Did you know that you can describe a product in the same way that Pixar designs its stories?

1. The Pixar story format
• Once upon a time there was …
• Every day …
• One day …
• Because of that …
• Because of that …
• Until finally …

2. Finding Nemo
• Once upon a time there was a fish named Marlin.
• Every day Marlin warned his son Nemo not to
swim too far away.
• One day Nemo swam into the open water.
• Because of that Nemo was caught and put in a
dentist’s aquarium.
• Because of that Marlin went searching for his son,
meeting other sea creatures along the way.
• Until finally the two reuinited.

3. Your amazing product
• Once upon a time there was a member of a
target audience with a huge problem.
• Every day the problem caused this person
deep, searing pain.
• One day the user discovered Product X.
• Because of that their pain was cured.
• Because of that they were able to be more
productive, or more satisfied.
• Until finally they were able to do something
amazing.

4. In other words …
• Find a real problem backed up by research.
• Come up with a novel solution.
• Define a persona who epitomizes the audience.
• Imagine a transformative story that this persona
will undergo as a result of your product.
• Think of how the product can change someone’s
life, the world, or both!