Craft a captivating PechaKucha presentation in 4 steps

Have you heard of PechaKucha?

PechaKucha means "chit chat" in Japanese. It's a quick-fire presentation style created in Japan in 2003 by two architects. They wanted a way to tell stories or share topics in an engaging manner within a short timeframe.

PechaKucha is growing popular across the world and is used for business, education, and community purposes.

To deliver a PechaKucha presentation, remember this formula 20x20. The presenter talks about their topic by showing 20 images, spending 20 seconds per image. So the entire presentation is only 6 minutes and 40 seconds long!

This is great for:

• Keeping the audience engaged and focused

• Keeping the presenter on track

• Making the presentation more memorable and impactful

• Allowing more presentations to be delivered in an event

Check out this PechaKucha presentation video for a great example.

Armed with your new knowledge, it's time to unlock your creativity and create a PechaKucha presentation!

The best PechaKucha presentations are all about topics that truly excite you or hold a special place in your heart. Remember to narrow down your message to maintain the 20x20 length.

Here's an example:

1. Select an interesting topic like one of your interests, deep sea diving.

2. Identify the most captivating and unique aspects of deep sea diving that you're excited to share or you think will engage the audience. This could be fascinating marine life.

3. Choose a few main points to focus on. You can highlight your personal experience, the incredible marine biodiversity, and the importance of conservation efforts.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Time is of the essence in a PechaKucha, so a simple, clear, and organized structure is a must. Start with an outline to organize your thoughts and ideas coherently.

Using the previous example, you can write your outline as such:

• Introduction — Introduce the topic of deep sea diving and your personal passion for it.

• Personal Experience — Share a personal anecdote about a memorable deep sea diving experience.

• Marine Biodiversity — Showcase diverse marine life encountered during deep sea diving.

• Importance of Conservation — Discuss the fragility of deep sea ecosystems and the need for conservation.

• Call to Action — Conclude with a powerful call to action, inspiring the audience to take part in protecting our oceans.

• Closing — Express your hope that the audience gained a deeper appreciation for the wonders of deep sea diving.

Photo by Soragrit Wongsa on Unsplash

Tell your story in an impactful way with visuals. Select high-quality images directly related to your message and ensure they're visible from the audience's perspective.

Use minimal text, but make it count. Select easily readable fonts to avoid confusion.

Set each slide to auto-advance after 20 seconds so you can fully immerse yourself in delivering your message.

Rehearse your presentation until your delivery sounds natural, yet polished. Time yourself so you're well under the time limit. Use confident facial expression, body language and eye contact.

Practice in front of someone you trust and ask for their constructive feedback. Consider their suggestions and make any necessary improvements.

Consider the following scenario:

Grace, an enthusiastic gardener, is eagerly preparing for her upcoming PechaKucha presentation on sustainable gardening practices. One of her main points covers the benefits of composting. She wants to ensure that her slides effectively convey her message and carefully considers 3 potential slide designs to choose from.

Design A

• Background image of a lush garden with vibrant flowers

• A paragraph of text explaining the process and benefits of composting

• Seeks to engage the audience with garden beauty and offer composting details

Design B

• Background image of a compost bin filled with organic materials

• Bullet points highlighting key benefits of composting in short statements

• Emphasizes practical composting information that's easily digestible for the audience

Design C

• Minimalistic slide with a single high-quality image of finished compost

• One-word phrases representing the key benefits of composting

• Highlights simplicity, letting the visuals speak for themselves

You're now well-equipped to create a PechaKucha presentation that will captivate and inspire your audience.

Continue sharpening your presentation skills: