Pecha Kucha

            When reading Wired Magazine’s article, “Pecha Kucha: Get to the PowerPoint in 20 Slides Then Sit the Hell Down,” I was able to refresh my memory of the presentation style.  This style of PowerPoint presentation was created by Dytham and Astrid Klein.  Ironically they did not get their start in computer or graphics software.  They are actually two Tokyo-based architects “who have turned PowerPoint, that fixture of cubicle life, into both art form and competitive sport.”  The article further explains the idea of a Pecha Kucha presentation.  It is 20 slides that are timed at 20 seconds per slide.  This avoids the long, boring PowerPoint presentations that we are all familiar with.  Since the popularity of Pecha Kucha is only growing, there are what is called PK nights everywhere, “from Amsterdam and Atlanta to San Francisco and Shanghai.”

           In 2007, Presentation Zen posted an article discussing this new method of PowerPoint entitled, “Pecha Kucha and the art of liberating constraints.”  They use author Daniel Pink’s Pecha Kucha as a tool for learning how to do a Pecha Kucha.  This form of PowerPoint presentation limits the presentations to 6 minutes and 40 seconds to retain the attention of the audience.  This article provides links to the main Pecha Kucha website and provides directions on how to find a PK night near you!

         Time Magazine also discusses the origins of Pecha Kucha.  The Japanses phrase is the onomatopoeic Japanese phrase for the sound of talking, or chitchat. The article also discusses the rise in Pecha Kucha Nights all over the world.  It emphasizes how Pecha Kucha is used in a business environment.  The largest Pecha Kucha yet had 1,500 attendees.  Viktor Oldiges believes that Pecha Kuch is "new, it's improvised and chaotic."

          The Bamboo Project Blog posted an article entitled “A Primer on Pecha Kucha for Learning” in 2008.  This article focuses on how Pecha Kucha can be used for educational purposes and training. It discusses the origins of Pecha Kucha and also explains how the style of presentation works.  Pecha kucha could be used for a learning assessment, to support reflective practice, as a form of virtual team-building, for an online conference, and to share conference learning. The article goes on to provide step by step instructions on how to properly create and deliver a Pecha Kucha presentation.

        The Pecha Kucha website provides information on the presentation style.  It also allows you to search for Pecha Kucha nights near you.  You can create a login name and password that allows you to stay connected with this art form as well as the people. There are links to many examples of Pecha Kuchas and you can even upload your own for the world to see.