Syd Mead Interview Questions - POST HERE

admin · Site Admin Joined: 20 Oct 2007 Posts: 14

Greetings community members! In honor of the Blade Runner Final Cut DVD Visual Futurist Syd Mead is taking questions from Illusion's viewers. Syd Mead, the visionary behind much of the cyberpunk aesthetic will be answering select questions which are posted to our community forums. If your question is selected it will appear in the Illusion Profile of Syd Mead.

All questions must be submitted by midnight on Monday November 19th to be eligible for inclusion.

Please visit http://www.sydmead.com to learn more about his life and work.

Crossposted.

Please post all interview questions to this thread!

Gomez Adama · Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 21

What was syd's inspiration for the environmental look of Tron?

JoLeyden · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 65

Did your time in Okinawa and Hong Kong during 1954-1955 influence the subsequent direction of your art in any way?

Also, has the reception of your work in Japan been noticeably different than the reception of your work in the states? If so, in what ways has it been different?

driller killer · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 8

Did you read Phillip K. Dick's novel , or did you only go by what was in the film script?

3Dsurge · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

What advice does Syd have for a concept designer who wants to have a consistent work history? Is it better to work at a studio or freelance? how important is generalization vs. specialization?

ORGUSS · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 39

when Syd was reworking the Gundam designs did he draw on his experience from automotive design?

Also, in The Island, were the automotive / aquatic design renderings original concepts by Syd or was there heavy direction involved? It seemed like the renderings looked like "fun work"

Smiling Jack · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 15

I'd like to know how Syd was able to put his own stamp on the hardware of the Alien universe. The original designs from "Alien" seem somewhat related to Syd's vision. Did he use them as a base and apply that futurism magic to designs which were already futurism?

Maybe an easier phrasing would be something about if his process is based evolution of function starting with ANY base design more than making up "cool looks".

joejoe2 · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

I have read Syd's Ballistic profile and wanted to know how he accepts clients. Does he take all projects offered or does he consider the artistic merit before accepting?

slimgenius · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 5

How important is it to Syd that his mechanical designs be "real-world" functional?

kumar · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

I love Syd's work on Tron. Was he ever concerned about their ability to actually film accurate interpretations of his concepts?