The Man Who Designed Star Wars: Appreciating the Art of Ralph McQuarrie

Author image for John Summers
John Summers • Contributor
Jun 28, 2024 10:00 PM EDT

Not to diminish George Lucas's influence on modern cinema, but I truly believe that without the people around him, we would have lived in a totally different world—one where "Star Wars" was just a forgotten, cheesy, and pretty bad B-movie. If it wasn't for Marcia Lucas stepping in at the last second to re-edit the entire movie, without John Williams elevating every moment to crazy heights, and without the charisma and talent of Harrison, Mark, and Carrie, this movie would have never gotten off the ground.

However, I have always believed that without the vision of one man, Ralph McQuarrie, the entire franchise would never have come to life. Ralph single-handedly defined a new genre of science fiction—the "Ancient Future" genre. A futuristic world that wears its long history on its sleeve. Sure, there are robots, but they need a little repair and a lot of cleaning. Spaceships look like they have seen some mileage, and cities are dirty, grimy, and lived in. Let's take a moment to appreciate this man's talent.

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  • 01

    Very early concept art

    Cheezburger Image 10365141760
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie

    This is when Luke was called Starkiller, Chewbacca looked like Zeb, C3PO looked like Maria from Metropolis and R2D2 had a little arm sticking out his head

  • 02

    Cloud city

    FM QUAERIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 03

    Original design for R2D2 and C3PO

    R.M'QUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 04

    A-wings

    R.M'QUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 05

    Chewie doesn't get a medal

    MQUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 06

    The trench run

    100
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 07

    "No, I am your father"

    Cheezburger Image 10365142784
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 08

    Early Death Star design

    Cheezburger Image 10365142528
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 09

    R2 and C3PO hiding

    |
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 10

    Fallen AT-AT

    RMQVARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 11

    Cloud city

    11
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 12

    Early Tauntaun design

    Cheezburger Image 10365143040
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 13

    Early cantina concept art

    Cheezburger Image 10365144064
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 14

    Speeder chase

    MQUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 15

    Early concept art

    Cheezburger Image 10365146112
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 16

    Battle of Hoth

    RIBARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 17

    Unlimited Power!

    RHQUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 18

    Early design for the Millennium Falcon

    RAMME Libik
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 19

    Final design

    Cheezburger Image 10365144832
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 20

    Luke vs the Rancor

    R.M.QUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 21

    Father son quality time

    R.MQUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 22

    Rebel base

    R-QUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 23

    Stormtroopers used to have lightsabers

    Cheezburger Image 10365145856
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 24

    THIS is Star Wars!

    Cheezburger Image 10365146368
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 25

    Classic!

    Cheezburger Image 10365147648
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 26

    The emperors room

    Cheezburger Image 10365146624
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 27

    Early concept art

    1111 I II " R.M'QUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 28

    Early concept art

    HI-ET R.M.Q.
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 29

    Space battle

    RMQUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 30

    At Jabba's palace

    RM
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 31

    Bacta tank

    2410 100 10D41Y R.M'QUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 32

    The falcon being tractor beamed into the space station

    Cheezburger Image 10365153792
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 33

    Boobie blaster :)

    RM QUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 34

    Luke during the battle of Hoth

    R.MQUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 35

    Tauntaun time!

    RMCQUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 36

    Setting up the epic battle between good and evil

    23
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 37

    Bib fortuna greeting R2 and C3PO

    R.M QUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 38

    The aesthetic is so good!

    Cheezburger Image 10365155072
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 39

    So many royal guards!

    RM QUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 40

    Teddy bear picnic

    Cheezburger Image 10365155328
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 41

    Attack on Hoth

    RM QUARRIE 4100
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 42

    Space worm

    R.M.QUARRIE
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 43

    The trench run

    Cheezburger Image 10365155584
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
  • 44

    Ralph McQuarrie

    Cheezburger Image 10365148160
    via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie

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architecture clever building buildings beautiful darth vader bad design beauty designer Death Star design interesting Memes funny graphic design obi-wan kenobi sci fi star wars luke skywalker smart Princess Leia science fiction yoda star wars memes funny memes design fail baby yoda the mandalorian baby yoda memes good design
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