Movie history is full of brilliant images and inspired designs. But some designs have left their mark on films when the last flicker of light plays in the theater.

Check after the jump to see the designs that inspired generations of filmmakers.

11. Discovery One by Harry Lange
2001: A Space Odyssey

Discovery One concept art by Harry Lange via Digititles

Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clark set out to make the most realistic science fiction movies ever made. The common stereotype of anti-gravity generators were thrown out in favor of the scientifically accurate centrifuge that created a type of gravity. Even today it's ground breaking on a science-fiction film to be so scientific.

10. Predator Alien by Stan Winston
Predator (1987)

Predator concept design by Stan Winston

The original design for the Predator (then called Hunter) was a bug like alien. Make up designer Stan Winston created the most unique looking alien ever. It was James Cameron that suggested the mandibles.

9. Star Trek Enterprise by Matt Jefferies
Star Trek (1966)

Star Trek Enterprise by Matt Jeffries source

The design of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) broke all the rules. Roddenberry wanted to get away from the cigar shaped designs from 1950s science-fiction and Star Trek art director Matt Jefferies was the man to do it. With Jeffries' experience in aviation, he was able to design a ship that was unique, familiar and majestic. From the unique look of the engines, to it's unconventional design, it rewrote the book on spaceship design and ushered in a whole new world.

8. Machine Man (Maschinenmensch) by Walter Schulze-Mittendorff
Metropolis (1927)

Metropolis Machine Man by Walter Schulze-Mittendorff source

The robot woman in the German film Metropolis has influenced designers for decades. Star Wars' C-3PO was heavily influenced by her design.


7. Delorean Time Machine by Ron Cobb and Andrew Probert
Back to the Future (1985)

Delorean designs by Ron Cobb source

Designed by Ron Cobb, and finished by Andrew Probert, the Delorean is the most unique time machine ever designed. The car company went bankrupt after a

6. Planet of the Apes Statue of Liberty by Don Peters
Planet of the Apes (1968)

The ending of the original 1963 novel, Planet of the Apes (La Planète des Singes) by Pierre Boulle,had a distant world taken over by apes. It was only when Don Peters drew the image of the State of Liberty buried in the sand that the greatest twist ending of all time was created. Several people, including screen-writer Rod Serling, took responsibility for the idea. Peters claims that it was his idea alone, from preliminary sketches for Arthur P. Jacobs when the film was in development at Warner Bros.


5. Robby the Robot by Robert Kinoshita.
Forbidden Planet (1955)

The initial design was sketched by Arnold "Buddy" Gillespie, refined by production illustrator Mentor Huebner, and then turned into reality under the direction of mechanical designer Robert Kinoshita. Multiple designs were created for the concept of Robby the Robot in the 1955 film Forbidden Planet, but Kinoshita did the final design that created the most iconic and popular robot ever.


4. "Spinner" Police Cars by Syd Mead
Blade Runner (1982)

Blade Runner car designs by Syd Mead source

The entire look of Blade Runner has set the standard for dystopian science-fiction. It's gritty style and futuristic designs has influenced science fiction films, anime, video games, and television programs like Battlestar Galactica. Syd Mead's car designs, known as "Spinners," that have set the standard for flying cars.

3. Xenomorph by H. R. Giger
Alien (1979)

H.R. Giger Alien source

The Alien design is credited to Swiss surrealist and artist H. R. Giger. It started in a lithograph called "Necronom IV", but was refined for the film Alien. The Alien design is the most effective biomechanical design ever. Not only is the design imitated in other sci-fi movies, but video games like Metroid and Contra have used it as well.


2. Darth Vader by Ralph Mc Quarrie
Star Wars (1977)
 

Early Darth Vader sketch by Ralph McQuarrie source

The most famous villain ever is known for his skull-like mask. While director George Lucas created the character, it was Ralph McQuarrie that came up with the idea of Vader wearing a gas mask to travel onto the ship. McQuarrie's done some amazing designs, but this one stand above them all.


1. Terminator by James Cameron
Terminator (1984)

Director James Cameron is also an accomplished artist. His drawing of the murderous Terminator robot with half his face missing has become the symbol of terror for decades. Every Terminator film has used it.

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If you're a fan of concept designers, like Syd Mead (Tron, Aliens, Star Trek), you've got to check out the "Blade Runner Sketchbook".

Blade Runner (1982) is a Ridley Scott film starring Harrison Ford as a Rick Deckard  prowls the steel-and-microchip jungle of 21st-century Los Angeles. He's a 'blade runner' stalking genetically made criminal replicants.
Besides the amazing and rare concept art in the book, we also find and interesting glimpse into the mind of visionary director Ridley Scott. He was so concerned with the shape and visual profile of the objects in his film that he had Syd Mead redesign parking meters from sleek cylinders to make them chunky and more interesting.

Charles Knode and Michael Kaplan's 1940's inspired costumes are in full display too. Here are some samples from the book.

Interior Deckard's apartment entry

Interior "Spinner" vehicle

Alternate police "spinner" vehicle design

Fire hydrant designs

Parking meter design

Alternate "spinner" vehicle design

Deckard gun design

You can use the embedded book below to read it.

Open publication - Free publishing - More blade runner

 

You can find the book online courtesy of Futurenoir and see more of Syd Mead's designs at sydmead.com

Even though the book is out of print you can still get a copy by searching Amazon or eBay. Just get ready to drop a couple of hundred dollars.

