The big news out of Apple’s latest WWDC was the introduction of the Vision Pro headset, which looks a lot like what a lot of us envisioned computing in the future would look like.
It’s basically a VR headset where you can still see the room around you, but with an Apple operating system projected into the space, which you can interact with, view images at larger-than-life size, and more.
But, we’re not a tech publication, per se, so our focus from WWDC is on a smaller scale. We’re more interested in what the attendees got for showing up, in addition to a sense of wonder about the Vision Pro.
This year, the WWDC promotions leaned into Apple’s rainbow design that it used for its old logo, as well as the “spinning wheel” design while programs load. This could also be a nod to June being Pride Month, too. This being a high tech event, however, Apple also used a sleek, minimal, black design for a lot of the products.
Thanks to a post from Mac Rumors, we saw that that attendees got a branded black and white tote bag, a black tumbler with #WWDC23 engraved in silver, and a black-on-black cap with the embroidered WWDC23 barely visible. They also received pins of the spinning wheel, an original iPod, a rainbow, a melting face emoji, a black Apple logo, and the number 23.
#WWDC23 swag! pic.twitter.com/egGvwu2wQH
— Paul Hudson (@twostraws) June 4, 2023
Additionally, Mac Rumors said that attendees received a flag pin of their home country, which adds a nice personal touch to it, rather than it just being a one-size-fits all promotion. It’s that small attention to detail that will stand out to people, perhaps even more than being told they can watch a movie projected right in front of them at theater quality.
Apple is one of the most brand-conscious companies out there, meaning that its aesthetic is almost as important as the actual quality of the products. Steve Jobs made it his mission to stand out from the competition through the look and feel of Apple. This does a good job maintaining that brand image while allowing for splashes of color amidst the minimal tech world.
It also indicates that people really want enamel pins, maybe even more than VR headsets. Being that tote bags are all the rage right now, enamel pins make great accessories for them.
