How to farm?
The briefing was clear: we needed key art representing agriculture in Star Atlas. Drawing inspiration from the lush, serene landscapes of Naboo in Star Wars, the initial sketch set the tone, firmly rooted in this vision. The target era: the year 2700.
Star Atlas is set 700 years in the future. As shown in the research sheet (one of many), my process began by looking 700 years into the past. I explored historical agricultural practices, compared them to current methods, and identified both enduring principles and technological shifts. These insights formed the foundation for imagining agriculture 700 years into the future.
Visual Brainstorming
Armed with a solid foundation of research, I felt ready to translate the initial ideas in my mind into visual form, resulting in a series of grayscale thumbnail sketches. As the project evolved, we chose to explore two distinct directions: one artwork set inside a greenhouse, and another in an open-air environment featuring towering vertical farms, structures that not only produce food but also play a role in the ongoing terraforming efforts.
Vehicle Design
Moving forward, I began kitbashing vehicles, an approach that led to retro-inspired designs defined by their clear functionality. It’s essential to me that every element in the design serves a purpose. Form follows function.
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Greenhouse direction
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Vertical greenhouse hub direction
This glass roof looks far too delicate and fragile to endure the harsh conditions of alien planets.
Some set dressing
The layout of the fields is designed to allow high-speed harvesters to move smoothly and effortlessly across the terrain.
I imagined expansive vertical farming structures inside the greenhouse, introducing a new dimension to the fields, also reflecting current trends in vertical farming.
This happy accident with the fog vividly reminded me of a rain shower, inspiring the idea to include rain cranes in the scene.
Design for the Vertical Terraform Farming Tower.
In this shot, you can see the revolver mechanism. Just like in industrial cow milking, the ships dock in a circular arrangement to collect the harvested produce. Once again, drawing inspiration from modern agriculture.
Vertical farms. A lot.
With all elements and vehicles positioned in the scene, my focus shifted to refining details, fine-tuning the lighting, and adding decorative touches. Once again, everything is grounded in modern agriculture. This provides a point of connection for both players and viewers to engage with the image. Sci-fi that isn’t grounded feels boring and disconnected.
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