Gouache rendering titled "San Angeles," a cityscape for Blade Runner (1981). The original painting was lost on tour when exhibited in 1991.

In 2015, we spoke with the visionary designer behind the look of Blade Runner and other sci-fi classics Editor?s note: Due to complications of lymphoma cancer, Syd Mead passed away this morning at 4:30am in Pasadena, California, according to Roger Servick, his partner and business manager.
?We don?t go into the future from zero, we drag the whole past in with us.? Many of us have predictions or pictures in our heads of what the future might look like. Syd Mead?a noted illustrator, concept artist, and visual futurist?is one of the rare few who was asked to put those images onto paper and out into the world. For decades, his groundbreaking designs and artwork for a variety of corporations, creative firms, and cinematic projects have become synonymous with looking forward. His film work alone, which includes Blade Runner (he worked on the original and consulted on Blade Runner 2049), Aliens, and TRON, gave a generation a glimpse into what technology and design may have in store. Mead says that he would use architecture as a sort of ?magical background? in his work. Curbed spoke with him in 2015 about his architectural influences and his views on the future of urban design.

Gouache rendering for National Geographic Picture Atlas of Our Universe (1980) depicting hydroponic agriculture in space. This render...