1933 OO
ZODIAC SIGN: CANCER
SYD BORN:ST. PAUL, MINN.
FAVORITE COLOR: CHERENKOV RADIATION BLUE
FAVORITE METAL: CHROME
BIRTH STONE:RUBY
Sydney Jay Mead is born prematurely at O4OO July 18 in hospital at 4 pounds and placed in incubator care. Parents are a Baptist minister, Kenneth Ray Mead and his college sweetheart wife, Margaret Ann Stover Mead.
1934 O1
ST. PAUL
1935 O2
ST. PAUL
1936 O3
ST. PAUL
Syd's brother is born; Gerald Ray Mead
1937 O4
ST. PAUL to CANTON, S.D.
The Meads move from St. Paul to Canton, South Dakota. Kenneth Mead becomes pastor of local Baptist Church and starts on his B of Fine Arts degree at Sioux Falls College, Sioux Falls, S.D.
1938 O5
CANTON, S.D.
1939 O6
SYD STARTS FIRST GRADE CANTON, S.D.
194O O7
SYD IN SECOND GRADE CANTON, S.D.
1941 O8
SYD IN THIRD GRADE CANTON TO MASON CITY, IA
1942 O9
SYD IN FOURTH GRADE MASON CITY, IOWA
Kenneth Mead resigns church in Canton, S.D. May 3, 1942 Meads move to Mason City July 8, 1942.
1943 1O
SYD IN FIFTH GRADE MASON CITY, IOWA
Syd receives the Lincoln award at Lincoln Grade school Meads make trip to California's Bay area
1944 11
SYD IN SIXTH GRADE MASON CITY to KITTRIDGE
Meads move to Kittredge, Colo. in mountains above Denver.Syd has paper route and joins Boy Scouts.
1945 12
SYD IN SEVENTH GRADE KITTRIDGE, COLO
Meads move to Gunnison, Colo. on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. They live in an old spa outside of town.
1946 13
SYD IN EIGHTH GRADE THREE HILLS, ALBERTA
Syd is sent to a Bible School in Alberta Province, Canada
1947 14
SYD IN NINTH GRADE GUNNISON, COLO
Syd returns to public school system. Parents move into town to basement of as yet unfinished parsonage.
Syd's sister, Peggy Lee is born
1948 15
SYD IN TENTH GRADE GUNNISON, COLO
Meads move to Colorado Springs, south of Denver, Colorado.
1949 16
SYD IN ELEVENTH GRADE COLORADO SPRINGS
195O 17
SYD IN TWELFTH GRADE COLORADO SPRINGS
1951 18
SYD GRADUATES H.S. COLORADO SPRINGS
1952 19
SYD HAS FIRST PROF. JOB COLORADO SPRINGS
Syd's starts first professional job at Alexander Film Co. Doing animation cell inking, character origination and background illustration. He buys a 1948 Ford coupe and moves out of his parents house into an apartment.
1953 2O
SYD JOINS ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS
1954 21
SYD IN ARMY OKINAWA
1955 22
SYD IN ARMY OKINAWA
Syd advances to rank of training sergeant for company of 15O men. Spends one month's leave in Hong Kong prior to discharge.
1956 23
SYD DISCHARGED COLORADO SPRINGS
After discharge in Seattle, Wash. Syd presents his portfolio at Art Center in Los Angeles and is accepted for the fall semester.He returns to Colorado Springs for the summer, striping cars and dressing windows for the local Lerner Shops store. He is offered the tri-state store Design manager's job but declines. Syd buys a used Olds ó8 sedan and drives to Los Angeles in early September to start first semester at Art Center School.
1957 24
SYD AT ART CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA
1958 25
SYD AT ART CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA
1959 26
SYD GRADUATES DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Syd graduates from Art Center with "Great Distinction" and goes to Ford Motor Company's Advanced Styling Center in dearborn, Michigan. He rents an apartment in Royal Oak.
196O 27
SYD AT FORD STYLING DETROIT, MICHIGAN
1961 28
SYD AT FORD STYLING DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Syd buys a '56 Mercedes 3OOSL GullWing coupe. Syd quits çord, turns down an offer by Raymond Loewy for Design manager of the New York office and starts with the Hansen Co. in Chicago. Syd produces series of U.S. Steel books; Celcon books; Syd makes his first trip to Japan, staying in Tokyo, Nagoya and Kyoto.
1962 29
SYD WITH HANSEN CO. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Syd rents a five acre orchard estate in Birmingham, Mi.
1963 3O
SYD WITH HANSEN CO. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
1964 31
SYD WITH HANSEN CO. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
With his three cars, Syd moves into a rented carriage house in Indian Village, Detroit. He buys a house in San Marcos, California for his parents.
