How PechaKucha Works: Tips for PechaKucha Presentations

PechaKucha—also written as “Pecha Kucha”—is a presentation format that requires a speaker to deliver twenty seconds of commentary per slide for twenty consecutive, automatically advancing slides. The total presentation time for a PechaKucha presentation is six minutes and forty seconds. PechaKucha, which means “the sound of conversation” or “chit-chat” in Japanese, is a popular social event and a novel way for companies and educators to help employees and students sharpen public speaking skills and promote connectivity.

The origins of PechaKucha begin in Tokyo, Japan, where architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham created the format in 2003. They wanted a creative way to bring together fellow architects, exchange ideas, and showcase their work in concise, short-format design presentations. That first get-together paved the way for regular events called PechaKucha Nights (PKN). The presentation format took root in Europe the following year, and by 2019, more than 1,000 cities worldwide offered PKN events to more than three million people.

The success of PechaKucha led to the development of a presentation style called Ignite in 2006. It offers a PechaKucha-style presentation format with the same number of slides but with a slight wrinkle: Speakers only have fifteen seconds before the next slide advances.

PechaKucha works in a specific format for both words and images. The format is as follows:

1. 1. The topic: Presenters at a PechaKucha Night must deliver a speech on a predetermined topic. The format may relate to their work or interests, and the presenter must use twenty slides to support their presentation.
2. 2. The images: PechaKucha slides must feature an image that is predominately free of text, though presenters may use captions. However, any infographic must be brief to allow the audience to read it before the next slide advances. Some PechaKucha Nights allow video art.
3. 3. The rules: PechaKucha has specific rules regarding the length of the presentation, garnering comparisons to the strict regulations of haiku. Speakers must complete their entire presentation in exactly six minutes and forty seconds. To meet that time limit, they can only speak for twenty seconds per slide. They also can’t halt the presentation, return to a previously shown image, or skip ahead to a later image.

Here are some tips on how to create a PechaKucha presentation:

• Choose a good topic. While you can present on any topic, the best PechaKucha presentations focus on compelling topics to the presenter. Consider doing a presentation on one of your passions, talents, or interests. The topic doesn’t have to be serious; it can be about a magazine collection, rare candy, or a fun place to visit.
• Start with an outline. If you’re unsure where to start, you can outline the presentation using a basic essay structure. For example, start with a thesis statement, move into the body of the presentation, which provides evidence to support your main theory, and close with a summary of your main points in the final slides.
• Be concise. You have less than seven minutes to inform and entertain your listeners, so you need to have a tightly crafted presentation. You should be able to explain your topic in a single sentence; if not, simplify the subject. Steer clear of bullet points and facts and figures, and stick to a maximum of three main points for your entire presentation.
• Choose and use images wisely. Allow your images to help you tell your story. Choose images that are compelling and large enough to be visible from the audience’s perspectives. Stock images and PechaKucha templates are widely available from various online sources.
• Practice. You want to convey your enthusiasm for your subject through your presentation. Rehearse both the text and the timing between slides as much as possible so that your delivery sounds natural. Reading from a script may suggest you are unfamiliar with or uninterested in the topic.

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