PechaKucha

PechaKucha, which roughly translates to “chit-chat” in Japanese, is a creative speaking event that originated in Tokyo in 2003. The unique format, a kind of speed-dating version of a TED Talk, invites 10 guest speakers to each develop a presentation on a creative topic within the strict parameters of 20 slides (image slots) and 20 seconds per slide. The slides are set on a timer out of the control of the presenters, so the cumulative effect of 10 short presentations, just over six minutes each, leads to a fast and furious evening of entertainment and creative inspiration.

The program has included a diverse array of established personalities and amateurs, professionals and hobbyists, speakers well into their later years and even a 13-year-old architecture enthusiast.

Design Austin partnered with PechaKucha Night Austin in 2024, starting with PechaKucha Austin #37 on April 4, 2024 at the historic Millbrook Estate in South Austin.

No other non-profit event in Austin provides our city’s creative leaders an opportunity to discuss what stokes their passion.

Over the years, PechaKucha Austin has featured presenters from a wide array of creative endeavors, including graphic designers, painters, sculptors, architects, photographers, collagists, musicians, cartoonists, writers, slam poets, graffiti artists, community activists, choreographers, philanthropists, composers, interior designers, chefs, comedians, filmmakers, Freemasons, fashion designers, sign makers, actors, puppeteers and burlesque dancers. PechaKucha Austin presenters have included:

CHEFS including Tyson Cole and Philip Speer
MUSICIANS including Joe Ely, Jon Dee Graham, Melát, Erin Ivey, Darden Smith, Rosie Flores, William Graham, Chris Layton, Gina Chavez, Graham Reynolds, Ephraim Owens, Wendy Colona, Brian Beattie, Michael Hall, Sahara Smith, the late George Reiff, Michael Ramos, Johnny Goudie, Sarah Sharpe, Suzanna Choffel, Laura Scarborough, the Minor Mishap Marching Band, Riders Against the Storm, Mela Dailey, Brannen Temple, Adrian Quesada, David Pulkingham, Carrie Rodriguez, Robert Kraft, Savannah Welch and Sabrina Ellis.
RADIO PERSONALITIES AND DJS including DJ Mel, DJ Mixer Rogers, Jody Denberg, Miles Barrington, Rebecca McInroy, Elizabeth McQueen, Laurie Gallardo, John E. Dee (John L. Hanson Jr.)
FILMMAKERS including Sandra Adair, Ashley Chiles, George Sledge, Jeff Nichols, Sam Douglas the late Andrew Shapter, David Harstein, and Cathleen Sutherland
ARCHITECTS including Herman Dyal, Wendy Dunham Tita, Peter Mullan, Larry Speck, Ken Johnson, Michael Hsu, Thomas Bercy, Emily Little, William Graham, Jack Sanders and Lucy Beg
DANCERS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS including Jorie Lodés, Anne-Charlotte Patterson, Morgan Stillman, Elise Pekarek, Blue Lapis Dance Troupe, Jennifer Sherburn, Catherine Davis and Michael J. Love
FASHION DESIGNERS including Gail Chovan, Kathie Lebeck Sever, and Ana Davidson
PHOTOGRAPHERS including Randall Ford, Rino Pizzi, Jay B. Sauceda, Joel Salcido, Kenny Braun, George Brainard, O. Rufus Lovett, Dan Winters, James Evans, Sarah Wilson, Nine Francois, Erin Trieb, Mark Shapiro and Wyatt McSpadden
WRITERS including the late Jan Reid, Jardine Libaire, Ernest Cline, Jason Neulander, Spike Gillespie, Joe Nick Patoski, Addie Broyles, Ihor Gowda, Lauren Ford, Katy Vine, David Courtney, Katie Ford and the late Michael Courtney, Chad Swiatecki and Stephen Harrigan
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS including Sean and Wendy Carnegie, David Kampa, Erin Mayes, DJ Stout, Dave McClinton, McCray & Co, Marc English and TJ Tucker
ARTISTS including Yuliya Lanina, Faith Schexnayder, Laurie Frick, Todd Sanders, the late Bob “Daddy-O” Wade, Jana Swec, Jan Heaton, Gerardo Arellano, Federico, Archuletta, Joe Swec, Vincent Valdez, James Surls, Evan Voyles, Todd Campbell, Jennifer Chenoweth, Dale Whistler, Steve Pietzsch, Marc Burckhardt and Elizabeth Chapin
ENTREPRENEURS including Mikaila Ulmer, Richard Bagdonas, Gay Gaddis, Tito Beveridge, Alan Stulberg, and Victor Diaz
CITY SHAPERS including Lana McGilvray, Ana Lopez, Dr. Mini Khalon, Wendy Davis, Zane Willemon, Veronica Castro de Barrera, Meredith Powell, Celeste Quesada, Merlin Tuttle and Alan Graham
EDUCATORS including Gretchen Graham, Ricardo Ainslie and Ana Davidson
AND MANY MORE….

FOUNDERS Herman Dyal and Carla Fraser
CO-DIRECTORS DJ Stout and Lana McGilvray
MANAGERS Andrea Hyland and Davian-Lynn Hopkins

CURATORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Herman Dyal, Carla Fraser, DJ Stout, Lana McGilvray, Bradley Bechtol, Darden Smith, Gail Chovan, Evan Voyles, Nelson Guda, Alan Weinberger, Stacey Abel, William Graham, Johnny Goudie, Kathy Marcus, John Kunz, Marcellina Kampa, Ihor Gowda, Celeste Quesada, Jason Neulander, Ron Pippin, Rebecca McInroy, Ingrid Spencer, George Sledge, Katy Vine, Jennifer Chenoweth, Gretchen Graham, Christian Helms, Andrea Hyland and Davian-Lynn Hopkins.