how to make a pecha kucha presentation in google slides

• About WordPress
• Get Involved
• WordPress.org
• Documentation
• Learn WordPress

Creating a Pecha Kucha Presentation using Google Slides

Description: Pecha Kucha is a presentation style that consists of 20 slides that each stays on the screen for 20 seconds.  It relies on presentation software that automatically advances the slides after 20 seconds.  This tutorial demonstrates how to use Google Slides to create a 20 second auto-advancing presentation

• Students delivering in-class presentations

Price: Free

Platform: Online

• Google Apps for Education – Google Slides

Tutorial: Video-based tutorial:

Share this:

Very big thank you! I’m going to do PechKucha with high school students and we have Chromebooks so no access to PowerPoint. I really needed a way to change the 10 second advance to 20 seconds! You saved me. I thought I might have to have the kids create it in G Slides and then I was going to have to convert each one to PowerPoint on my teacher desktop computer. Thank you for sharing.

Delighted we could assist you and your students! Best of luck with the Pecha Kucha presentations!

Is the 20 seconds saved or does it have to be applied for every presentation. For example, I want to create a blank slide deck for students where all they have to do is create the content. I want the deck to be ready to go once they are finished with their content and not have to worry about setting the time for each student, each time the slide deck is viewed. Thanks for your help!

That’s a great question. Without trying it myself I’m not sure but I’m gonna bet that it has to be done on each presentation since the timing is done via the Publish to Web and then the link is edited.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

How to Make a Pecha Kucha on Google Slides

A Pecha Kucha (pronounced peh-chak-cha) presentation consists of 20 slides that auto-advance every 20 seconds, keeping presentations concise and fast-paced. The format forces presenters to get straight to the point and helps audiences stay engaged.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to:

Step 1: Set Up Your Google Slides File

You’ll need 20 slides total for your Pecha Kucha. The easiest way is to add all 20 up front:

Step 2: Choose a Theme and Layout

Next, choose a theme and layout for your presentation.

Step 3: Add Images and Text

Now it’s time to add content to your slides.

As a best practice, follow the “Less is More” principle:

Only use images you have the rights or license to use. When adding images:

Follow this simple formula for Pecha Kucha slides:

Step 4: Set Up Automatic Slide Advancing

A key part of Pecha Kucha is having slides auto-advance every 20 seconds. Google Slides can handle this for you.

Presenters can also manually advance slides by clicking before the 20 seconds is up. This gives flexibility if you need to spend more or less time on a particular slide.

Step 5: Add Smooth Transitions

Step 6: practice and present your pecha kucha.

Be sure to practice your presentation before going live:

Now get out there and wow your next audience with a sleek Pecha Kucha presentation on Google Slides!

Pecha Kuchas are a great way to condense ideas and keep modern audiences engaged. Add some to your presentation arsenal with Google Slides!

About The Author

Vegaslide staff, related posts, how to insert drawing in google slides, can’t play or insert video in google slides [fixed], how to animate objects in google slides, how to print multiple slides on one page in google slides.

Home Blog Presentation Ideas How to Create a Highly Effective Pecha Kucha Presentation

How to Create a Highly Effective Pecha Kucha Presentation

Brevity is considered the soul of wit, but it can also be a powerful technique for effective communication. When you say more with less, you capture your audience’s attention and leave a lasting impression. This is precisely what Pecha Kucha is all about.

It’s a quick-fire format presentation where the speaker tells a story using photos within strict timing.

Whether you’re a seasoned presenter or just starting, Pecha Kucha has something to offer those who want to take their presentations to the next level. In this article, we’ll dive into its benefits as a presentation style and provide tips and strategies for creating effective Pecha Kucha presentations.

What Is Pecha Kucha Presentation?

The format of a Pecha Kucha, or 20×20 presentation, is simple: the presenter shows 20 slides containing an image, each displaying for exactly 20 seconds. The images will auto-forward, so there’s no way of going back to or skipping ahead of the slides. This means each presentation is exactly 6 minutes and 40 seconds long.

This style is quite similar to lightning talk, where the speakers have five minutes to present a five-slide presentation, or the ignite talk, where presenters have 15 seconds to present each slide of a 20-slide presentation.

The challenge for presenters is to convey their idea with the combined use of images and concise, impactful statements within this tight time frame.

Pecha Kucha, which means “chit-chat” in Japanese, was created by architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, who seek to encourage a fast-paced presentation style. Since then, it has become a worldwide phenomenon, used in settings ranging from academic conferences to business meetings and even informal gatherings.

The Benefits of Pecha Kucha

Pecha Kucha presentations are highly engaging. The timing of Pecha Kucha presentations adds an element of excitement. Each slide changes every 20 seconds, keeping the audience engaged, and this helps hold their attention and prevents them from becoming distracted or disengaged.

Pecha Kucha helps you focus on the main topic. The time limit helps presenters stay on track and avoid going off on tangents, which can be a problem in more traditional presentations. This can be a valuable skill in the corporate world, where time is often limited, and getting to the point quickly is crucial.

Pecha Kucha presentations are highly visual. Because Pecha Kucha presentations rely heavily on visual aids, they can effectively communicate complex or abstract ideas to an audience. This helps make presentations more memorable and impactful, as the brain processes visual information more quickly and effectively than written or spoken information.

