When someone invites me to be the lecturer at their conference, they usually get a list of questions from me first. Questions that help me prepare myself for the lecture and to create the unique experience for the audience.
At first, these questions cause panic and fear among the organizers, but they soon realize these questions can help them prepare themselves better for the organization of the conference.
So, let’s see how to match presentation colors with the stage and venue.
Colors in the venue, on slides, and in a speaker’s clothing are not just aesthetic details – they can make a huge difference in how your presentation is perceived. A good choice of colors enhances visibility on stage, creates a pleasant impression, and makes it easier for the audience to follow the presentation. On the other hand, a poor choice can confuse the audience, strain their eyes, or even distract them from what you’re saying.
When preparing for a conference, I also like to know:
- What colors will dominate the stage and the venue?
This includes the colors of the background, lighting, curtains, or promotional elements. - Is there a defined visual identity for the conference?
Is the logo or visual identity already established, and can it be incorporated into the presentation? (I’ve already discussed this in Question 6: Is there a presentation template?) - How will my slides look compared to those colors?
Will the presentation background complement the conference colors, or will I need to adjust it?
Why do I ask this?
The choice of colors has very practical reasons:
- The presentation should match the conference
While I may not have a knack for graphic design, I like my presentation to look as if it was tailored specifically for that conference. That means aligning the slide colors with the stage or the event’s visual identity. The audience then feels that I made an extra effort, and the presentation as a whole looks more appropriate. - Visibility and contrast
If the colors of the slides are too similar to the background colors, the audience may not see them clearly. On the other hand, overly bold or clashing colors can make the slides hard on the eyes. The same applies to the speaker – if I “blend in” with the background, I lose the opportunity for effective visual communication with the audience. - Preparation for clothing
Knowing the dominant colors of the venue and the stage also helps me decide what to wear. I want the audience to clearly see me, not lose me in the background. I don’t want to look like a sheep in the snow or a pea on a lawn – the audience needs to notice me! But more on this in the upcoming question, “What should I wear to a conference?”
My approach
Before every presentation, I:
- Review the colors of the stage, screen, and background.
- Adjust my slides to align with the conference’s visual identity.
- Prepare an outfit that helps me stand out clearly against the stage and slide colors.
Here’s an example of how I adapted the same slides for two conferences with very different color schemes:
The example you see at the top of this page as well as on the left was from the conference Zagreb Slush’D 2024.
- The stage background was dark and lit with green lights, and the venue itself was quite dim.
- I used slides with a dark background, colorful visuals from the conference, white text, and greenish headings to avoid creating too much contrast.
- I wore a light-colored shirt to stand out on the dark stage.
On the right side you can see my visual decisions at AllWeb 2024, in Tirana, Albania.
The stage had darker surroundings with green lighting, but it was dominated by a large white screen.
- My slides had a white background with a green line at the top and soft blue at the bottom to match the conference colors.
- I wore a greenish shirt to visually blend better with the background and slides.
Each slide was supposed to include the conference logo in the footer, but the conference organizer, my good friend Darko Buldioski, suggested it was enough to include the logo only on the first slide. Why? In his words: ‘Because the conference doesn’t matter – the audience knows where they are; what matters is you!’ Thank you, Darko ❤
That said, I think I should’ve chosen a darker shirt this time 🙂
In the image below, you can see an example from the AllWeb 2022 conference in Mavrovo, where I presented on a black stage with white and green details.
- My slides had a black background with white text and green highlights.
- I wore a white shirt to emphasize my upper body, ensuring I stood out clearly against the dark stage.
What if the organizer doesn’t know the answer?
If the organizer hasn’t defined the visual identity or doesn’t know what colors will dominate the stage, I can still prepare a few options:
- Neutral slides that work well in any setting. Black text on a white background is always a safe and clear choice.
- Several outfit options that I can choose from right before stepping on stage.
If you want to organize a conference that leaves a professional and impactful visual impression, colors matter. High-quality organizers communicate these details to speakers in advance because they know that the visual alignment of presentations and speakers contributes to the overall impression of the conference, workshop, or seminar.
Take a look at other questions for conference organizers, which help me prepare myself for the audience.
Also, if you want me to help you organize your event or to hire some great speakers, do no hesitate to contact me 🙂