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Desire Quote by Walter Isaacson

“The idea that John Lasseter pitched was called “Toy Story.” It sprang from a belief, which he and Jobs shared, that products have an essence to them, a purpose for which they were made. If the object were to have feelings, these would be based on its desire to fulfill its essence. The purpose of a…” quote by Walter Isaacson
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““The idea that John Lasseter pitched was called “Toy Story.” It sprang from a belief, which he and Jobs shared, that products have an essence to them, a purpose for which they were made. If the object were to have feelings, these would be based on its desire to fulfill its essence. The purpose of a glass, for example, is to hold water; if it had feelings, it would be happy when full and sad when empty. The essence of a computer screen is to interface with a human. The essence of a unicycle is to be ridden in a circus. As for toys, their purpose is to be played with by kids, and thus their existential fear is of being discarded or upstaged by newer toys. So a buddy movie pairing an old favorite toy with a shiny new one would have an essential drama to it, especially when the action revolved around the toys’ being separated from their kid. The original treatment began, “Everyone has had the traumatic childhood experience of losing a toy. Our story takes the toy’s point of view as he loses and tries to regain the single thing most important to him: to be played with by children. This is the reason for the existence of all toys. It is the emotional foundation of their existence.””

Walter Isaacson

About This Quote

Source Interview: Walter Isaacson on Pixar, 2011

Products are imagined to have an essential purpose; when that purpose is denied, they experience existential fear, mirroring human need for purpose and belonging.

In simple terms: Objects have a purpose; losing it causes fear.

Key Takeaway

Design with clear purpose and respect for that purpose.

Themes

purpose existential fear design creativity human‑object relationship

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

analytical creative

When to use this quote

  • product development
  • marketing
  • storytelling
  • user experience

Key Concepts

philosophy of design psychology of attachment brand identity

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does purpose shape a product’s success?
  • Can purpose be redefined without loss?
A Different Perspective

Assuming objects have feelings can oversimplify complex human emotions.

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