Pecha Kucha promotes creative thinking and communication. The format challenges presenters to distill their ideas into a concise and visually engaging format. So instead of running around the bush and filling in their talk with non-essential information, they focus on the most important aspects of their message. 

Furthermore, the challenge of syncing the message with images stimulates creativity by inspiring connections and associations between ideas.

How to Make a Pecha Kucha

1. define your main message.

Defining your main message, a.k.a thesis, is crucial in preparing a presentation or communication. When you can pinpoint the core message you want to convey during a presentation, it becomes easier to identify which information to include and which to eliminate.

To narrow down your presentation’s key message or idea, ask yourself the following questions.

• What is the purpose of my presentation – to inform, to inspire, to convince?
• What do I want my audience to know?
• What do I want my audience to do after the presentation?

Your main message should be a direct answer to these questions and something your audience can easily grasp and remember.

Example: Let’s say you are giving a presentation on a new diet cereal bar product. A good thesis could be, “Diet cereal bars are a convenient and nutritious snack option that can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

From here, you can start outlining and structure your presentation. Let the main message lead the way.

So, in our example, you can cite studies showing the health benefits of eating a nutritious diet and present the nutritional value of cereal bars that can help achieve that goal.

2. Select the Best Visuals

You can identify the main message of your presentation and the points that go along with it. The second step would be turning them into visuals.

Many presentation guides will tell you how important visualizations are in a PowerPoint, but Pecha Kucha takes that even further. As mentioned, it emphasizes storytelling with the use of images.

You may still use text to provide context for visual elements, but use it sparingly and avoid paragraphs. Remember, you only have 20 seconds to present each slide, so your audience won’t have the time to read lengthy texts.

Instead, you should use high-quality images directly related to your message. This will help reinforce your message and ensure your visuals are not distracting or confusing.

It’s a hard rule to avoid cartoonish and clipart photos, especially in the business setting, as they make your slide look tacky. This might mean using more modern, minimalist images for a sleek, professional look or more vibrant, colorful images for a more playful and creative feel.

It’s also important to consider the overall aesthetic of your presentation template and choose images consistent with that theme. If you represent a brand, use slides with the look and feel you are known for.

Example: In our diet cereal bar example, you may choose images that showcase the bar’s ingredients, such as images of whole grains, nuts, and dried fruits. You could also use images of people engaging in healthy activities, such as jogging or hiking, to reinforce the idea that the cereal bar is a healthy snack option for people on the go.

3. Structure Your Presentation

Like other forms of presentation, a Pecha Kucha presentation should have a clear structure – no matter how short. You may need it more in this scenario to avoid losing any of your precious time going off on tangents.

Conversely, it will be easier for your audience to follow along and understand your message if you present it organized and coherently.

You can follow several presentation structures, but for something like Pecha Kucha, we recommend a more linear style. One that has an introduction, body, and conclusion.

The Pyramid Principle has all these elements and might work in a fast-paced presentation format. In this style, the main idea or conclusion is presented at the beginning, followed by a series of supporting points that are organized hierarchically. This approach can help your audience engage in critical thinking, as they are encouraged to consider how each piece of information relates to the larger message being presented.

Example: Let’s return to our diet cereal bar example to illustrate how the Pyramid Principle can be applied in a Pecha Kucha presentation.

Open your presentation by stating your main idea or message: “Our diet cereal bars are a convenient and nutritious snack option that can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

Then, discuss the supporting points that further develop the main idea.

• You may discuss the natural ingredients and X calories it contains, making it a healthy snack option.
• You may talk about the range of delicious flavors that it comes with, establishing the idea that it’s a nutritious option that does not compromise on taste.
• You may talk about the convenient packaging that makes it perfect for busy people on the go.

4. Practice, practice, practice

Pecha Kucha’s presentation is all about timing and mastery, so you must conduct a  dry run to ensure that you’d feel comfortable with the flow of your presentation on the actual delivery.

Rehearse your presentation multiple times as if it’s the real thing. This means setting a strict timer for 20 seconds per slide to ensure that you are staying on track and not going over time. Google Slide and PowerPoint have an option that automatically advances slides within several seconds.

Although 20 seconds may feel very short, speak at a moderate pace to ensure you are not rushing through the presentation. But, also avoid lingering on any one slide for too long.

Tips and Tricks for an Effective Pecha Kucha Delivery

1. using engaging storytelling techniques.

Although we did say that you may state your main idea at the beginning of your presentation , you don’t just get to drop the bomb, or it will sound dry. Using an engaging story will help you do this with finesse.

People are naturally drawn to stories – they love journeys. Structure your presentation like a story, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Sharing personal experiences or anecdotes can help to humanize your presentation and make it more relatable for your audience.

Example: You can share a personal anecdote about your struggles with maintaining a healthy diet. You could talk about how you struggled to find healthy snack options while working long hours at your desk job.

2. Connecting With Your Audience and Maintaining It

Sharing a story or a personal experience is one way to connect with your audience. Still, it isn’t just about getting their attention – keeping their attention on you is far more important.

It’s common advice for speakers to keep eye contact with the audience. We’d like to add something to this – look at your audience intently and respond to what you see. Knowing your audience’s nonverbal cues can help you connect with them and respond to their needs.

