each bar >
Use smaller font size for smaller bars
Rotate 90 degrees left > Right-align text > Position at
top right edge of first bar.
New text box > White > Awesome font.

29. STEP 6.DRAW THE EYE TO WHAT MATTERS.

30. STEP 6: DRAW THE EYE TO WHAT MATTERS.
Give the bars more “weight”.

31. STEP 6: DRAW THE EYE TO WHAT MATTERS.
Give the bars more “weight”. Adjust layout & font sizes > Add 40%
transparent rectangle for emphasis

32. STEP 6: DRAW THE EYE TO WHAT MATTERS.
Adjust layout & font sizes > Add 40%
transparent rectangle for emphasis
Flip image horizontally > Add color to highlight
key data points
Give the bars more “weight”.

33. VOILA!not good enough for Justin: Justin-rific:
(in just a few steps)

34. THANKS
FOR
BRINGING
SEXY BACK
TO CHARTS.

35. MORE TIPS
@ HTTP://BIT.LY/1A2C1MY

36. A MARTAFY! PRODUCTION
MARTAFY.COM
WOW@MARTAFY.COM