Syd Mead: His work

Following are some graphics found in the web about Syd Mead and his work.

July 3, 2009 Futurist Syd Mead

It is not often that I get the opportunity to exchange thoughts and/or learn from creative minds like Syd Mead but here is an email he sent to me which I find superb and very exciting.

From: Syd Mead
Subject: Re: SYD MEAD Request Form
To: gonzalo.camacho@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009, 7:44 PM
Re: SYD MEAD Request Form

My dear GONSALO. I lived in Detroit from 1959 until I moved out here to Southern California in 1975. I had a mansion in the Indian Village enclave and had lots of fun. I truly enjoyed my days in Detroit until... By the time I moved, Crowley’s department store was closed and torn down, The Sheraton Cadillac hotel closed, the other major hotel closed down, the Lafayette hotel... The ‘people mover’ was a great idea about twenty years too late. ...bright spot left ‘hanging on’ is/are the Detroit Institute of Art, the Detroit Athletic club (if that’s still going), the Whitney restaurant on Woodward (if that is still going?) and the Center for Creative Studies college which is your local competitor for Art Center, and very good, by the way. I’ve made several presentations there in the past years. I moved, really, because my business started to be in Europe, the west coast, New York City, Chicago and the far east. There was no longer any reason to shovel show, shave ice off the roof and pay lots and lots of money for heating bills. The future of Detroit? ... The future could be brilliant, given Detroit’s position as a water-edge city with a rich, impressive history. It was the single most boisterous, successful invention center of the country ‘back when.’ I have great admiration for your enthusiasm and for your optimistic view. I wish you success and, I suppose, infinite faith in the possibilities.

The transportation possibilities of the Detroit area are well positioned to be a major transfer point from Canada given the freeway network. It’s a tragedy that train service no longer services the metropolitan area at all. The old train station is a derelict in a derelict, ruined area of the city. Grand Boulevard is a shambles and well, it is just sad.

SYD MEAD

Following are some related links:
Portfolio of Mead's work on flickr
Joel Johnson interviews Syd Mead Part 2
Daily Briefs posts some of Syd's paintings
Picture of "Tron Mickey" at mouseplanet.com
Syd Mead 2006 Christmas card
Interview with Syd Mead by bunchofmonkeys.ed
Space illustrations by Syd Mead
Discussion on Syd Mead at boingboing.net
Interview with Syd Mead by CGSociety.org
Sevensixfive blog connecting Syd Mead and Neil Denari
Syd Mead's interpretation of futuristic Doha, Qatar