Speaking of nonverbal, you should be aware of your body language too. Use intentional hand gestures, but avoid excessive movements that may take the audience’s attention from you.

Finally, don’t forget to smile. Smiling helps convey a positive and approachable attitude and shows that you like your audience.

3. Handling Unexpected Challenges Or Technical Issues

With over six minutes to present your case, there should be no room for mistakes when making a Pecha Kucha presentation. The best advice is to have a backup plan for your backup plan.

No, we don’t mean carrying 2 laptops and 2 projectors around! But it’s best practice to have a USB drive with your presentation saved on it, just in case. You may also save your presentation on the cloud if you lose both copies on your device and external drive.

In the event of a complete technology failure, be ready to present without the slides. Remember, the slides are only a visual aid, and your delivery and message are the most important aspects of your presentation.

Pecha Kucha makes it possible to deliver a compelling presentation within minutes. Remember to keep your main message at the forefront when creating this type of presentation, choose high-quality visuals that reinforce your message, and practice your timing to ensure your presentation flows smoothly. With these tips, you can deliver a presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

Like this article? Please share

Presentation Approaches, Presentation Ideas Filed under Presentation Ideas

Related Articles

Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials • June 28th, 2024

How to Represent Branching Scenarios in PowerPoint

Do you have a situation to expose with multiple possible outcomes? If so, check our guide on branching scenarios in PowerPoint.

Filed under Design • June 27th, 2024

How to Repurpose Your Content on Presentations

Adapt your content from presentation slides into other mediums and viceversa by learning how to repurpose your presentations. Detailed guide here.

Filed under Business • June 13th, 2024

How to Make a Financial Presentation [Templates + Examples]

Learn how to make a stellar financial presentation by discovering which slides should be included, the best templates to make your job easier, and more.

Leave a Reply

Unleash the Power of Pecha Kucha: A Comprehensive Guide to Creating Captivating Slides in Google Slides

What To Know

• This comprehensive guide will empower you with step-by-step instructions, design tips, and best practices to create impactful Pecha Kucha presentations that leave a lasting impression.
• By following these guidelines, you can create visually stunning and thought-provoking slides that will captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression.
• How long should each slide be displayed in a Pecha Kucha presentation.

Pecha Kucha, a unique presentation format that captivates audiences with its concise and visually striking slides , has taken the world by storm. If you’re eager to harness this powerful tool in Google Slides , you’ve come to the right place. This comprehensive guide will empower you with step-by- step instructions , design tips, and best practices to create impactful Pecha Kucha presentations that leave a lasting impression.

Setting Up Your Google Slides Presentation

1. Create a New Presentation: Open Google Slides and click on “New Presentation.” 2. Set Slide Size: Go to “File” > “ Page Setup ” and select “Custom.” Set the width to 4:3 and the height to 3:2. 3. Add 20 Slides: Click on “Insert” > “New Slide” 20 times to create the required number of slides.

Crafting Your Pecha Kucha Story

1. Define Your Message: Determine the key message you want to convey in your presentation. 2. Structure Your Content: Divide your message into 20 concise points that will be presented on individual slides. 3. Use Visuals Effectively : Incorporate high-quality images, videos, and graphics to illustrate your points and engage your audience.

Designing Your Pecha Kucha Slides

1. Choose a Template: Select a template that complements your presentation’s theme and message. 2. Use a Consistent Font : Choose a readable font and maintain consistency throughout your slides. 3. Maximize White Space: Leave ample white space around your content to enhance readability and create visual appeal. 4. Incorporate Transitions: Use subtle transitions between slides to keep your presentation flowing smoothly.

Presenting Your Pecha Kucha

1. Rehearse Thoroughly: Practice your presentation multiple times to ensure a confident and engaging delivery. 2. Time Your Slides: Each slide should be displayed for exactly 20 seconds. Use a timer or rehearse with a metronome. 3. Speak Clearly and Concisely: Deliver your message with clarity and enthusiasm, focusing on the key takeaways.

Best Practices for Pecha Kucha Presentations

1. Keep it Simple: Avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive text or complex visuals. 2. Use High-Quality Content: Ensure your slides are visually appealing and support your message effectively. 3. Engage Your Audience: Encourage interaction by asking questions or incorporating interactive elements. 4. Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you practice, the more confident and successful your presentation will be.

Recommendations: Elevate Your Presentations with Pecha Kucha

Mastering the art of Pecha Kucha in Google Slides opens up a world of possibilities for impactful presentations . By following these guidelines, you can create visually stunning and thought-provoking slides that will captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression. Embrace the power of Pecha Kucha and unlock the potential for extraordinary presentations.

Common Questions and Answers

Q: How long should each slide be displayed in a Pecha Kucha presentation? A: Each slide should be displayed for exactly 20 seconds.

Q: How many slides should be included in a Pecha Kucha presentation? A: A Pecha Kucha presentation consists of 20 slides.

Q: What is the recommended aspect ratio for Pecha Kucha slides? A: The recommended aspect ratio for Pecha Kucha slides is 4:3.

Q: Can I use animations or transitions in my Pecha Kucha presentation? A: Yes, you can use subtle transitions between slides to enhance the flow of your presentation.

Q: How can I make my Pecha Kucha presentation more engaging? A: Incorporate interactive elements , ask questions, and use high-quality visuals to capture your audience’s attention.

