Who is Garr Reynolds?

Garr Reynolds is an internationally acclaimed author, designer, and educator best known for pioneering a global movement toward simplicity in communication through his best-selling, award-winning book Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. He is recognized as one of the most influential voices in the world of presentation design and visual storytelling with presentations.

As Professor of Management and Communication Design at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Garr teaches the principles of visual communication, leadership, and storytelling through the art of presentation and public speaking. His research and teaching draw deeply from Japanese aesthetics and the deep culture of Japanese art, blending the principles of simplicity, balance, and naturalness with practices of clarity, connection, and engagement.

Originally from the North Oregon Coast in the U.S., Garr worked for Sumitomo Electric, Inc. for most of the ’90s in Osaka, Japan before moving on to the head offices of Apple, Inc. in Silicon Valley. After his Apple days, Garr returned to Japan to accept a university position at Kansai Gaidai. It was at this time that he founded Presentation Zen® to help business people, educators, and students communicate with simplicity, clarity, authenticity and purpose. Through his books, seminars, and consulting—including appearances at conferences worldwide—he has inspired millions to embrace a more human, visual-focused approach to communication.

Garr continues to write, teach, and create from his home in Nara, Japan. An avid musician, runner, and lifelong student of the Zen arts, he brings to his work the same values that shape his life: restraint, simplicity, and naturalness.

Here’s a 90-second introduction video from the author of Presentation Zen to give you a quick overview. For questions or inquiries, please use the contact page.