Asia interviews Syd Mead, visual futurist and concept artist, best known for his designs for science-fiction films such as Blade Runner, Aliens and Tron. Of his work, Mead once moved to comment: «I’ve called science fiction ‘reality ahead of schedule’». Mead was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota on July 18, 1933. He graduated from high school in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1951. After serving a three-year enlistment in the US Army, Syd Mead continued on to the Art Center School in Los Angeles, where he graduated in June, 1959. He was recruited by the Ford Motor Company’s Advanced Styling Studio. Mead left the studio after two years to accept a variety of assignments to illustrate books and catalogues for large corporate entities such as United States Steel. In 1970, he launched Syd Mead, Inc. Syd Mead lives and works in Pasadena, California.
Syd Mead kindly agreed to give this interview to Asia.