Popular Posts:

Find Out More

How to craft the perfect meeting invite in zoho mail: a step-by-step masterclass, top 5 reasons why figma is the most secure design tool, seamless collaboration: how to add google slides to jamboard and elevate your presentations, unraveling the mystery: why is your excel file swelling to gigantic proportions, elevate your data skills: tableau unlocked for students, absolutely free, learn how to reset your coway air filter and breathe easier today.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. OK No

What is a Pecha Kucha Presentation?

Imagine this: You're in a presentation, listening minute after minute to someone reading directly from a PowerPoint . Their voice is monotonous, and without realizing it, you start disconnecting from what they are saying within a few minutes. After half an hour, you're already bored, and after an hour, you can't wait for it to end.

Sounds familiar? We've all experienced the infamous "death by PowerPoint" at some point. The good news: there is a solution. If you want your presentations to tell a story and keep the audience engaged, there is a presentation style you should know about: Pecha Kucha. Today, we will tell you everything you need to know about it.

We’ll go over the following topics:

What is Pecha Kucha Presentation?

What are the origins of pechakucha presentations, how do you do a pecha kucha presentation let’s go step-by-step.

• What do experts say? Best practices for creating pecha kucha style presentation

Ready to create your own? Check out some Pecha Kucha Presentation Examples

Pechakucha frequently asked questions, what is the difference between a powerpoint presentation and a pecha kucha, what is a pecha kucha night, what are good topics for pecha kucha presentation.

Pecha Kucha, chit-chat in Japanese, is a unique presentation style . These presentations are known for telling stories through images rather than text and are typically brief. They use the 20x20 rule, where each presentation consists of 20 slides, and each slide is displayed for only 20 seconds, automatically progressing to the next one. This results in a total presentation time of 6 minutes and 40 seconds.

This might be a novel format and one that challenges the speaker more than regular presentations, but it undoubtedly has its benefits. The main one is the huge improvement in the audience’s experience. Why?

• It keeps presentations concise and dynamic , making them feel fast, light, and engaging. 
• It minimizes distractions and maximizes engagement. 
• Since there is no text to read from,  presenters have to be more prepared and make the effort to craft a coherent story , resulting in a seamless narrative. 
• It helps speakers stay on-topic , preventing them from going off track and adding unnecessary details to their talks.

Pecha Kucha presentations help you develop valuable skills that are beneficial in many settings . One of them is definitely the corporate world, where time constraints are common and concise communication is essential. Another one is in educational settings like classrooms, where these type of presentations can improve student’s public speaking abilities. Research strongly supports these benefits:

“One of the greatest advantages of PK is that it is often very appealing, engaging, and enjoyable to the audience (...). According to A. M. Beyer (2011) , the creative use of PowerPoint software has the potential to result in high student engagement on the side of both the presenter and the audience.”

Pecha Kucha presentations were created in Tokyo in 2003 by architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham . They introduced it as a platform for young designers to come together, showcase their work, and exchange ideas through brief presentations. The core principle behind Pecha Kucha was to "talk less, show more,"

Since then, its popularity has gone beyond the design field, becoming a worldwide phenomenon . These presentations are now used in many different settings ranging from academic conferences to business meetings and even informal gatherings. There is a whole community dedicated to Pecha Kucha, who get together and organize “Pecha Kucha Nights.”

Are you ready to create your own Pecha Kucha presentation? Let’s take a look at how to do them in PowerPoint.

In the Home Tab, go to Slides and click New Slides until you get the 20 slides you need. You can also click Ctrl + M.

Now, you need to remove any placeholders they have. To do this, go to the View Tab, and in Presentation Views , choose Slide Sorter . Select all of your slides. 

Then, go to the Home Tab, select Layout , and choose Blank .

The next step is to set the slides to advance automatically. To achieve this, go to the Transitions Tab. In timing, go to Advance Slides , deselect On Mouse Click , and check After . Now, set the timer for 20 seconds .

Finally, you can add a Transition effect. It’s best to choose a simple one, such as Fade , and select a short Duration for it (such as 00.50).

And that’s all! Now, you can begin inserting your images and practicing your presentation.

What do experts say? Best practices for creating Pecha Kucha style presentation

Understanding what Pecha Kucha is about is pretty straightforward, but actually doing this type of presentation can be much more difficult than people think. But we are here to help! We have come up with the best tips and tricks from our presentation experts . Let’s take a look at what they say:

1.Before you begin…take a step back!

All experts agree on one thing: take time to prepare your presentation . Before you even open PowerPoint, you should be able to answer:

• What story will you be talking about? Why?
• What is your goal? To inform? Inspire? Convince?
• What is the impression you want to give?
• What feeling do you want your audience to stay with?

After you have all your answers, it’s time to plan. Take out your pen and paper and start drafting what you want to say. In this first draft, just let your ideas flow without trying to filter or organize them, and include everything you would like to share. 

The next step is to organize all of your ideas. To do so, group them by sections and then define the content slide by slide. Consider the following structure:

• Introduction: This is the first impression you’ll give your audience. Think about how you’ll engage with them, get their attention and connect emotionally.
• Middle: In this section, remember to keep the flow of the story, so make sure each slide is connected with the one that comes before and after.
• Closing: Consider what you want your audience to stay with. It could be an emotion, idea, or desire to do something. This is one of the parts your audience will remember the most.

