20 images, 20 seconds each.

That's six minutes, 40 seconds, and that's how much time 16 architects, painters, photographers, conceptual artists and sculptors will have to share their work and ideas in a relaxed, informal environment.

It's called Pecha Kucha Night, an idea that originated in Tokyo in 2003 as a way for young designers to showcase their work. Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, British architects who migrated to Tokyo in the late 1980s and later founded Klein Dytham architecture (KDa) there, launched Pecha Kucha Night also as a way to attract people to SuperDeluxe, their multimedia experimental event space.

In five years it has spread virally to 142 cities, including Pittsburgh, where the first Pecha Kucha Night will be held on the evening of Oct. 24. Presenters, who had to register by Sept. 30, don't have to be young; they just have to have something to share and say. For spectators, admission to the event is $10.

The night of pecha kucha (PAY-chauk-chah), Japanese for chitchat or conversation, is part of the annual fall celebration called Design Pittsburgh. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Institute of Architects, it also includes the Oct. 30 design awards and an Oct. 16 gala (both 6 to 9 p.m.) featuring the premiere of a seven-minute digital video on innovations in Pittsburgh architecture. The video will be part of "America's Favorite Architecture," a national AIA-produced touring exhibit that opens Downtown at Space gallery in January.

Among the Pecha Kucha presenters are architects Gary Carlough, Eric Fisher, Rob Pfaffmann and Mimi Jong.

Jong runs her 11-year-old practice in Mt. Lebanon, designing small houses, additions and interior renovations as well as the occasional storefront, such as the tiny, metal-clad Wax Jewelry Design Studio at 5901 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside (for many decades home to Greco's corner grocery store).

Jong, also a musician, will collaborate on a performance piece with her friend, Peruvian-born architect Victor Beltran, an illustrator with Astorino. She will play the two-string Chinese violin while he paints; images of her buildings and his earlier paintings will display on a screen.

"We will inspire each other," she trusts.

Jong hopes the event will promote cultural diversity, among other things.

"I am Indonesian-born of Chinese descent and German-trained," Jong said. "I want to see Pittsburgh as an open, world city."

As for the time constraint, "I think it is great," she said. "Like when you open a faucet, you have high pressure and a little opening, the power is stronger."

Pfaffmann will present his ideas for reusing Mellon Arena, as he did last year in the Post-Gazette (The Next Page, Feb. 11, 2007) and last month at the 10th International Docomomo Conference in Rotterdam, Netherlands. This year Docomomo (DOcumentation and COnservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the MOdern MOvement) called for papers on "The Challenge of Change: Dealing with the Legacy of the Modern Movement"; Pfaffmann's idea of reinventing the arena as the anchor for a new urban plan fit right in.

Pecha Kucha Night, co-sponsored by AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) Pittsburgh, starts at 8:20 p.m. Oct. 24; social hour starts at 7:20.

All Design Pittsburgh events will be held at 121 Seventh St., Downtown, in the large, open space on the 6th floor. Information: 412-471-9548.

The Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, which began offering pro-bono design services 40 years ago as the Pittsburgh Architects Workshop, is celebrating its birthday year and the city's 250th with a three-lecture Design Excellence series beginning Oct. 27, when San Francisco architect Fred Dust of IDEO presents "Tales of the City: New Public Collaborations." Dust leads multidisciplinary design teams as head of IDEO's international Smart Space group. It practices what Metropolis magazine last year called "urban planning as branding: define the spirit of a place and let others articulate that space -- whether in bricks, mortar, tax breaks or billboards."

Dust's 45-minute talk begins at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a panel discussion about the presentation by local design practitioners Anne-Marie Lubeneau, president of the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh; Urban Redevelopment Authority director Rob Stephany; and architect and urban planner Rami el Samahy, founding member of the Boston firm over,under (overcommaunder.com) and adjunct assistant professor in Carnegie Mellon University's School of Architecture.

On its Web site, CDCP calls IDEO's approach "a new way we can begin to think about Pittsburgh." Location: University Center at Point Park University, 414 Wood St., Downtown.

And on Nov. 8, CDCP will revive the Palladian Ball in the Kerotest Building in the Strip District. Lou Astorino and Art Lubetz, early members of the Pittsburgh Architects Workshop, are honorary co-chairs. Costumes encouraged.