Syd Mead, American industrial designer and neo-futuristic concept artist responsible for designs featured in Blade Runner, Alien, and Tron, has passed away at the age of 86, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. Mead died while at his Pasadena home on Monday, December 30, following a three-year battle with lymphoma. He is survived by his spouse, Roger Servick, a sister, and multiple nieces and nephews.
After attending the Art Center School in Los Angeles, now known as the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Mead designed cars at Ford Motor Co.’s Advanced Styling Studio. He then ventured out on his own, freelancing for the likes of Atlas Cement, U.S. Steel, and Allis Chalmers. Upon forming Syd Mead Inc., he worked for Philips Electronics and created architectural renderings throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Soon thereafter, Mead's work was recognized by Hollywood studios as he transitioned to producing conceptual artwork and products for numerous films including Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Blade Runner, Tron, Aliens, Mission: Impossible III, Elysium, Tomorrowland, and Blade Runner 2049, among other pictures.
Recently, Mead was honored with 2015's Visual Effects Society Award and the Art Directors Guild's William Cameron Menzies Award.
While many continue to remember Syd Mead, accomplished footwear designer and current design director of YEEZY, Steven Smith, has said, "The single biggest influence on my life as a designer has passed. Thanks for showing us the future my friend."
