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Concept artist David Levy on Tron design process

By Rain Noe - December 8, 2010

in Object Culture

What a dream gig--after being hired to do the designs for Tron: Legacy, concept artist David Levy had his inspiration delivered to him: A stack of original sketches by Syd Mead and French comics artist Jean Giraud, a/k/a Moebius, from the first Tron flick.

Den of Geek's posted an interview with Levy, and another thing we found interesting besides inheriting the Mead/Moebius stack is Levy's design process. We're now spoiled for choice in the amount of ways we can blend technology and analog media for creative projects, so Levy likes to mix it up:

Q: How do you work? Do you use traditional techniques, or work straight onto a computer?

A: It's a very strange process. Because very often, when we do the same thing on the time, we always repeat the same shapes, so it's good to vary. On many occasions on Tron, I'd switch back to pencils, just so I could break away from the habits I have with a computer. But honestly, it's whatever works.

So one day I can just sketch on paper with a pencil, and then I can scan that image and turn it into a 3D model, maybe, and sometimes the opposite - I'll create a 3D model, make a print of it, and have Joe sketch on it directly, or sometimes Darren Gilford, the production designer, would just sketch on it directly. It's very organic.

I think it's bad to always have the same habit, because you tend to re-do the same things, so it's very important to change mediums.

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Emily Jane

8 years ago

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Very cool design! I realy love it! You and archicgi.com are my favourites designers.

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Emily Jane

8 years ago

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Nice work! Look at our works at archicgi.com. We are one of the largest <a href="http://archicgi.com/3d-visualization-company-changed-my-client-approach/"><strong>3d visualization company</strong></a> in the world.

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cube3

13 years ago

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"I think it's bad to always have the same habit, because you tend to re-do the same things, so it's very important to change mediums"

good advice:)
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jeff bare

13 years ago

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i find having more choices of mediums for design exploration to be beneficial and i enjoy jumping around too. i wonder if i'm limiting myself to not becoming extremely proficient in one single tool that way, but i guess i feel comfortable enough in all of mediums that doesn't matter...
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