Remember that achieving your perfect structure and content is not easy and definitely not something you get on your first try. It might take many attempts before you get the version you’ll be presenting , but don’t worry! It’s all part of the process.

2. Select the best visuals

Once you have defined your content per slide, it’s time to choose the images you’ll show. This is a really important step because it is the only thing your audience will see. Since these images will be the primary focus for your audience, consider the following tips:

• Choose high-quality images: Choose the highest-quality visuals, especially if they will be displayed in fullscreen. Clear and captivating images can significantly enhance the overall impression of your presentation.
• Align images with your message: Reflect on the content of each slide and ask yourself: "What story am I telling, and what type of image complements that narrative?" Make sure that the chosen images really align and reinforce your intended message.
• Maintain coherence: Establish visual coherence throughout your presentation. If you have established a theme, only choose images that seamlessly integrate with that theme. 
• Establish emotional connections: Consider the emotional impact your chosen pictures may have on your audience. A well-selected image can evoke emotions, making your presentation more memorable and engaging.

3. Practice, practice, practice

One might think delivering a short presentation is much easier than giving an extended talk, but evidence suggests the opposite. Actually, being clear and concise is a challenge most people underestimate . It is not easy to synthesize information and stay on topic, not to mention being able to tell a story and connect in under 7 minutes!

This is why practice is so important, especially in this type of presentations, so make sure you follow these practice tips:

• Practice to adjust your presentation: The first few times you run through your whole presentation, time yourself and see if you need to make any adjustments to your content to get the exact 20 seconds per slide. You may need to leave some details out or adjust your information so the content in all your slides is balanced.
• Practice to perfect your presentation: Once your content is adjusted and ready, shift your focus to memorizing the presentation. Pay attention to the flow of your presentation, ensuring a seamless connection between points. Additionally, practice your oratory skills—intonation, vocal tone, strategic pauses, breath control, body language, and eye contact. Every detail matters.

Bonus tip: You can record yourself or practice in front of a mirror. This might be uncomfortable, but it will do wonders for your presentation skills.

Are you preparing a Pecha Kucha presentation? Then don't miss these examples!

Pecha Kucha Presentation Example #1: Let’s Promote Wellness in Patients  

In this example, Mark Holder talks about using positive psychology to promote health care. What makes this presentation stand out is its ability to capture the viewer's attention, maintain interest , and communicate effectively. Images are used as visual support, and the presentation flows interestingly and engagingly.

Pecha Kucha Presentation Example #2: Our Words Can Create Sustained Change

In this example, Manisha Willms reflects on what it means to be healthy. She does this by showing us drawings of 4-year-olds about what the word "healthy" means to them. 

As for the presentation, her use of images is different, as her slides are only focused on the children's drawings , which complement her talk instead of guiding it. Nevertheless, they achieve the purpose of connecting with the audience by generating emotions such as tenderness and laughter; and totally complement the message she gives.

Pecha Kucha Presentation Example #3: Let's Put More Joy into Our Lives and Work

This example is a more personal one. In this talk, Eyoälha Baker talks about her life experiences and challenging moments, and how these helped her connect with the importance of sharing joy through her work.

This presentation shows us a great example of connecting with an audience through vulnerability and transparency. Eyoälha is not afraid of being open, showing emotion, and telling personal stories, and the audience warmly receives and embraces them.

The main difference between traditional PowerPoint presentations and Pecha Kucha presentations is their style and format. While PowerPoint presentations allow for flexibility in terms of duration and how content is presented,  Pecha Kucha presentations adhere to a specific format.

Pecha Kucha presentations exclusively utilize images without any accompanying text. They follow the 20x20 rule, where each presentation consists of 20 slides , each shown for only 20 seconds before automatically progressing to the next one. This structured approach results in a total presentation time of 6 minutes and 40 seconds.

Inspired by the success of Pecha Kucha among designers, thousands of cities worldwide began hosting their own Pecha Kucha Nights. These events consist of people getting together to present their own Pecha Kucha . The topics of the presentations can vary widely, from holiday photos to political messages, as long as presenters adhere to the 20x20 format.

If you'd like to know more about Pecha Kucha Nights or see more examples, check out this page about Pecha Kucha Nights in Dundee to get an idea about the community and atmosphere of such events.

Good topics for a Pecha Kucha presentation are those that fit well with the short format and can be represented by exclusively using images . Some of the most common topics are:

• Personal projects or initiatives
• Travel adventures
• Reflections or ideas
• Personal stories

These subjects work effectively within the 20x20 format, allowing presenters to communicate meaningful insights without overwhelming the audience .

On the other hand, Pecha Kucha may not be the best choice for some presentations, such as presentations with a lot of data , details or ones with controversial topics. Because of the time limit, presentations that require a lot of detail, explanation or discussion with the audience are not the best idea for this format.

You might also like:

• How to Deliver the Perfect Online Presentation
• 7 Essential Storytelling Techniques for Your Business Presentation
• 7 Presentation Styles to Make Your Presentation Shine
• +20 Self Introduction PowerPoint Templates: Download for free!

Create professional presentations online

Other people also read

How To Write Effective Emails That Will Improve Your Communi...

