Product Design Principles borrowed from Pixar

Lessons from Pixar’s Creative Movie Creation Process

Pixar’s journey from turning creative ideas into blockbuster movies can teach us a lot about making amazing products. Pixar isn’t just about animation technology — it’s about nurturing a simple idea until it becomes a polished product that people everywhere can enjoy. For product designers, Pixar’s methods provide a powerful guide to make design work better, foster creativity, and create impactful solutions. Below, we explore how Pixar’s way of working can help product designers bring their vision to life.

#1 Vision driven innovation

Principle: Start with a bold, long-term vision that inspires and leads the team, even if the goal seems far off.

Pixar began with an ambitious goal: to make the first-ever fully computer-animated movie. Back then, this goal seemed impossible, but it gave the team a “north star” to work towards. As a product designer, having a big vision like this helps your team stay excited and focused. It makes sure everyone is working toward the same goal, no matter how far away it might seem.

Action: Define a “north star” for your product, even if it might take years to achieve. Break that vision down into smaller, achievable steps. By keeping your eyes on the bigger picture, each small step takes you closer to something truly transformative. For instance, if your dream is to change how users interact with a particular experience, think of the smaller features or changes that will lead you there over time.

#2 Tool first mindset

Principle: Build the tools you need to reach your vision — sometimes these tools become just as important as the product itself.

Pixar knew they needed special tools to make their dreams happen. Instead of waiting for others to create those tools, they built them themselves. This idea applies to product designers too — don’t just focus on the product, but also make the tools that help you build it better and faster.

Action: Identify what’s slowing your team down or blocking your creativity. Are there gaps in what your team can do? Maybe you need faster prototypes or better analytics tools. Building or adopting custom…