Steve Jobs’ mastery of presentations laid the foundation for modern presentations. What tricks from 2001 could we see in the presentation of the iPhone 15?
Steve Jobs was an undisputed master of storytelling. His ability to engage audiences and present products effectively left an indelible mark on product presentations.
Now, as we eagerly await the launch of the iPhone 15, is a good time to remember some of the tricks that Steve Jobs used in the past and that we could see again in this next presentation.
Less is more. One of the simplest and most effective tips that Steve Jobs used to apply in his presentations was to make the font size on the slides much larger than conventional. Rather than stick to the 40-word-per-slide rule, he would stick with one word or a couple of words accompanied by powerful images.
This approach not only makes it easier for the audience to readbut also forces the presenter to be concise and clear in his message, to find the perfect, suggestive word that encompasses everything that is meant to be said about the product.
Jobs was a firm believer in simplicity.. He didn’t overwhelm the audience with unnecessary information or complicated technical details. Instead, it focused on the key and emotional aspects of Apple’s product. This created a clear and powerful message that left a lasting impression.
visual images. The human brain tends to remember information better when it is presented along with visual images. Steve Jobs understood this perfectly and used to accompany his words with significant images that reflected the message he wanted to convey. Accompanying that keyword that we mentioned before, used to come a striking image.
Give examples of quantities and data.. In the mythical presentation of the iPod, in 2001, a slide showed an image of the device and the phrase “1,000 songs in your pocket” (1,000 songs in your pocket). I could have used 5 gigs, but that’s not quantifiable: a thousand songs are.
Visual impact and rhythm. The use of the wow factor and the gradual reveal of impressive features were a fundamental part of Steve Jobs’s presentations. Instead of revealing everything at once, he kept the audience intrigued by showing off one feature after another in exciting ways.
When he introduced the iPod, he started with the storage capacity, then showed off its compact size, exemplified its use in a bedroom, and finally revealed the tagline. This gradual reveal technique generated excitement and anticipation in the audience and it happened with iPhone.
Apple gave away 250 iPods with discs included in them to everyone present
use the product. During the presentation, on several occasions, Jobs attracted attention using from the slides to himself holding the iPod, making it look small, using his screen, but also gave journalists 250 iPods with a list of 20 CDs.
Apple did not yet have the license for the songs included in the device. Therefore, the planned solution was to deliver several iPods with songs copied from compact discs to bypass the legality. Nirvana, Bob Marley, Mozart or the Beatles were there.
Now, as we wait for the iPhone 15 to launch, we’ll likely see these tricks in action once again. Attention to detail, simplicity in presentation and the ability to tell a captivating story are elements that Steve Jobs mastered to perfection. and that could influence the way the next iPhone is presented.