How to Make a Marketing Plan Presentation in PowerPoint

Alternative presentation styles: Takahashi

Catherine Cronin

Pecha kucha: tips, resources & examples.

Some wonderful examples of Pecha Kucha presentations were a highlight of the recent Galway Symposium on Higher Education (#celt12) held at NUI Galway. If you’ve attended or delivered a Pecha Kucha presentation, you’ll know that it can be both a dynamic and challenging presentation format. Over the past two years I’ve had the opportunity to prepare and deliver four different Pecha Kucha presentations. Each time is a unique learning experience! This past year I did something I’d considered for quite a while: I assigned Pecha Kucha presentations to my students. In terms of presentation quality and the skills students developed, this was a great success. In this post I’ll share a few tips about Pecha Kucha presentations, some resources which my students and I found helpful, and a few examples of PK presentations.

I. Pecha Kucha presentation tips

A Pecha Kucha or 20×20 presentation contains 20 slides, with each slide shown for 20 seconds, for a presentation of exactly 6 minutes, 40 seconds. The format is similar to an Ignite talk, which is 20×15 (i.e. 20 slides, 15 seconds per slide, 5 minutes in length), so advice for preparing and delivering Ignite and Pecha Kucha presentations is similar.

The advantages of the Pecha Kucha format for a conference or a class are clear. Within a given time slot, more presentations can be scheduled and the schedule is predictable. In addition, the atmosphere in a Pecha Kucha session is usually very engaging. Once the “clock starts ticking”, the audience is on the side of the presenter, willing them to succeed. This is a wonderful atmosphere for both new and experienced presenters.

Tips for presenters:

• Images are the key to effective Pecha Kucha. Try to find images which are illustrations or metaphors of your key points and/or use words-as-image, as in the example above. This makes delivery of your presentation much easier, as you’re not trying to race through a list of points. It also makes your presentation more engaging. This is why Pecha Kucha is so successful, I think. It’s not the timing, as such, but the fact that it leads presenters to use best practice in creating presentations which are visually strong and appealing. Let’s banish the bullets! 🙂
• Practice, practice and practice again. I’m not a person who tends to memorize my presentations. For a Pecha Kucha presentation, however, memorizing your key points for each slide is usually the best approach. I suggest writing down the 2 key points you want to make for each slide and trying to stick to that. Then practice delivering your presentation until it flows easily. Practice really makes the difference.
• Hack the format! If you want to go into depth on one particular slide and 20 seconds just won’t be enough, repeat the slide and add text or graphics to develop your points. Your information will then be on-screen for 40 seconds, with small changes appearing midway through. This is a very graceful way to keep within the format but still go into depth.
• When delivering the presentation, don’t worry if you finish making your points on one slide before the next slide advances. Pausing will break your flow. Just start speaking about your next slide; it will likely appear midway through your first sentence. This makes for a more polished presentation rather than pausing for a few seconds to wait for the next slide to appear.
• In working with students, I found that it was important to spend plenty of time beforehand to help students to develop not just an understanding of good presentation skills, but also of copyright, Creative Commons, and how to find, use and assign CC-licensed images . Most students who completed Pecha Kucha presentations in my Professional Skills course assigned CC licenses to their presentations and uploaded their work to Slideshare, forming part of their e-portfolio and digital footprint (some examples below).

Tips for organisers:

• If possible, schedule Pecha Kucha presentations in a room that is not too large. I’ve attended Pecha Kucha sessions in small rooms and in large lecture halls, and I’ve found the atmosphere in rooms with a higher density of people is more connected and more fun. Participants tend to feel in touch with the presenter and the presenter can feed off the positive energy of the audience.
• If you are organising a Pecha Kucha conference session, make sure all presenters send you their presentations ahead of time so that you can be sure that the timings are set correctly to 20 seconds per slide. Another approach you might consider is creating one long presentation for each Pecha Kucha session, with a transition slide (or two) between each presentation. This makes for a seamless session.
• In one conference I attended ( #ece11 ) yet another element of excitement was added by putting the presentations in each session in random order. Presenters didn’t know where their presentation fell in the running order, so had to be prepared to pop up when their name appeared. This led to much hilarity and great audience engagement and support.
• When organising Pecha Kucha presentations for a class, I took on less of the organising work. I asked students to bring their own laptops or share laptops. Students learned a lot from loading presentations, connecting to the projector system, adjusting the room lighting, etc. And in one or two cases where students had not set the slide timings correctly, it served as a great learning moment for everyone.

II. Pecha Kucha resources

Pecha Kucha 20×20 —  This page gives the basics and a brief history of Pecha Kucha.

Why and How to Give an Ignite Talk  by Scott Berkun — This terrific presentation (in Ignite format) is relevant for both Pecha Kucha and Ignite presentations. Take Scott’s advice and “hack the format” if necessary. If it’s Pecha Kucha, just be sure your presentation is 6 minute and 40 seconds long.

Creating an Ignite presentation — This article was written by presentation expert Olivia Mitchell about creating an Ignite presentation, however the guidelines apply just as easily to Pecha Kucha. This is a terrific, visual article, very helpful for careful planning of your presentation.

Choosing good images for presentations — This blog post has excellent advice on finding relevant, potent images for your presentation.

