A Pecha Kucha presentation is a storytelling format in which a presenter shows 20 slides for 20 seconds of commentary each. The slides change automatically, and the speaker must synchronize their speech with the images. The entire presentation always lasts for exactly 6 minutes and 40 seconds. The Pecha Kucha format can be used in business presentations to clients or staff, as well as in education settings. A typical Pecha Kucha Night (PKN) includes 8 to 14 presentations. Organizers in some cities have customized their own format. For example, in Groningen, Netherlands, two six-minute, 40-second presentation slots are given to a live band, and the final 20 seconds of each presentation include an immediate critique of the presentation by the hosts sidekicks.
Some things to keep in mind when creating a Pecha Kucha presentation include:
- The slides will move automatically as the presenter speaks.
- For PowerPoint users, custom fonts installed on your computer will not be visible on a different computer unless they are installed prior to the presentation.
- You will need to set up the timer on Adobe Reader right before your presentation.
Pecha Kucha was designed by architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham in Tokyo in 2003 and was soon adopted by fans of alternative presentation styles. It relies upon concision and brevity, similar to the short-length focus of an elevator pitch.