1965 32
SYD WITH HANSEN CO. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
1966 33
SYD WITH HANSEN CO. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Syd buys a three story Norman Tudor house in Indian Village, Detroit. Syd leaves Hansen and joins Intergraph in New York with former account boss, Lawrence Mullin.
1967 34
SYD WITH INTERGRAPH. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
1968 35
SYD WITH INTERGRAPH. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Syd is informed of Intergraph's purchase and loss of job position. He starts new company with former Ford executive.
1969 36
SYD WITH CPA, DETROIT, MICHIGAN
197O 37
SYD STARTS SYD MEAD,INC. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
After financial chicanery is uncovered at new company, Syd forms his own company and starts twelve year account with Philips C.I.D.C., also working with Raymond Loewy in Paris and New York. Syd turns down offer by Chrysler Corp to be their "idea man" in Brazilian studio.
1971 38
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
1972 39
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
1973 4O
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
1974 41
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. DETROIT, MICHIGAN
1975 42
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. DETROIT TO CAPO BCH, CA
Syd moves to Capistrano Beach, California into a four bedroom, three car garage townhouse condominium overlooking Doheny Beach.
1976 43
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Sentinel book published by Roger and Martyn Dean
1977 44
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
1978 45
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd works on StarTrek, TMP with Paramount; John Dykstra and Scaron Apogee company.
1979 46
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
198O 47
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd starts BLADERUNNER with Ridley Scott. Starts on TRON at Disney with Steven Lisberger.
1981 48
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd buys house in Hollywood, Los Angeles as business Convenience branch. Keeps residence in Capistrano Beach.
1982 49
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
1983 5O
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd starts on 2O1O at MGM with Peter Hyams,director. Designs interior of private 747 for King Fah'd, Royal House of Oman.
Syd has first one man show in Tokyo, Japan at LaForet store snd Museum in Harajaku district.
1984 51
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
1985 52
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd starts on ALIENS at Fox with James Cameron, director. Syd tarts on SHORT CIRCUIT, PSO productions with John Badham, director.
Syd has second one man show in Tokyo in the Ginza areaSyd forms OBLAGON,INC. to showcase artwork and serve as publicity print releases. OBLAGON book is co-published with Kodansha of Tokyo. 25,OOO copies sold in Japan in thirty five days.
1986 53
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd's father, Kenneth Ray Mead, dies of sudden stroke at home in San Marcos, California. He is survived by Syd's mother.
1987 54
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd redesigns the YAMATO hero ship for Japanese animation production.
1988 55
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd continues on YAMATO; works on SOLAR CRISIS, NHK production with Boss Film; Richard Edlund.
1989 56
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd sells folks house in San Marcos; moves Mother to Hillsborough, N.C. Buys lot and builds her new house next to Sister, Peggy Combs.
Syd designs Spaceship 2O56 pavilion for Dentsu, Osaka on Shikoku Island, Japan
199O 57
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Design work for Ultrapolis 2OOO; Singapore. Syd has one man show in Tokyo at new Tepia Hall sponsored by Okamura Co.
1991 58
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
KRONOLOG released by Bandai, Tokyo. Retrospective of Syd's work. Syd works on Jules Verne time tour for EuroDisney 36O format. Job goes into "92.
1992 59
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd goes back on YAMATO production. Designs concept for new yacht for Tencara yard, Venice, Italy
1993 6O
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
1994 61
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd works on TIME COP with Peter Hyams, director starring Jean Claude vanDamm. Syd works on STRANGE DAYS, Kathryn Bigelow, director.
1995 62
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd's Mother dies at Sister's house in Hillsborough, N.C. Syd puts her house on the market for sale
1996 63
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd sells Mother's house March 11th.
Syd starts Kobe harbor site design job for PASONA, Kobe. slso provides concept ideas for 6OO ft.OAL entertainment ship.
1997 64
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd starts Pavilion design commission. Syd starts on ideas for Landmark Entertainment Group.
Syd begins developing a presence on the World Wide Web.
1998 65
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd sells both Hollywood properties.
Roger Servick, Syd's partner and business manager, and Syd stage their annual birthday party in July at their residence in Pasadena with seventy invited guests, valet parking and catering.
Syd leaves for Tokyo, Japan to start on the Sunrise, Bandai 'Turn-A GUNDAM MOBILE SUIT JOB.
1999 66
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd has the interior of his 1956 Mercedes Benz 3OOSL completely restored.(Syd has had the car since 1961.)
Syd recovers from full cistoscopy operation to complete five illustrations for Playboy's January 2OOO edition in addition to writing source text for staff writers. The article is featured as 'THE ULTIMATE MILLENNIUM BACHELOR'S PAD.
Syd continues to design the new Oblagon book, page by page. Roger Servick, manager of Syd Mead, Inc. and Oblagon, Inc., creates the name for the company's new book: Syd Mead's SENTURY.