Finding CC-licensed images — the following sites are helpful in finding Creative Commons-licensed images and learning how to reference them:

• Compfight – excellent search tool for Creative Commons-licensed Flickr images
• Creative Commons Wiki – a Creative Commons image directory
• CC Search — powerful search across a variety of platforms (e.g. Flickr, Google images, YouTube) to help you find content you can share, use, remix
• Flickr images – enter search term, click Advanced Search , then tick the box “ only search within Creative Commons-licensed content”
• Content Directories — extensive list of directories of Creative Commons-licensed materials (audio, video, image, text

40+ Tips for awesome PowerPoint presentations — This is a useful checklist for all presentations, not just PowerPoint.

Prezi workshop  — Prezi videos, examples and templates

Great Presentations by Nancy Duarte — Nancy Duarte is the author of the excellent books Resonate and Slideology – unbeatable sources of ideas and inspiration for all presenters. This 25-minute video is worth viewing if you want a deeper understanding of what makes a presentation which truly connects with an audience.

III. Pecha Kucha examples

The first two presentations below are examples of student Pecha Kucha presentations. Each of these was the first presentation ever created by the student — wonderful work, I’m sure you’ll agree! Also, please check out the CT231 Student Showcase  — a collection of student work including Ignite & Pecha Kucha presentations, blogs and audio podcasts.

The final two presentations are conference presentations. The first is by Mary Loftus , an excellent presentation from #celt12 on ‘ways of being’ in the online classroom. The second is one of my own Pecha Kucha presentations, delivered at #ece11, on learning and teaching Professional Skills.

Image source: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 edmontonnextgen

• ← Galway Symposium on Higher Education #celt12
• Volvo Ocean Race, NUI Galway and online learning →

27 thoughts on “Pecha Kucha: tips, resources & examples”

• Pingback: Pecha Kucha: tips, resources & examples « catherinecronin | Profesorbaker's Blog: A Bit of Everything

Catherine, this format has been talked about a lot recently in both the business and elearning sectors. I’m wondering if you have any ideas as to how the pecha kucha presentation format might be adapted by instructors to create brief, compelling educational ‘bites’ to use as part of an online education program.

• Pingback: Ignite your audience with lightning or Pecha Kucha form talks | Sociobiology

Hey there, You have done a great job. I will certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I am confident they’ll be benefited from this site.

excellent put up, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I am confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!

This is an app for Pechakucha Speakers. You can see Timer, Slides & Text in your hand.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/20-note/id633039864?l=ja&ls=1&mt=8

• Pingback: Introduction to Pecha Kucha at Basquill's Seniors

Reblogged this on MumPhD and commented: V helpful guidance

• Pingback: How to Organize a PechaKucha Panel - OEDB.org
• Pingback: Pecha Kucha 20×20 tips | domenikagrinkeviciute/illustration
• Pingback: Introduction to Pecha Kucha « Basquill's British Lit
• Pingback: British Literature with Basquill - Introduction to Pecha Kucha
• Pingback: So you want to create a presentation? « ICT for Teaching & Learning in Falkirk Primary Schools
• Pingback: So you want to create a presentation?ICT for Teaching & Learning … – News4Security

I have a question about the total presentation time. Does it have to strictly follow 6.6 minutes? Because my professor deducted 5 points off my grade for “not following Pecha Kucha guidelines” because my total time was 5:43. I would appreciate any advise and I can use some references that shows Pecha Kucha CANNOT fall below 6.6 minutes. I need help because we will be doing more of this sort of assignment.

Hi Grace – thanks for your comment. The best way to time a Pecha Kucha presentation correctly is to set the timer for each slide in the presentation. You should have 20 slides (including the title slide) and each slide time should be set for 20 seconds exactly. This way, you do not manually advance the slides at all; the timing of the presentation will be 20 slides x 20 seconds = 400 seconds, i.e. 6 minutes and 40 seconds. Best of luck!

Reblogged this on anagabriela904 and commented: Let’s check it out.

Reblogged this on and commented: I have been assigned to a task to present at a Teachmeet Melbourne session. One of the criteria’s is to present in 7 minutes! Here is a concept known as Pecha Kucka which is a Japanese word for chit chat. The concept is to present 20 slides for 20 seconds.

• Pingback: Group Project: Going Global | Virtual Environments: Is one life enough?
• Pingback: Pecha Kucha Presentations | EmSwaim
• Pingback: LIBRARY TOOL: PechaKucha | The Prodigal Librarian
• Pingback: ETRC Newsletter May 2015 | ETRC
• Pingback: America House Pecha Kucha Night on May 29 gives teachers a chance to earn certificate faster! | ETRC
• Pingback: ETRC Newsletter June 2015 | ETRC
• Pingback: Pecha kucha | For English Lovers
• Pingback: Week 12-I. 關於Pecha-Kucha 20×20 – Prelude to Data Analysis 2016
• Pingback: OCA Thames Valley Group meeting: 15th February 2020 | Portraying Landscape

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Dr. Ian O'Byrne

I first learned how to pronounce PK from Kelly Chandler Olcott as she used the following video to illustrate the correct pronunciation. In future work, my own pronunciation will follow the video below, but while trying to flatten the tone each time. Regardless of how “correctly” you pronounce PK, you’ll most definitely have people look at you quizzically when you suggest it.

