Pecha Kucha (ペチャクチャ,) (pronounced “peh-CHA kuh-cha”) is a presentation format in which (mostly) creative work is easily, informally, and energetically shown. Its name derives from a Japanese term for the sound of conversation—"chit-chat."

A Pecha Kucha Night is a gathering of creative individuals who use a specific format to share their work and ideas. Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein-Dytham Architecture in Tokyo devised the first Pecha Kucha Night in February 2003 as a “designers' show-and-tell” to attract more people to SuperDeluxe, the multimedia experimental event space they had set up in the city’s Roppongi district.

Over the last five years, the Pecha Kucha format has developed into a globally popular way for designers of all ages to meet, network, and show their work to receptive audiences. The concept has spread virally to more than 145 cities around the world.

The basic idea behind Pecha Kucha is to keep presentations concise and the audience’s interest and energy level high, as many presenters share their ideas. To accomplish these goals, PK’s founders created a unique 20 x 20 format, with presenters allowed to display 20 images for no longer than 20 seconds apiece.

Well-known Pecha Kucha participants have included the architects Jun Aoki, Toyo Ito, and Rem Koolhaas, designers Tom Dixon, Ron Arad, and Thomas Heatherwick, the actress Joanna Lumley, BBC newscaster Jon Snow, and Autodesk CEO Carl Bass.

Autodesk is proud to be a sponsor of Pecha Kucha, and we are committed to partnering with organizations that demonstrate and inspire innovation.

Visit the Pecha Kucha website for more information and to find a location near you.