The Lasting Legacy of Alien: A Journey Through Concept Design
Giger’s Visionary Art
"I am afraid of my visions." Thus spoke H.R. Giger, the artist whose paintings led to him being engaged by director Ridley Scott to design the xenomorph for the first Alien film in the late 1970s. Giger’s art, showcased in his book Necronomicon IV, and his subsequent work for Alien, sparked a dazzling tradition of dynamic and inventive creature and worldbuilding design across a memorable series of films and wider pop culture.
The Influence of Ron Cobb
Also foundational to the work undertaken for Romulus was the art of Ron Cobb, who had been one of two principal designers on the original Alien film released in 1979. Cobb’s designs, along with those of Chris Foss, were foundational when it came to establishing the Alien aesthetic. Indeed, their contributions went so deep that Cobb also designed fictional corporate insignia for integration with John Mollo’s costume design for the maiden film.
Inspiration and Legacy
That iconic collection of art left a major mark on concept designer Matt Savage, who went on to work on spaceship designs for Romulus. "As a teenager, I was obsessed with Giger and Ron Cobb’s work," he recalls. "With Cobb’s art, I always felt like I could see a way to produce that work; it felt achievable. My brain isn’t unplugged from reality like Giger’s is. I still find Ron Cobb completely inspirational – he’s the big one."
The Evolution of Alien Design
Such was the effectiveness of Cobb’s work on the original film that for its 1986 sequel Aliens, writer and director James Cameron brought him back into the design space, where he worked on the settings of Hadley’s Hope and the Atmosphere Processor, and on the military design of the dropship and various tech used by the marines.
Alien: Romulus and Beyond
For 2017 entry Alien: Covenant, meanwhile, the visual language again assumed a distinct aesthetic. Key to this was the concept and design work produced by the Visualisation team at famed VFX studio MPC. The task undertaken by the unit included designing the alien environment discovered by the Covenant crew, as well as the design of the xenomorph and the neomorph.
Conclusion
The Alien saga endures as a myth and, as such, looks likely to continue providing artists with a creatively rich opportunity to explore deeply resonant images that dig down into ideas of fear and the unknown.
FAQs
Q: What is the significance of Giger’s art in the Alien franchise?
A: Giger’s art, showcased in his book Necronomicon IV, and his subsequent work for Alien, sparked a dazzling tradition of dynamic and inventive creature and worldbuilding design across a memorable series of films and wider pop culture.
Q: How did Ron Cobb’s designs influence the Alien franchise?
A: Cobb’s designs, along with those of Chris Foss, were foundational when it came to establishing the Alien aesthetic. His contributions went so deep that Cobb also designed fictional corporate insignia for integration with John Mollo’s costume design for the maiden film.
Q: What is the role of concept design in the Alien franchise?
A: Concept designers like Matt Savage and Col Price have played a crucial role in shaping the visual language of the Alien franchise, bringing new and innovative designs to life through their work on various films and projects.
