RIP Syd Mead (Blade Runner, TRON Designer) | Hacker News Reader

RIP Syd Mead (Blade Runner, TRON Designer)

sydmead.com

256 pointscampuscodi18 comments

Here is a video slide show of some of Mead's art: [1], some of which still looks very cool and futuristic even today, and an interesting interview with him: [2]

[1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edVznYyqpJU

[2] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkAMSnRvMBI

I put Syd Mead in the same bucket as HR Giger - two absolutely brilliant artists with completely opposite visions of what the future might look like.

Maybe because they worked on some of the same films together, Mead feels closer in spirit to Mobius than Giger. Mead had the cool cars and Mobius the mad psychedelic landscapes.

Either way, Mead was an inspiration and his world is one I’ve wanted to inhabit as long as I can remember.

Love them both. One is extremely organic and the other is a sort of macro greeble feel.

Rest in Peace designer of our aesthetic futures.

Gritty neon mechanical electronica.

Peaked in his late 40s which should give hope to many...

I agree that he peaked later on but the work he did for US Steel as a 28 year old is iconic and amazing as well - the guy was a talent from very early on:

http://www.gavinrothery.com/my-blog/2012/8/6/syd-mead-us-ste...

These are gorgeous and still feel very fresh and vibrant. Thank you for sharing.

Wow, agreed, thank you.

Thanks Syd, for 2 of the most iconic movies I love and their seriously incredible design.

Confirmed here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/syd.mead/permalink/101580502...

Bladerunner aside, I always wanted to live in Syd Mead's future. Sunsets and an orgy of chrome. Well, orgies anyway. ;-)

Before Tron and Bladerunner I had come across his stuff in books and magazines and was blown away. This walking cargo machine from 1969: http://cyberneticzoo.com/walking-machines/1970-walking-cargo...

Syd Mead's designs are some of my favorite. Always loved that retro futuristic look.

He was a designer for the 1990 movie Solar Crisis, and you can see a lot of the elements that he used earlier in Blade Runner.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100649/

thanks for one of the most iconic and different entries in the Gundam universe.

Tomino, the primary creator of the series, has publicly regarded it (Syd's designs and hire) as a mistake, but i've always loved the different ultra-future aesthetic that Mead brought to the franchise.

[0]: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/the-lasting-appeal-o...

[1]: https://www.otakuusamagazine.com/gundam-creator-blasts-today...

RIP. Syd Mead was an inspiration for so many artists. I love the clean lines and crisp simplicity of the shapes he uses. It reminds me of design work by Dieter Rams, but for the entertainment industry.

Rest In Peace Mr. Mead!

Your inspiration will not be forgotten.

What do you think Syd would think of the future we are currently receiving?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com