Via Wired.com

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Syd Mead did a lot of amazing illustrations for the film Tron (1982). Specifically, Sark’s carrier and camp, the tanks, the CPU, various scenic sets and graphics; title graphic and alpha numeric “TRON” typeface. Those designs would help shape the imagery of films and television for decades.

An industrial designer by trade he was one of three concept artists called in to help bring Steven Lisberger's vision to life. I'll feature more concept art from Jean Giraud (aka Moebius) and Peter Lloyd later on.

Costume Designs

Tron circuit costume design

Yori's costume

Vehicle Designs

Light Cycles 

Interestingly, Syd Mead's original vision of seeing the rider of the cycle would only be realized by the sequel Tron: Legacy (2011)

Interior and Set Designs

Interior of Recognizer

Interior of Clu's Light Tank

Find out more about the legendary futurist at his website SydMead.com

This post wouldn't have been possible with material from several sites like Tron-Sector.

What do you think about Syd Mead's Tron work? What did it inspire?

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Blade Runner "Curb Scene" Concept Art by Syd Mead

Syd Mead is a concept artist and designer for movies like Minority Report, Tron and Blade Runner. In an interview with NPR, the veteran artist describes his approach to producing futuristic concept art and the future of technology.

Describing himself as a "visual futurist" that starting with a script he develops his designs with the director and production designer. His greatest tool these days is the search engine "Google."

"Google is a godsend." Mead says, "You download different research tracts on that specific subject and find out that we're implanting cameras in people's eyes now,

"They're working on artificial nanoscale retinas. And so you start with that technology leap, or possibility, and then you design around that. To me, science fiction is reality ahead of schedule."

Talking about things as diverse as Iris scanners, like the ones in Minority Report he says "If something is a good idea, then it will probably come true, either because of economic pressures, or just simply invention. Technology tends to climb on its own past accomplishments. If you've solved three or four problems, you can probably solve eight more."

Its interesting to hear how he uses current technology to drive his art and create realism.

Overall, it's a good short article and well worth hearing from one of the premiere artists in the industry.

Head over to NPR to read the article and check out amazing work on Syd Mead's website http://sydmead.com.

What do you think? Can an artist predict the future using Google? 
 [Image Source: http://www.wired.com]

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Tim Flattery is an amazing conceptual artist and took some time out to give me this exclusive interview.

His career spans two decades and has worked on some of Hollywood's biggest films from Back to the Future to Transformers.

What's it like for you being a concept artist?
It's rewarding creatively and a great way to make a living!

How would you describe your style and approach to your art?
The first half of my career was more traditional... using paint and markers. Now, my approach relies on the computer along with 2d and 3d software. I will still sketch with a pencil but all my painting and rendering is done in the computer now. As far as style, I generally rely on nature as my influence when it comes to design. I refer to everything from bugs to sea life to microscopic bacteria, etc.

Could you tell us the path you took to become a conceptual illustrator?
I went to art school and studied industrial design in Michigan but I knew I wanted to work in the film industry so I worked on a separate portfolio geared for that. Once I graduated I moved to California and started knocking on doors. I got a break when I met John Dykstra and he gave me my first job. From there it was a matter of doing good work and getting known in the Hollywood community.

You've done a lot of work at all types of concept design from clothing to vehicle and weapon design. Is there a type of design that you find most rewarding?
I love doing it all but I would have to say, coming from an Industrial design background, designing hardware fulfills the geek in me the most. Nothing like the challenge of a new spaceship or vehicle!

Your drawing of the Transformers aircraft character "Tidal Wave" took the Internet by storm. Do you think the fan support of the character will translate to the big screen?

"Tidal Wave" was great fun but was eventually cut out of the script. I have seen how the Internet can influence production in the past but I think in this case we would've seen him by now... but you never know.

Could you explain the design of the organic-looking Batmobile that you did for the 1995 Joel Schumacher film Batman Forever?
I initially did five designs and Joel picked a very faceted, stealth looking design. Here is a picture of the model not seen before.

After thinking thru it farther, he decided he wanted something more organic so it was back to the drawing board. The reference I used was everything from bats, bugs and crustaceans to Giger. Once the design was finalized, we did another scale model (see below) and from there began construction on the full-size vehicle.

You mentioned in an interview that the vehicle molds of the Batmobile were made of clay while the design of the Fantastic Four Fantasticar went closer to development. How do you see technology moving to bring designs to the screen?
It's a much more efficient process now. Until 10 years ago we were sculpting everything in clay and molding it from there. Now we mill the mold directly eliminating the clay stage. The hardware and software has changed how we go about everything now. From the design concept to the construction of the design is executed totally different now and dependent on computers. It's a great process but I miss the days of amazing talent sculpting by hand.

You graduated from the College for Creative Studies. How do you feel this education helped you in your industry?
It helped me considerably. I was taught key design theory along with many different techniques for rendering with different media like gauche and markers. I had to turn that into an appropriate portfolio for the film industry because there was no Entertainment Design curriculum in those days. From there I learned the rest in experience from the industry.

Are there any artists that inspired you in the past and today?
Oh yes, too many to mention all of them but some are Robert Taylor, Ralph Mcquarrie, Syd Mead and Raymond Loewy.

So, what can we look forward to from you in the future?
I just finished Real Steel (2011) [a film starring Hugh Jackman training a robot prize fighter] doing some of the robots and am currently working on Mission Impossible 4 (2011).

Check out his gallery at timflattery.com more »