I’ve given countless PK style talks ( example & example ), facilitated sessions including PK talks, and include PK/Ignite talks as an assessment device in my classes. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in PK presentations. In this post I’ll share my tips, tricks, and lessons learned from these experiences. Keep in mind that for every rule for a PK talk, I see someone break the rules and do something magical.

Preparing your slide deck

As you develop your slides for a PK presentation, keep in mind that the format should utilize images more than words. As a result, I strive for primarily images with very little (or no) text on each slide. Large, dramatic images that will capture the attention of the audience are a great strategy as you create a narrative with your words. I recommend reviewing this post to learn more about the images that you choose and use in your PK slides, and general PPTs. You might also check out Unsplash , Flickr CC Search , Compfight , and  CC Search  as you search for Creative Commons licensed content to use .

If you do include text on the slide, keep in mind that the audience is also “on the edge of their seats” in your presentation. Allow them to focus on the words on the screen as opposed to the words coming out of your mouth. Alternatively, you can explain to them exactly  what you want them to focus on in the text. Please also consider how to use presentations and PPT docs to get the most out of the audience …and hit your objectives.

Keep it simple. Don’t include transitions. Don’t include slide animations, or callouts. The more things you add in to make it fancy become the things that delay and derail your presentation.

The best way to prepare your slides is to use Microsoft Powerpoint. As a lover of Google Slides  this pains me…but Slides will only let you automatically transition after 15 seconds. You can set up your Powerpoint slides to automatically advance by clicking on the “transitions” settings, and clicking the button to have your slides advance every 20 seconds. Make sure you don’t click that option to advance on the “mouse click.” There’s nothing more aggravating than getting rolling in your PK talk and realizing that the first slide isn’t advancing automatically…and then having to restart. I know from experience. 🙂

Preparing what to say…and how to say it

As I prepare for my sessions, I generally identify a story, or narrative across the slides and my time. For each slide, I identify a point, or key idea I want to make for that slide. In the development of the slide deck, I make sure there is a visual cue that will help me remember the point that I wanted to make on that slide. Between the intersection of the larger narrative of the presentation and the points per slide, I generally can map out the trajectory and guidepoints to keep me focused. If it’s not clear to me, I adjust the slides to make sure I’ll have those guidepoints in my head as I present.

I do not recommend writing a script for this presentation style. I definitely do not recommend bringing a script in to the session with you to present. In my own experience, I know the general story that I want to tell, and the specific words don’t matter. I’ve had colleagues bring in their script and stare down at the cue cards in the talk and it creates a disconnect with the audience. A script is also problematic if/when you have glitches with timing in your presentation. If you miss a transition…then you’re feverishly trying to read the cue cards to get caught up. Also…if you have a script and cue cards, it’s probably a sign that you’re trying to squeeze too much in to the format. 🙂

Last, but not least…practice. This is one of the common themes on this PK guide from USC. In my own preparation I run through the slides numerous times in my head as I’m developing…and then reviewing them. It’s also a good habit to let the slides run and advance in Powerpoint to see what the timing will look like.

Actually presenting it

When the day of reckoning comes…relax. Have fun. You’ve put in the work up to this point. You know your content. Now you just need to get up there and make it happen. There may/will be technology or glitches out of your control. Nothing will ever be perfect…and that is part of the art form. Remind yourself that is performance, and presentation.

In my experience the audience is as nervous as the presenters. The audience usually doesn’t know what to do (cognitively) with the presentations. There is so much information, so much to see/hear and consider that they don’t know where to focus. There is also usually a buzz in the air as this is something new that is unexpected. In larger sessions with multiple PK speakers, we usually direct the audience to “just take it all in.” We provide breaks in between sets or themes of speakers to give them a chance to debrief.

Practice for practice sake

If you want to play with the medium, and challenge yourself or your students, you can play with PK. Known as Powerpoint-Karaoke, or BattleDecks , these are PK sessions in which you do not know the slides that are coming up. The slide decks are chosen/compiled at random. The speaker may know the theme, or nothing at all before they begin. It’s the ultimate in thinking on your feet.

One tool that I love to use with colleagues and students is PechaFlickr by Alan Levine . This wonderful tool has you start by adding in a search term, and then scraping Flickr for images. These images are pulled into a presentation file that is set up to automatically advance for each slide. This tool is tons of fun, and it has you focus on the content and your cognitive flexibility. 🙂

Next slide please…

Now that you hopefully have a better idea of what PK is…get out there and do it. The best way to learn how to do it is to just get started. You can review the links in this post for more ideas of what you’re in store for. I also recommend this post by Catherine Cronin as you’re searching for more guidance.

Get out there and have fun. 🙂

Like what you see here? Sign up for my newsletter to stay on top of weekly events in literacy, technology, & education.

Cover photo by triplefivechina https://flickr.com/photos/triplefivechina/4877744304 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

Related posts:

10 Comments → How to plan, present, & survive a Pecha Kucha style presentation

It’s a fun challenge, for sure!

I am about to do a Pecha Kucha poetry challenge right now.

Pingback: How to plan, present, & survive a Pecha Kuc...

Pingback: Julie Dennis

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

To respond on your own website, enter the URL of your response which should contain a link to this post's permalink URL. Your response will then appear (possibly after moderation) on this page. Want to update or remove your response? Update or delete your post and re-enter your post's URL again. ( Learn More )