2OOO 67
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd is honored with an invitation to attend 'AUTO2OOO' in Torino, Italy as guests of 3search. Syd and Roger Servick spend four days in Torino, a day and night in Monaco and on to Paris to review the Paris offices of 3search.
Syd is invited to be the 'new millennium' guest artist by the Automotive Fine Art Society for the 2OOO Pebble Beach Concours d'elegance. Syd completes a triptych of three 2OX3O inch panels depicting a concours of the future. The artwork is on display for 24 hours accompanied by a pathetic reception and non-existent parking.
Syd and Roger are invited guests for lunch and a tour of the creative studios at George Lucas' SkyWalker ranch.
Syd, with Roger Servick travels to Phoenix, Arizona to meet a professional friend and to meet up with Roger's mother visiting the area on a tour package.
2OO1 68
SYD WITH SYD MEAD, INC. CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA
Syd is invited to be one of three featured presenters at the AIA's fifteenth Monterey retreat, joining Michael Graves and Craig Hodgetts. Syd renews social and professional friendships with new arrivals in Palm Springs with a weekend trip to the desert resort.
Finally, the new book for OBLAGON, Inc. arrives for distribution. Syd Mead's SENTURY is now a reality. Syd's learned QuarkXpress skills, Roger's patience and negotiations and the expertise of modern printing come together as a shiny, full color addition to OBLAGON's roster of publications.
CALIFORNIA CHAPTER of AIA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE ASILOMAR, MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
At thisannual conference for the
California Chapter of the American
Institute of Architecture, Syd joins
Michael Graves and Craig Hodgetts
as featured presenters
PRESENTATION NORTH CAROLINA STATE
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA
Syd is guest presenter to students,
faculty and area professionals
TRON PRESENTATION BURBANK, CALIFORNIA
Syd is invited to make a presentation
to DISNEY INTERACTIVE's staff prior to
start on designing for TRON.2, an
electronic game successor to the
feature release, TRON
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN PRESENTATION DEKALB, ILLINOIS
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Syd is guest presenter to students,
faculty and area professionals
ARCHITECTURAL PRESENTATION LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Syd is guest presenter to student body
and area professionals. Content features
architectural concepts
DRAGON CON ATLANTA
Syd is V.I.P. guest artist, designing this
year's official poster art for the
conference
QUINTESSENCE CONFERENCE PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
ART CENTER COLLEGE of DESIGN
AUDITORIUM
Syd is the invited presenter for this
year's conference of graphic arts
instructors from area colleges and
the professional graphic arts community
OZONE TOKYO, JAPAN
STUDIO NUTS
Syd is invited to create a unique watch
design for a series of 99 watches by
designers world-wide. Syd's design is
titled 'essence.'
ACADEMY OF ART INSTITUTE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Syd is invited to be guest presenter
to students, faculty and area prof-
fessionals. Syd is honored as member
of the President's Advisory Board
AIA ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Syd is the featured presenter for
the 5Oth anniversary of the Orange
County chapter of the American
Institute of Architecture celebration
ART CENTER EXOTIC CAR CONCOURSE PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
Syd is one of two features presenters
at this year's ART CENTER COLLEGEof
DESIGN exotic automobile exhibit
FUTURE DESIGNS ON FILM SEOUL , KOREA
Design magazine features Syd's designs
for movie projects
CENTER FOR CREATIVE STUDIES DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Syd is guest presenter to student body,
faculty and area professionals
VIEW BEYOND BILLUPS, DENMARD
LEGO WORLDWIDE DESIGN CONFERENCE
Syd is guest presenter to LEGO's forward
planning design conference for their
design staff worldwide.
2OO2
PASADENA CITY COLLEGE PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
Syd is invited to be guest artist on
campus for one week as artist in
residence. . Syd donates a
piece of unique artwork to the college.
Syd has a one-man show in the college
gallery in conjunction with his one week
artist in residence series of presentations
to students and faculty..
DICE AWARD SHOW LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Syd is invited to be guest presenter
at this annual award show featuring
outstanding electronic game creation
ROCKSTAR CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA
Presentation to creative staff
3D FESTIVAL COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Featured guest presenter with two
presentations and local television
interviews
TYPO 2OOO BERLIN, GERMANY
Featured guest presenter to professional
and student audience as part of this
graphic arts conference
ASAP PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
(American Society of Architectural
Perspectivists)
Presentation to architectural illustrator
conference
UNDER THE BIG TENT LECTURE SERIES PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
ART CENTER COLLEGE of DESIGN
Presentation as third in series on campus
2OO3 70
GNOMON SCHOOL of VISUAL EFFECTS HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
Presentation to staff, students and area
professionals
2OO4 71
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